Farr-Out Links to Learning » Gee-Wiz Generators

Putting on a New Face

Jen — Sat, 01 May 2010 04:47:07 +0000

How many times have you wished you could change the image that stares back at you from the mirror? With Web 2.0 tools you can give yourself a face-lift, take off several pounds, or simply imagine a new you! I took a little time to play with a few online tools today that could be used to put a new face on you, your colleagues, family, friends, or students. Customize an avatar or design a new who-ever using some of the tools I am sharing in post today.

Face Your Manga – “…realize your virtual alter?ego” as you shape a customized avatar that can be used with Instant Messaging Programmes or as a logo for your classroom website, notepads, and more. Give students an opportunity to create personal avatars. Then post them on your SMARTboard or bulletin board to see if students can recognize their classmates among the avatar images. Check out my sample below…

myWebFace – create a comic version of yourself using the Create a Cartoon You option of this Web 2.0 site or upload a photo of yourself and use the numerous filters available in the PhotoFX section of the site to style your photo with a number of different effects. I have posted some of my sample experiments below…

Pimp the Face.com – this site reminds me of the drawings that witnesses create with police artists following a crime. The generator was fairly simple to use, but the self portrait result I am sharing below looks like it should be in a police blotter…

Of course my favorite face is still the one I created using Voki and posted on the left-hand side of my blog. Any time you can add voice to a character (or new face) life is good!

If you enjoyed this post you might enjoy the following past posts as well:

Six Sweetheart Generators

Jen — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 04:29:41 +0000

In honor of Valentine’s weekend I am sharing sweetheart generators that you can send out via emails, post online, or cut out to create your own homemade and personalized valentine. Enjoy!

Glitter Word Generator

Candy Heart Generator -personalize some calorie-free sweetheart candies as you use this generator. I have posted a sample below for your review (image reduced from original size).

Word Hearts Generator – type words in the generator separated by commas to create a filled in heart. Image needs to be captured using print screen and an editing program, but it’s still a really neat concept. Do you recognize the famous poem used to the fill the heart below?

WishAFriend.com: Single Grunge Heart Generator – sample shown below (if sample does not show immediately try refreshing your screen):

Make a Grunge Heart at Wishafriend.com

Satisfaction – personalize a big ol’ beating heart for your loved one.

Beating Heart Generator
Comments – Graphics – Layouts

Cryptogram – another heart generator

Thumbs Up to Thumbnail Generators

Jen — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:39:00 +0000

I often use web screenshots when creating online activities for younger students. A thumbnail shot gives students a preview image they can click on to go to a link. I have found that thumbnail images that serve as a hyper link are easier for younger students to click on than hyper linked text. In the past the process I used to create my thumbnail screen shots was tedious and time-consuming (print screen, open Photoshop, crop the image, resize, and save). The thumbnail generator I am sharing today will save you (and me) scads of time! Check them out!

Thumbizy was one of my favorite thumbnail generators (to date). I have included a mini tutorial image below. You do not need to register to use the generator and the images were clear and more complete than some of the other generators I tested.

Kwout is another screenshot service that offers simple, easy to use screen shot functionality. You do need to install and use a Kwout bookmarklet to use this tool, but it is easy to use and very customizable. Below, you will see a screenshot of the bookmarklet and the sample Kwout customization page that appears when you click on the bookmarklet.

Other sites that offer free thumb nail generation include….

Thumboo – registration and confirmation is required. The generator is intuitive, but customization is limited.
Bitpixels – not registration required, simple interface, no customization