Customising Smileys

Introduction

It is possible to customise your Yahoo! Smileys.  But please remember the following points:
 (1) Unless you send them to your friends, only you see the changes.
 (2) It's not possible to add new smileys, you may only replace existing ones.

Ready made sets

If you don't want to make your own, some people have already done the work!
http://www.geocities.com/basefaces/ - Adults ONLY.
http://www.zakie.fsnet.co.uk/ChatRoomsStuff/Faces/newfaces/newfaces.htm
http://www.freecreed.com/smileys.html
MSN - Could use for Yahoo! if you follow instructions below
http://www.msn-emotions.org

So how's it done?

It's actually quite simple, all you need as the following:
 (1) A graphics program capable of saving in GIF format
 (2) Creativity, or some ready made images!

Firstly, make a new image using your graphics program.  The image should be of size 18x18 pixels, and can be animated in the newer versions of Yahoo! Messenger.  If you need to save the new image, save it as anything for now in any folder.

Now all you need to do is make your new smiley, keep it within the image size that has been set.  When you have finished creating the new smiley, or when you have copied and pasted in an existing image, save the file as GIF format.

How to make it work in Yahoo!

This is how it works:
    The image you made above replaces one of the existing yahoo! smileys.  You do this by renaming the file to the name of the smiley you wish to replace, and then inserting your image into "c:\program files\yahoo!\messenger\media\smileys\".  If that folder doesn't exist, locate this folder using the windows search facility.

You probably don't know the name of the image you wish to replace, so check my smileys page, find the smiley you wish to replace, right click it, and get the last bit of the filename, like 1.gif or 45.gif.

Making the smiley appear

Restart Yahoo! Messenger Chat, then post the code for the smiley you placed.

Example

To replace the smiley image,
(1) - Make your new image
(2) - As can be seen from my smileys page, the smiley is 1.gif, save the file as 1.gif
(3) - Copy 1.gif into the "c:\program files\yahoo!\messenger\media\smileys\" folder
(4) - If messenger is open, restart it.
(5) - Turn chat back on, post the code :) and you will see your new image!

Sharing with your friends

To share with your friends, simple send them the new files, and ask them to insert it into "c:\program files\yahoo!\messenger\media\smileys\" folder.