~ Avatar Making Guide ~

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[sdrawkcab]

Hello and welcome!

This is a beginner's guide to the matching style. Please read through this thread if you are interested in learning tips to help you dress in the matching style. This thread also contains general info, tips and tricks that apply to other styles as well. There are also other mini-guides that pertain to other topics related to dressing Gaia avatars.

I will repeat this many times, but I'm not making you read this guide. I'm not forcing you to make your avatar match. You are free to dress your avatar however you want to (within Gaia's rules).


• • • • How to use this guide
The Avatar Making Guide consists of many little guides. You are currently reading the Main Thread. The rest of the guides are located in a guild. As you read through the guides, you'll be linked to other related posts. Take a moment to read this list and decide which guide you'd like to read (first).

• Main Thread - Matching If you'd like to learn how to match, continue to read the first page of this guide. It's aimed at users who are making their first attempts at matching. The index is located at the bottom of this first post. Post three contains a summary. The rest of the posts expand on those ideas and give examples.

[Avatar Guide for Newbies] If you're brand new to Gaia and Gaia Avatars, read this guide. This guide explains the mechanics of dressing your avatar and introduces some of the various styles you'll see around the site.

[Your Guide to Dressing with Style] I highly recommend this guide. It contains general ideas that can be applied to many different styles.

[Color Wheel] This guide is completely optional. This guide contains some suggestions on how to use the color wheel to choose the color scheme for your avatar.

[Layering] This guide attempts to explain how items layer. It follows the basic rules, but Gaia's items don't all items follow the rules. It contains some exceptions, but this guide can only be used to guestimate how items will equip together.

[Guide Subforum] This is the subforum that houses the above guides. You can also find other guides here.


• • • • Remember
All that matters is that you like your own avatar. I hope that this guide can assist you in creating that perfect avatar for you. :] <3
You can also join the guild. [Avatar Making Guide: The Guild] The guild is more relaxed than the main guide. You may go off topic and ask others to make tekteks for you and such. Just be sure to follow the guild rules.


§► Index
Post One: Introduction
Post Two: Things to Mind
Post Three: Synopsis
Post Four: Making Avatars
Post Five: Budget Avatars
Post Six: Key Items
Post Seven: Matching
Post Eight: Color Balance
Post Nine: Mass Balance
Post Ten: Layers Vs Clutter
Post Eleven: Originality
Post Twelve: Avatar Arena Entries
Post Thirteen: History / Affiliates / Banners

[sdrawkcab]

Matching Guide
Post Two: Things to Mind

Things to Mind
Please consider this post before reading or posting in this guide.

• • • • A Note: AMG Examples
One of my goals in creating this thread was to use affordable avatar examples. I have to bend my own rules for certain categories, but most of the examples in this thread cost 30,000 gold (30k) or less. This is a limiting factor. The examples consist mainly of gold shop items with static prices. I do not use items that are subject to the whims of the market.
Also, most users on this site do not use avatars consisting only of gold shop items. Gold Shop items are very limiting. I cannot use many items like makeup and body modifiers since they just do not exist as gold shop items. For this reason, my examples will always have an "outdated" feel to them.
What I can do is provide affordable examples that show the basic concepts. Please extend these concepts to your own creations. And, by all means, if you like any of the outfit combos in this thread, feel free to use them. :}

This guide is too long already so I won't include a section on how to make gold and obtain items. There are many wonderful guides on this topic already. I will provide one hint though. Many users can easily make 30k within an hour by playing the Gaia Game called [Booty Grab]. If you're unfamiliar with the game, you should find a guide for that.

This means that you could easily have an avatar like one of the examples in this guide within an hour. (This excludes the examples that use uncommon items and do not link to tektek.)




• • • • Things to keep in mind before reading:
As you can see, this is a large thread that's even bigger with the included guild. You don't have to read it in one sitting. You can refer to specific topics as you need them.
I did not make up the matching guidelines. They're common guidelines that people have been using for years.
Most of the avatars used in this guide were made using Tektek's Dream Avatar Creator Tool. It's a good idea to use this tool to help you plan out the avatar you'd like to have on Gaia.
Any links out will link you to posts from the guide's guild or to Tektek.
Want to know the name of an item on one of the examples? Most examples are clickable. The links send you to a tektek page with a list of the items. Some examples aren't clickable. You can make a post in this guide asking for the name of the item. Be sure to say which post the example is in and describe the item you see. You can also send a PM to sdrawkcab.


• • • • Things to keep in mind before posting:
All posts are loved. However, please try to stick to topics about avatars and items. The AMG thread sits in a very slow forum. Please don't make lots of bumps.
Everyone is welcome. It doesn't matter what avatar style you like to wear.
If you have any questions, feel free to post them in this thread. If you're too shy to post, you can send a PM to sdrawkcab instead. If you post in the thread, you'll most likely get a faster response (and can read different opinions/views if applicable).

Asking for help:
Feel free to post and ask for help with making your avatar. :3
We assume that you want help with matching. If you want help with another style, such as cosplay or theme, please tell us.
This is not a tektek service. The people who post in this guide will not make tekteks for you. You won't learn anything if other people do all the work. The people who post here will be happy to give you suggestions to help you achieve your vision. You may still ask for help with or suggestions for completing your tektek.
Do not post a tektek environment and ask us to dress you. You wouldn't learn anything from that either.

