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2024-06-05

How to Make an Emoji of Yourself for Slack

Personal emojis are a fun way to add your identity to Slack conversations. Whether you want to react with your own facial expressions or create a cartoon version of yourself, a personal emoji adds a unique touch to workplace communication. Here's how to create one in just a few minutes.

Why Make an Emoji of Yourself?

  • Add personality to your digital communication
  • Create recognizable reactions that teammates associate with you
  • Make remote work feel more personal and connected
  • Express emotions that are uniquely yours

Option 1: Photo-Based Emoji (The Quick Method)

The simplest approach is to start with a photo:

Step 1: Get a Good Photo

  • Choose a clear, well-lit headshot
  • Make sure your face is clearly visible
  • Use an expressive photo (smiling, surprised, thinking, etc.)

Step 2: Remove the Background

  1. Upload your photo to a background removal tool like Remove.bg
  2. Download the transparent PNG version

Step 3: Crop and Resize

  1. Crop the image tightly around your face
  2. Resize to 128×128 pixels (Slack's recommended size)
  3. Make sure the file is under 128KB

Step 4: Add to Slack

  1. In Slack, click your workspace name
  2. Select "Customize Slack"
  3. Click "Add Custom Emoji"
  4. Upload your processed image
  5. Name it (e.g., :your-name: or :your-name-reaction:)

Option 2: Cartoon-Style Emoji (The Creative Method)

For a more stylized look:

Step 1: Use an Avatar Creator

Several apps and websites can create cartoon versions of yourself:

Step 2: Customize Your Avatar

  • Make it resemble you (hair, eyes, facial features)
  • Choose an expressive pose or reaction
  • Keep it simple – details may get lost at small sizes

Step 3: Export and Process

  1. Take a screenshot of your avatar
  2. Remove the background if needed
  3. Crop and resize to 128×128 pixels
  4. Optimize file size to under 128KB

Step 4: Upload to Slack

Follow the same steps as the photo method to add to your workspace.

Option 3: Custom-Drawn Emoji (The Personal Touch)

If you're artistic or know someone who is:

  1. Draw a simple cartoon version of yourself
  2. Scan or photograph your drawing
  3. Process it for Slack (transparent background, proper size)
  4. Upload to your workspace

Creating a Set of Personal Reaction Emojis

Why stop at one? Create a set of personal reactions:

  • :you-thumbsup: - Your face giving a thumbs up
  • :you-thinking: - Your thoughtful expression
  • :you-celebrate: - Your celebration face
  • :you-confused: - Your puzzled look

Best Practices

  • Keep it professional - These will be visible to colleagues
  • Make it recognizable - Even at small sizes
  • Consider file size - Slack has a 128KB limit
  • Be consistent - If creating multiple, maintain a similar style

Conclusion

Personal emojis are a small but meaningful way to bring your personality into digital workspace communication. They help teammates recognize your reactions quickly and add a human element to text-based conversations.

Need help creating the perfect emoji of yourself? Try our emoji creator tool for easy editing and optimization specifically for Slack!