View source for Avatar

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A [[Resident]] of [[Second Life]] appears in the virtual [[World]] as a 3D representation called an Avatar, which is how the Resident is seen by other users of the system. Each Resident can have many different Avatars, stored in [[Inventory]], although only one Avatar can be "worn" at a time.

==Avatar Name==
You select your [[Avatar Name]] during the [[Signup]] process, and it cannot be changed afterwards. For more information about Avatar Names and choosing them, see: [[Avatar Name]].

==Avatar Appearance==
The basic Avatar starts with a male or female human [[Shape]] and other [[Body Part]]s. These may be customized in a variety of ways, modifying the appearance through:
*Replacing the basic [[Body Parts]] by others
*Using built-in sliders and colour choices in the [[Appearance Window]]
*Attaching specially created [[Object]]s to the Avatar

Avatars thus modified may take any form the user chooses: animal, vegetable or mineral.

Avatars wear [[Clothing]] which is stored in [[Inventory]] and can be put on or taken off at will. As with the Avatar body, clothing can be customized in many ways. Clothing may be modified by:
*Taking off clothing items and putting on others
*Modifying existing clothing items using built-in sliders and choices of colour and texture in the [[Appearance Window]]
*Creating new clothing

Many [[Resident]]s purchase pre-made [[Body Part]]s and [[Clothing]] fabricated by other Residents

==Avatar Animations==
Avatars can also be controlled through animations, which include:
*Simple [[Gesture]]s built-in to the [[User Interface]]
*A set of basic [[Animation]]s, such as [[Dancing|Dances]], provided in the [[Library]]
*Resident-created [[Animation]]s made with [[Script]]s

==Alts==
A single [[Resident]] [[Account]] has only one Avatar at a time, although the appearance of this avatar can change as much and as often as the Resident wishes.

A single person may also have multiple accounts, and thus appear to be multiple Residents. One person's multiple accounts are referred to as [[Alt]]s.

==Avatar Pie Menu==
Right-clicking on [[Avatar]] (either yours or another Resident's) will open the [[Avatar Pie Menu]]. This window offers a direct way to see another Resident's [[Profile]], send them an [[Instant Message]], or interact with them in other ways.

==See Also==
*[[Resident]]
*[[Alt]]
*[[Avatar Name]]
*[[Appearance Window]]
*[[Avatar Pie Menu]]
*[[Profile]]

==External Links==
*Second Life History Wiki: http://secondlife.wikia.com/wiki/Avatar
*Wikipedia paragraph about Residents and Avatars: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Life#Residents_and_Avatars

[[Category:Avatar]]