Giving help:
If someone asks for advice and you think you have a good idea, post it. :}
Number one rule: This is not a harsh rating thread. This is a guide to help users. We're not here to tear people down, we're here to help them.
If you think someone can improve their avatar, don't just say, "It sucks." Tell the person why you think something's wrong with it. Tell them what you think they could do to make it better. If you know of items that would work, name the items. And by all means, it's not all about being negative. Let people know what they've done right. It's this process that helps people learn.

Comments on the Guide:
I appreciate constructive criticism so that I can learn and grow. I'm always tweaking the guide and trying to improve it.
Please don't make posts about how much you hate the matching style. I'm not forcing you to read this guide nor am I forcing you to match. You don't have to read this guide. You don't have to match. It's okay. You're entitled to your opinion. I know you exist. You don't have to declare war against this thread. It's here for those who'd like to read it.

[sdrawkcab]

Matching Guide
Post Three: Synopsis

Synopsis
Here's a brief summary of some guidelines of the matching style.

The adjective that best describes the matching style is balance. The matching style uses color to create an overall equilibrium. No one spot (or two or three) should attract attention. Your goal is to use colors, texture and shape to create something that has continuity and creativity.
Or, more simply, you want to make avatars using matching shades of colors.

I did not make up these guidelines. These guidelines have been used by Gaians for years.
This is a 'quick sheet' of the rules. The links in this lead you to other posts on this same page.


• • • • Matching

• Use the same shade of each color. Gaia's items come in many different shades. Many black items are often dark blue or grey. The white items have many different shadows that slightly change the color of the overall item. Don't just throw on any item because it says 'blue.' Try to use items that are as close in shade as possible.
  
• A good place to start is by matching the items to your hair and your eye color.
  • There are two schools of thought on this matter. Some believe that the hair and eye color should match the other items on the avatar. Others believe that's ludicrous because you don't match your outfit to your hair and eyes in real life. I believe that avatars flow better overall when everything matches. And seeing as this guide is biased towards matching, I'll always say that the hair and eyes should match the rest of the outfit. You are free to do whatever you wish. :]
  [For more on matching, please see Post Seven]

• • • • Color Balance

• Distribute the color(s) evenly around the avatar.
  
• Imagine that the avatar is sliced into three or four pieces. For example, divide it by the head, torso and legs. Make sure that your colors appear in each of those areas.
  
• A key to succeeding is not having an item of one color touch another item of the same color. Alternate items of different colors. Accessory items play a big role in this.
  [For more on Color Balance, please see Post Eight]

• • • • Mass Balance

• Don't make the avatar top or bottom heavy.
  • When the avatar is top heavy, too many items are cluttered at the top of the head or one large item is on the head. The avatar looks like it's going to topple over at any second.
  • The avatar is bottom heavy when an item sticks out too far on the bottom half of the avatar. This often makes the avatar look awkward. I think you can usually get away with it, if the large item is at the very bottom of the avatar. For example, large shoes or having a pet sit next to you on the ground.
• If the item(s) on the head are overpowering and large, balance it with large items at the bottom. Wear larger shoes. Use a cane. This tricks the viewer's mind. Visually seeing that the 'weight' is supported a cane makes the avatar look balanced.
  
• When both male and female avatars are wearing the same items, the male avatars usually look better. The male frame has a wider stance. Females have to worry more since their small feet might not balance their items.
  [For more on Overall Flow, please see Post Nine]

• • • • Layering/Clutter

• There's a fine line between layering enough items and adding too many items. Wearing too few items makes the avatar look sparce and incomplete. Wearing too many items is unappealing to the eye. Try to keep a human-esque shape. (Some cluttered abstract blobs do look good too.)
  
• Use the different layers of items to your advantage. This allows you to better balance the colors on the avatar.
  
• While many guys won't wear skirts, layering skirts over pants provides for much more color matching options.
  [For more on Layering/Clutter, please see Post Eleven]

• • • • Originality

• If you want your avatar to stand out, don't make it look like most other common avatars on the site. Your avatar won't be noticed if it looks like every other avatar in the forums (or Towns, Rally, zOMG, etc.)
  
• Don't use more than one item from the same set. Anyone can put items from the same set together. That takes no thought. You can get away with two (or three) items from the same set if they are accessories and don't cover a major portion of the avatar.
  
• Try to use items that few others use.
  
• You can also use items that everyone uses, but try to put a new spin on them. Don't pair them in typical combinations.
  
• Your avatar really stands out when you succeed in making an avatar with items that aren't easy to match.
  [For more on Originality, please see Post Eleven]

[sdrawkcab]

Matching Guide
Post Four: Inspiration

Making Avatars
Have an idea of what you want before you begin to make the outfit.

• • • • Inspiration
Making a matching avatar is a constant dance of colors. Multiple colors must be spread evenly around the avatar. And the colored items you use must equip on the avatar at the same time.
It’s not as simple as drawing in a coloring book. When coloring, people can pick their crayon color and decide where they want to color. On Gaia, you work with pre-colored items. Not only that, but you can’t drag and place them to where you want. Those items can only equip in one predetermined spot.

It is tough when you are not familiar with Gaia’s items. It’s a real bummer to learn that the specific shade of shoes you need don’t exist. You’d either have to scrap that attempt or find socks or feet items that get the job done. Don’t give up. The fun is in the challenge, the sense of accomplishment, and in parading a spiffy avatar.

It gets easier with practice. The best way to practice is to use Tektek’s dream avatar tool. This way you can make avatars without having to buy the items to place on your own avatar. Once you make a tektek that you like, you could buy those items on Gaia and use them on your own avatar. (Here's another link to [Tektek's Dream Avatar Tool].)

On tektek, you have most of Gaia’s items at your fingertips (and all of them when tektek is up to date). That’s a lot of possibilities. You’ll need to have some idea of the color scheme you’ll want to use before you start. Matching avatars typically use 2 -3 colors. Some avatars even match five, six or more colors. The difficulty increases with each added color since each one must be spread evenly around the avatar.
This is an intro guide so the examples will mainly consist of three colors.

If you don’t know what colors you want to use, here are some ways to figure out how:

• Match the hair and eye color you already have
  
• Use your favorite colors
  
• Pick a favorite or interesting item and make an avatar around it.
  
• Use the color wheel

• • • • Examples
This section will tackle the creation of a matching avatar. It will show you some of the thought process behind making a balanced avatar.
We'll now create some matching avatars using the suggested inspirations above. Tektek will be used to make the avatars.
Remember that we want our final avatars to have balance. As we pick the items, we want to spread the colors evenly around the avatar. It helps if you picture the avatar split into parts. Here we'll picture the avatar split into three parts: Head, Torso (+arms) and Legs. When adding color to an avatar, make sure to add that color to the head, to the torso and to the legs. And try to add about the same amount of color to each of those three areas. Your final outfit might require some tweaking, but it's a good way to make sure you haven't forgotten to add color anywhere. The more complicated the outfit, the more parts your avatar must be split into. We're keeping this relatively simple, so we'll stick to the three part rule.


Existing Hair and Eye Color
For our first example, we'll use colors that match the avatar's eyes and hair. We don't have any other ideas in mind, but we know that we want to keep our hair and eye color.

1. The avatar has red hair and teal eyes. Teal isn't the easiest color to work with, but it's possible. We shouldn't have too much trouble with red because there are lots of red items on Gaia.
   
2. It doesn't matter which color we pick to start with. We'll pick teal. Picturing the avatar split into three parts, we add teal items. A teal hat is added to the head. A teal shirt is added to the torso. Teal boots are added to the legs. The color teal is now spread around the avatar.
   The boots have a thin white line. Since we're picky, we'll add white to the avatar.
   Notice how the red hair really stands out. Now we'll add red items to balance out the hair.
   
3. The red hair is a very vibrant red so we'll need to pick bright red items. We can't use a dark red or a maroon because that won't help blend the hair. Since we already have a shirt on the torso, we add a red vest. We also add red pants to the avatar.
   Both of the vest and the pants have white on them. It's okay in this case because we need to add white anyway.
   We don't have to add a red item to the head because the hair is visible.
   
4. Now we must deal with the last color: white.
   There's no white at the head so a white headband is added.
   The legs have enough white so we won't add any more items to the bottom.
   The torso already has white. We'll still add white accessories to polish off the outfit. We've added a white tie and a white wool top. The white wool top is an undershirt. We have to play by Gaia's rules. On tektek, you can equip as many shirts as you want. On Gaia, you usually can only equip one shirt at a time. However, shirts that layer on the undershirt layer can equip under normal shirts. When in doubt, preview an item in the marketplace to see how it equips with your items.
   
5. We're almost done. The pants are a rather large area of red. There's too much red in the torso. We could cover up some of the pants with a teal skirt. This guy doesn't want to wear a skirt, so a teal mug was used instead.
   We now have a teal, red and white avatar that is rather well balanced.

Favorite Colors
This example is based on favorite colors. Here we'll just try to find items that match our favorite colors and spread them around the avatar.

1. This person's favorite colors are orange and white. We're in luck. We've found a beanie that has both orange and green on it. It also has a white pompom with green shading. So to match this beanie, we must add orange, green and white items.
   
2. We'll start with orange. Remember to split the avatar into three parts. The beanie already takes care of the orange on the head. We'll add orange eyes because our avatar needs eyes. We've also added a orange jacket to the torso and orange pants to the legs.
   
3. Now we'll add green. The beanie already adds green to the head, but green hair was added for good measure. A green wool top was added to the torso. Green shoes were added to the feet. The shoes also add white, but that's good. The shoes will play a double role.
   
4. Now we must add white. The beanie already adds a little bit of white to the head. The shoes already add a little bit of white to the feet. All that's left is the torso. We've chosen a shirt that's both green and white. This is to make sure that we still see a lot of green in the middle, but also see white. The green wool top is an undershirt. The checker shirt is a normal shirt. The green wool top layers under the checker shirt.
   
5. Our avatar was pretty much done but now we'll add accessories to finish it all up.
   White hairpins add a smidge more white to the head. Orange glasses hide our glassy orange eyes. The green flag hides some of the pants. It helps balance out the orange and green.
   We now have a rather well balanced orange, green and white avatar.

Favorite/Interesting Item
This example will be made when tektek adds the last gold shop update to the dream avatar tool.







Color Wheel
If you really want to get technical, you can choose your color scheme based on the color wheel. We'll pick an easy scheme and use the primary colors: red, blue and yellow.

1. The avatar is a blank canvas. We know that we must add red, blue and yellow to the avatar. We know that we'll picture the avatar split into three parts: Head, Torso, Legs.
   
2. We've decided to add yellow first. There are lots of blue and red items to work with on Gaia. There are less yellow items. Yellow hair was added to the head. A yellow shirt was added to the torso. Long yellow shorts were added to the legs.
   
3. Next we fill in some of the spaces with blue. A blue hat and blue eyes were added to the head. A blue skirt and blue socks were added to the legs. The blue skirt is centered in the middle of the avatar so it takes care of the "torso" for now.
   We now have a pretty well balanced yellow and blue avatar. We could add more yellow and blue accessories to complete the outfit. However, we're following a color scheme. We must add red.
   
4. We've already added a lot of items, so we'll have to get creative for red. We've added a red flower to the head. The flower also adds yellow. That's okay because it's part of our color scheme. A red undershirt was added to the torso. Red shoes were added to the legs.
   
5. The avatar is almost complete, but it needs accessories. Red blush adds a touch of character to the face. A blue necklace and blue bracelets add blue to the torso. A red cincher adds more red to the torso. And a red cane is added to add red along the length of the legs, not just the feet.
   We now have a rather balanced red, blue, and yellow avatar.

[sdrawkcab]

Matching Guide
Post Five: Budget Avatars

Budget Avatars
We all have to start somewhere.

• • • • First Avatars

The beauty of the matching style is that it doesn’t have to be expensive. A simple, cheap outfit can still look good. These outfits might be too generic to win in the original avatar arena, but at least they're good enough for the forums and virtual spaces.

If you’re not content with having a cheap avatar, don’t sweat it. Use expensive items. Don't have any expensive items? Then you'll have to save up for them. That could take awhile. Try to wear a good-looking cheap avatar while you're saving for those expensive items. Your avatar should always look snazzy. ;]

These avatars are proof that avatars can match and be inexpensive. The total item cost of each avatar is under 5000 gold. (The price may exceed 5000g with the expensive salon hairstyle shown. The items used are gold shop items. The item prices will never change.)

[sdrawkcab]

Matching Guide
Post Six: Key Items

Key Items
Here I recommend some types of items that are good to use when creating outfits. This post doesn't cover everything, but it's a start.

• • • • Clothing Items
These items are good to use or keep in your inventory because of how they layer or the functions they perform.
A typical outfit could consist of only a hat, a shirt, pants and shoes. You'd be clothed. :] With the matching style, you're probably going to need to use more than four items to have color spread evenly around an avatar. For this, certain types of items are helpful. You want items that are on all sorts of layers like:

• Undershirts: These items layer under most other shirts. [Examples: White Wool Top, Pink Spacey Body Suit Top, Blue Traveller Undershirt, Orange Baseball Undershirt]
  
• Leggings: These items layer under most skirts, shorts, socks and shoes. [Examples: Elegant Snowy Leggings, Santa Baby Leggings, Blade's Leggings, Pink Spacey Body Suit Leggings. And NOT the snug leggings.]
  
• Gloves and socks: People often forget about these items. They fill in empty spaces on the legs and arms.
  
• Necklaces, earrings, glasses, bracelets, anklets, belts, etc.: Accessories. You must use accessories if you want to turn your outfit from amateur to complete. Accessories are usually small items that help you get color to where you need it. They can and should be added to most outfits.
  
• Handhelds: Don't forget to hold items! Handhelds can often save your avatar. Let's say you're working with purple and having a tough time getting it to the middle of the avatar. All you have to do is hold a purple item at the midsection of your avatar. Can't get purple to the feet? Hold a long purple item that reaches the ground. Can't get purple to the head? Hold a long purple item up in the air. (Assuming that these items exist.) You only have two hands. Choose wisely.

• • • • Base-Altering Items
Here, I consider your avatar's base to be its skin tone, eye style and color, and hairstyle and color.
With the matching style, you'll most likely want your avatar's base to match the equipped items. Say you make that uses the colors white, black and green. If your hair is red, it would ruin the flow of the outfit. You have two options for what to do. You can either change your hair color or you can hide your hair. If the same situation comes up where your skin tone or eyes clash, you'll need to do something about them too.

• Option One: Use items to hide your base.
  • Hair: You can use hats and masks that hide your hair. This option is easier to do with short hair than long hair.
    
  • Eyes: You can hide your eyes with glasses and masks.
    
  • Skin Tone: It's possible to cover your avatar in items to not let the skin show. To do so, you'd need a lot of items. This would include things like longjohns, leggings or stockings, long sleeved shirts, gloves, items that cover ears and masks that cover the whole face.
• Option Two: Change your base.
  You can use reusable items or alter your actual base.
  • You can pay gold to change your avatar's actual base. [Skin Tyte] has many items you can buy to change your skin base. [Salon Durem] allows you to pick a new hairstyle or eye style. These changes to your skin, hair and eyes are permanent. If you want your old look back, you'd have to return to the store and buy the appropriate items. (Salon durem doesn't have "items." The changes take effect immediately on your avatar. You can only have one hairstyle and one eye style at a time.)
    
  • Or, you can keep reusable items to alter your look. These are items that sit in your inventory. You can click to equip and unequip them as many times as you want. The items you want are wigs, skins and contacts. Wigs change your hairstyle when equipped. Contacts change your eye style when equipped. And skins change your base when equipped. Skins can change the shape of your body as well as the color. It depends on the item.

• • • • Character Items
It's good to have items that add, well, character. These are the sort of items that elevate your avatar from the average, common blank avatar into something that coveys emotion or has expression. This is a big fad at the moment. Even the worst outfit can pass for good if it has an interesting expression.
If you want to know what I mean by common and blank, look at most of the examples on this page of the guide. Yeah, the avatars match. No, they're not bad. They're just basic. The expressions are flat.

• Skins, Wigs and Contacts: These types of items are excellent for adding expression and character to an avatar. Like, what's a green lizardman without green skin? Contacts are especially useful since they help convey emotions like angry, sad, bored, happy and miffed.
  
• Mouths: You can choose a variety of mouths from the dress up screen. Some items also have mouth poses. Take advantage of mouths to convey emotion (this includes taking advantage of not using a mouth). Between your eyes and mouth, you should have the expression you want.
  
• Markings: Markings are items like tattoos, scars, moles, freckles. Hmm, even body hair. These items provide two functions. One, they convey character. What's a typical scary lunch lady without her large mole and body hair? XD Just a boring lunch lady. The other function these items provide is space filling. Take advantage of tattoos. Consider them to be like little kids tattoos that can wash right off and aren't permanent. When you can't find jewelry to fill up space, there's probably a tattoo that would help.

If you'd like to learn more about Gaia contact items, you can check out this [Contacts Guide].
If you'd like to learn more about Gaia Item Skins and Potions, you can check out this [Skins Guide].

[sdrawkcab]

Matching Guide
Post Seven: Matching

Matching
The most essential aspect of matching is using items that are the same shade.

• • • • The key part of the matching style is pairing items that are the same shade of color. Hence, the style is called "matching." How clever. When all items match, the items blend well along the avatar. No item becomes an eyesore.
Pick a color scheme. Decide what colors you want to use in your outfit. Use two to three colors. You can use more than three once you get the hang of it.

♦ ♦ See these two diamonds? Yes, they are both green. No, they do not match. They are two different shades of green. In order to match, the diamonds would have to be the same shade of green.

♦ ♦ These diamonds match.
It's not easy to find items that are the same shade. Just try to get as close to the same shade as possible.





You can't blindly pick items and expect them to match. See the avatar to the left? The four items equipped on it are: Red MehTRO T with Cross, Red Pleated Tennis Skirt, Red Traveller Boots, and Sam's Red Headwrap. They all have the word "red" in their names. In reality, they clearly have different values of red. They do not match.
Now look at the four avatars below this text. The four items were paired with items that matched them. By no means do they match perfectly. However, they are at least very close in shade and do not clash.









The example above used one "shade" of color. This is an example of an avatar that uses two "shades" of colors: yellow and blue. The amount of yellow was spread evenly around the avatar. The amount of blue was spread evenly around the avatar. However, the items clash because the shades aren't the same. This avatar only catches the eye for being garish. (Note: This technique can work well sometimes for nonmatching avatars.)

[Space]

As you can see, each of the colors used in this avatar are close in shade. This avatar is more pleasing to the eye than the previous example.

[Space]

• • • • Here are some more random comments and tips concerning matching.


If you have trouble using three or more colors, don't forget that white and black also count. Gaia has lots of white items and black items. Many of Gaia's items are accented with a black or white trim. Heck, it can be hard to make avatars that don't have white or black in them. For now, use this fact to your advantage.
For example, some of the work is done for you if many of your items have a white trim. You won't have to worry as much about finding separate white items to spread around the avatar.









It's easy to add the color gold to just about any outfit. A lot of gold jewelry and accessories exist. Just remember to spread the gold items evenly around the avatar.







Bright colors pop off the screen. It really helps your avatar stand out. Yes, some color combinations look better than others. However, the colors you use don't matter as long as all the shades match and are evenly balanced around around the avatar.

[sdrawkcab]

Matching Guide
Post Eight: Color Balance / Overall Flow

Color Balance
It's important to spread the colors around evenly and to pay attention to the overall shape of the avatar.

• • • • Color Balance
Once a color scheme has been chosen, the colors must be distributed evenly around the avatar. The overall flow of an avatar is disrupted if a whole chunk of color is missing from some area. The overall flow is also disrupted if there's one huge chunk of color that's not being balanced (by another item of the same color). The goal is to have an avatar that doesn't have one large focal point. The eye should glide smoothly up and down a matching avatar.
Take advantage of the many different layers that items equip upon. In order to distribute the amount of each color equally, you'll most likely use many items on many different layers.

Those are nice purple shoes, aren't they? When you look at the avatar, they attract all the attention. You can't stop looking at the avatar's feet. When you're not looking at the feet, the black details on the shirt take the attention. This avatar is unbalanced. In the matching style, you want all colors to be spread evenly around the avatar.

In this avatar, we've swapped items to balance the colors. The amount of purple has been spread rather evenly around the avatar. The amount of black has been spread evenly around the avatar. There are less white items now, but they're still spread rather evenly.

[Space]

One good point about this example is that the person attempted to spread the color around the avatar. There is red at the top, middle and bottom of the avatar. Yay! ... The problem? The amount of color is not spread evenly. This avatar has a full head of red hair. All a person can stare at when they look at this avatar is the hair. A small belt and thin sandals cannot possibly balance that much hair.

In this example, more red has been added to the avatar. Bigger red shoes have been added to bring more red to the bottom. A red undershirt was added to bring more red to the middle. In this situation, the avatar looked more balanced when the pink skirt was swapped for a red one. The exact shades aren't spot on matching, but they're close enough for this example.









• • • • Pay attention to the colors on the items you use. If an item adds a new color to the outfit, be sure to match that color too. The new color will draw all attention and be distracting unless matched. If you don't want to add that new color to the outfit, do not use that item.
Note the skirt in the example below. It was added to match the yellow items. However, it also added cyan to the avatar. The person now has two choices. The person can remove the skirt so that cyan is not added to the avatar. The person can also keep the skirt and add spread cyan items evenly around the avatar. This person chose to add cyan.

Creating a matching avatar is often a fluid process. There might be a lot of in between stages before you are happy with the final outcome.
In the first example, the cyan stripe in the skirt draws the eye. Cyan items must be added to achieve balance.
The person added cyan items. However, the color yellow is now unbalanced. The avatar has a big yellow skirt, big scarf and giant hat... and tiny little yellow socks.
The person settled with example three. More yellow appears at the bottom because more of the socks show. The yellow cane helps too. The old hat was swapped out for a hat that added less yellow. Also, the cane and hat are both from the Pimpin' set. This person did not want to use multiple items from one set. She/He chose to use the cane instead of the hat.







• • • • There's another thing you want to keep in mind. Skin tone. Hair and eyes are often matched just as if they were items. Well, so is your skin tone can also be considered as another "item" to match.
This concept can be intermediate to advanced. It's not easy for beginners to do, but maybe you'll grasp it quickly. If not, ignore skin tone for now and return to this idea later.

There are a few ways to approach this:

Covering the skin is a good way to make sure that it won't be a distraction. It can't mess up the outfit if you can't see it. To do so, you'll use a lot of items like masks, gloves and socks to cover up any skin that may be showing.

Treat the skin as one of the colors in your color scheme. Use flesh-toned items to match your skin if you have them. It's easier to leave areas where the skin tone shows through. To do this, you'll usually need short sleeved shirts, shorts and skirts. Pants with holes in the knees also work well. Just try to leave spaces between the items.

You can also use a Potion or Item Skin that matches one or more of the colors you're using in your outfit. In this example, the purple skin tone is treated as if it were another item.








• • • •
There's another parameter that affects balance and flow aside from just the amount of color spread around the avatar. You should also pay attention to the texture of your items. This concept is a little more advanced. Once you have a good grasp on how to spread colors evenly around the avatar, make sure you also spread texture evenly. For an introductory look at texture, please see [this post].

[sdrawkcab]

Matching Guide
Post Nine: Color Balance / Overall Flow

Mass Balance
The overall shape of the avatar is also important.

• • • • Mass Balance
Pay attention to the general shape and size of the items you use. An item that matches your avatar might also throw off the overall balance. The avatar can become too top heavy with items. Or even too bottom heavy. At the same time, you don't want the avatar to look like a gangly stick. The best way to deal with this is to look through all of your options and try to balance a large head with large feet. It sounds funny, but works out better in the end. =]
[This thread] contains further information on the idea of overall avatar balance.

This avatar is top heavy. It gives the impression that it's going to tip forward at any second.

[Space]

The lolita hair is notorious for making avatars top heavy. Here, the avatar is balanced by tundra boots. The cane also aids in this visual balance. Notice that the Ska Prism Belt was used with this avatar. We don't want the bright red top of the belt showing, so it was hidden under the vest.

[Space]

[sdrawkcab]

Matching Guide
Post Ten: Layers Vs Clutter

Layers Vs Clutter
Avatars should be well-layered and not balls of random clutter.

• • • • Complexity
All avatars range from simple to complex. Some styles require simple layering while other styles demand complex layering to execute. With the matching style, the complexity depends on your personal taste. The number of items you use doesn’t matter as long as the end result is an evenly balanced avatar. However, even simple avatars require quite a few items for an even spread of color. The more colors you use, the more items you’ll need to add in order to maintain balance. Those small accessories add up fast.

The complexity of the avatar increases with each item you add. A “clutter ball” avatar piled with random items is not necessarily complex. Make sure the overall flow and balance of the avatar stays even. It takes a lot of planning and tinkering to make a good-looking cluttered avatar. Some avatars have a speckled or dotted appearance because the items are so intricately layered that only small areas of color appear. (Of course, using speckled and dotted items also help add that texture too.) With some complex avatars, the goal is to combine items so well that it’s hard to distinguish one item from another. Making a good complex cluttered avatar takes practice. Learn the basics with simple avatars and slowly work your way up. Complex cluttered avatars require a lot of layering knowledge and a lot of funds for buying items.

[Space]

• • • • Clutter
Cluttered avatars come in all sizes and shapes. An avatar becomes cluttered when too many items are added at random. A cluttered avatar has no continuity. Cluttered avatars have too many focal points that compete for your attention. The matching style is about balance. The goal is to have no focal points that distract the eye from the whole avatar.
Some styles work well with one focal point. Some matching avatars can even get away with having one focal point. However, multiple focal points usually do not fare well.

These two avatars on the right have too many items equipped in a sporadic way. There are too many focal points.



• • • • Blobby Dream Avatars
Many dream avatars are a blob of angelic or demonic items. Yes, expensive Cash Shop items often attract attention. Giant blobs don't. (That is, unless you set out to make a giant blob that looks interesting.) If you're set on including expensive Cash Shop items, pick one or two and highlight them in the avatar so that they stand out. Or pick one or two and place them on as a subtle hint of class. Giant blobs of expensive Monthly Collectibles or other 'elitist' items label you as a show off. Wearing giant blobs of MCs or EIs that have been released within the past few months make people chuckle because you're trying hard to be a show off. Just don't do it. It's not about how much the avatar is worth, but about how good the actual avatar looks.
By all means, be proud of your items. But do them justice by showcasing them in an eye-catching outfit.
You can still wear quite a few expensive items on your avatar. Heck, you can make an outfit completely out of Cash Shop items. Do so tastefully.

The first two avatars are common "dream avatars." Pause for a moment. If these items weren't worth millions, you'd think these people don't know how to dress. Woohoo, clutterball blobs. That's impressive talent. :/
The third avatar is a common sight. Many people spend all their time saving up for Cash Shop items and can't spare the gold to buy gold shop items.It makes sense. Buy the inflatable items first and the static gold shop items last. However, avatars don't look good with a bunch of random Cash Shop items added upon random clothing items.

Space

These avatars are more structured than the avatars above. The avatars are still very expensive, but the items look good.

[Space]

• • • • If you are unsure of how an item layers, [this thread] might help you.

[sdrawkcab]

Matching Guide
Post Eleven: Originality

Originality
Originality is a highly valued aspect of avatars.

• • • • Gaians value creativity and originality. A matching avatar can still look drab if other users have seen it a million times before. There are a few things that can make your avatar look unoriginal. Your color choices and item choices play a big role in the overall look of your avatar.

Color Schemes
Gaians seem to be attracted to certain color combinations. For example, many avatars around the site have the following color schemes: all black, red with black, aaand light blue and gold. You'll have a hard time standing out from the crowd if the whole crowd is wearing red and black and you're also wearing red and black. Use color schemes with lesser used colors like teal, maroon, orange, and brass. You can still use your favorite colors in your outfits. Avatars that are red and black can still look original. If your favorite colors are popular, make careful item choices. Try to use items or item combinations that aren't common.

Fads and Popular Items
Gaia will always have its fads. And certain items will be favored due to versatility. If you wear the same items that other people are wearing, you will look like them. If you look like everyone else, you won't stand out from the crowd. Gaia has tons of items to work from. Use them! You don't have to avoid the popular or favored items. However, try to pair those items with other items that other people don't see very often.


The first two avatars are examples of common avatars. They're common because lots of people wear outfits just like them.

The third and fourth examples are uncommon avatars. They still use versatile and popular items, but in a way that hasn't been seen a hundred times before.





Item Sets
Wearing a set of items is your fast ticket to unoriginal-ville. A set is a group of items that were made to pair with each other. These items usually share a keyword or phrase in their titles. For example, all of the items with the word "glamrock" in their title are considered to be a set (even if they don't match).
Do not use sets. When you wear a whole set, it looks like you lack creativity. Anyone can put a set of items together. That's really easy. The Gaia artists did all the work for you when they created the items. And, because it's easy, everyone has most likely already seen that set of items paired together. Boring.
Use items from different sets and show off your creativity. Don't take the easy way out. However, you can usually get away with wearing about two or three items from one set if you must. Pick the pieces you deem to be the most important and fill in the rest of your outfit with items from other sets. You can try to find other items of similar shapes and colors. You also have a better chance of getting away with using a set if those items don't compose the main body of your outfit. For example, if your shirt and pants come from the same set, your outfit has a high chance of looking unoriginal.


These avatars consist mostly of items from sets. They're also typical of many avatars that are seen around the site.
I try my best to avoid the use of sets. Please look at the examples located in the other posts of this guide to see more examples of set-less outfits.









• • • •
Remember, originality is highly valued, but it's not a vital aspect of the matching style. You're free to wear whatever you want. You won't get props for difficulty, but you can make a matching avatar with item sets. It's all about what makes you content and happy. If you want to wear a set, and look like you're wearing a set, then wear it.
Bear in mind that avatar contests look for original participants. Voters don't judge based on how happy the entrant is with their own avatar. Most people value originality and creativity. Wearing a set shows very low originality. The voter/rater will give you a low score. If you like your outfit, be content with that fact. Everyone's entitled to their own opinion. You're entitled to like your avatar. Other people are entitled to dislike your avatar. Don't ask for a rate if you're not willing to hear opinions and/or not willing to change your outfit. ;3

The mini-guide on dressing with style also has a post about originality. It contains redundant info, but also brings up other points and more examples. You can find that post [here].

[sdrawkcab]

Matching Guide
Post Twelve: Avatar Arena Entries

Avatar Arena Entries
This post contains a few pointers to think about before submitting your avatar into the Avatar Arena.

• • • • Description

• Always have a description. Do not leave that box blank.
  
• Proofread your description. Don't use chat speak or internet shorthand unless it goes along with your theme. Many users don't catch the satire of speaking this way on purpose, so be careful.
  
• Voters usually like to see stories written about the avatar. Try to keep the story moderately short. Voters don't want to spend all their time reading a looong story. They want to move on to the next entry. Many avatars win because their descriptions are good.
  
• If a reference picture is necessary, add one. If you're cosplaying, reference pictures are usually needed. Not everyone will know the character, no matter how popular you think the character may be. Plus, you want to show off just how close your cosplay is to the real deal. People assume that your cosplay must be bad if you don't include a reference pic.

• • • • Item Connotation

The following is a list of things to keep in mind when choosing items for your avatar. It's not a complete list, but it'll do. :]

• cig/buck teeth/clown nose/the mistake - No matter how well these items fit your avatar, many people will give low votes because they don't like these items in general. The cig might get down voted for advertising smoking.
  
• Expensive Monthly Collectibles (Or any other very expensive item) - These items either gain points or lose points depending on a voter's personal feelings towards the item. No matter how well the item matches or fits your theme, you could be downvoted for 'showing off.' On the other hand, a stray MC that does not match or fit your theme could gain you points because the voter likes that item.
  
• Newbie/N00b Items - You can either get big points for using these items in an interesting way, or lose points for using them at all. Examples include peasant clothes, starter set and the flame set.
  
• Some people are sticklers for using the item for what its intended for. For example, the magician's wand is a great item. It's a rather inexpensive handheld that aids in adding black and white to wherever you need it. It can polish off an outfit. You can even pretend that it's something other than a magicians wand. But some Gaians believe that you should only hold the wand if you are dressing up as a magician and will give you lower points for adding an item that doesn't fit your avatar.

• • • • Remember

• If you just want to see other peoples' opinions on your avatar, make a thread in the Chatter Box or the Avatar Talk forum. Users will rate and give suggestions for free. There's no use paying 1000g.
  
• Making a thread in the CB or AT is a good thing to do first. You can generally see what people think of your avatar and if you need to tweak anything. But remember, if your idea is very original, don't show it for risk of someone else copying your idea before you get the chance to enter the arena. Also, by default, AT rates according to their preferences. If you're going for a cetain theme, let them know before you ask for a rate.
  
• The voters, for the most part, vote on originality and theme. They also vote depending on whether they like the description or reference image.
  
• Be sure to have a description.
  
• Unless you have something that you know will blow their socks off, the voters have seen it all.
  
• Don't enter the arena if you know your avatar is not complete yet. The voters can see that too. Use the 1000 gold toward items for your avatar.
  
• Don't say that it is your first time and expect the voters to go easy on you... It's no excuse for a poor avatar. It doesn't get you sympathy. Many first-time entries have placed.
  
• Don't add on items like a kiki, yeti and/or mimzy just because you like them. Also, it goes over better if you refer to the mimzy as a stuffed animal bunny. Calling it a mimzy usually doesn't fit along with your story.
  
• Advertise, advertise, advertise! Show in your sig that you're in the arena. Maybe even post it in a bump thread. The more people you can get to vote for you, the better. Making an eye-catching picture for your sig often attracts more people to vote.
  
• Have fun. =]

[sdrawkcab]

Matching Guide
Post Thirteen: History / Banners /Affiliates

History / Banners /Affiliates
Any major changes are noted in this post. Banners for linking to this guide are located in this post. And Banners linking out to cool people are located in this post. ;D

• • • • To do List



• • • • Updates

• 09/18/09:
  • Avatar Making Guide: The Guild was officially opened.
    
  • Posts 1, 2, 3, and 5 were updated. I cut out a bit of rambling. This guide was written before we had EIs, RIGs, and Lucky Chests. I've updated some of the lingo since all I mentioned were MCs.
  
  
• 09/19/09:
  • More posts are being edited... Post 4, 6, and 13. ;D
  
  
• 09/20/09:
  • Updated posts: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
  
  
• 09/21/09:
  • Skin tone examples made for post seven. The undertaking of updating the main thread can now be called DONE. Finally. Now I can concentrate on the guides in the AMG guild for a while.
  
  
• 10/25/09:
  • Recycle That Roadkill made an awesome button.
  
  
• 01/28/10:
  • Major revamp! A Q&A section has been added. The large recommended items (key items) post was shrunk. The color group/ making outfits post was split into two. Post ten was left blank with Sept's update, so I removed it. The extra tekteks post was removed. Same total number of posts as before, but it feels more streamlined since a couple posts were shortened. The new intro post contains pretty much the same info, but in much less words. I thought that the Q&A post would help me shorten the first post. It only helped a tad. Oh well, it allowed me to add more info.
    People are still free to ask questions. <3
  
  
• 03/30/10:
  • The intro on post seven, first avatars, was altered.
  
  
• 04/06/10:
  • Jiti made a banner for the thread. =D
  
  
• 05/30/10:
  • The style guide was made a couple days ago. Many of the posts in this guide received small tweaks. Nothing major.
    
  • This post got a revamp. Many of the old updates/banners/etc have been removed.
    
  • It kills me, but I'm removing affiliates of dead threads. Thank you for your affiliation. However, there's no use in linking to a dead thread. It's no good to necro threads. If you were here, want back on the list, and your thread is active, please say so.
    
  • I thought that I had the banner codes up, but I didn't. I added the slim versions~ And, ew, I don't like how they look. They'll stay like this until I think up something better though.
    
  
  
• 08/17/10:
  • Jiti made another pretty banner aaand a new header for the guide. =D Wow. x .x;;; (page 1143)
  
  
• 09/10/10:
  • I started a major edit at the end of July 2010. The old how-to-make-an-outfit examples and color-group examples were moved to the Combining Color Groups Thread. My long-winded newbie post was turned into a guide of its own. That post now remains as a cheap example post. The Q&A post was removed. The first post was split into two posts.
    The color balance and mass balance post was split into two posts. Most examples were replaced or revamped to fit with current styles. There used to be an item/price list with each example. The examples now link to tektek for any item list needs. I used to include item lists so people didn't have to click anything to find info. It really stretched the posts out though. The posts now look more compact. All posts were reread. If any thoughts were incomplete or unclear, I fixed them up.
    The making avatars post will get a fourth example once tektek updates with the last gold shop item update.
  
  

• • • • Banners
Thank you to all who've made banners for this guide. <333 I really do appreciate it. You may copy/paste one of the links into your signature if you want. :3
(It was very nice of these people to make these banners for free and to include my username. If it were up to me though, my username wouldn't be included. Nor would it include expensive items. But beggars can't be choosers. XD; )
Banner makers: Spazztic Duckies, Vulpus, Recycle That Roadkill, Jiti, Jiti


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• • • • Affiliates
This post is so far down at the end. </3 Thank you for checking out this post and please do check out these nifty affiliates. :3
Rules for affiliation; If you want to link to and recommend this guide, that's super of you. Please tell me if you've linked to the guide. However, you can only be added as an affiliate if your thread is a guide (preferably about avatars) or has some good, general info about items.
Yeah, those rules don't apply to one affiliate, but the rule isn't retroactive.

[`Kumi]

Great thread ^.^

[JeeszyCreezy]

*claps* great work raw.