If you're a Windows XP user, you've surely noticed the little images that display next to the names of each user who has permission to login to your computer.

Image 1: Simulation of Welcome screen with logos.

You may have noticed that you have the option of changing these images by selecting from a group of additional logos.

Image 2: Windows display of stock login images.

However, did you know that you also have the freedom to customize your login logo by using just about any image you want?

Image 3: Dian's custom login icons.

Read on to see how easily your computer can be set up to greet you with your favorite picture—your kids, your spouse, pets...whatever!

Finding the Right Picture

Windows will allow you to use just about any image you'd like as your custom Welcome Screen image. However, there are a few considerations you'll want to think about...

The Size

You might have this really great photo that you'd like to use, but it's huge! There are lots of great photo editing programs available. Personally, I prefer Paint Shop Pro (PSP). You can download a free, 30-day, trial version by clicking HERE.

Note! I wrote an article for Computor Companion Magazine that explains how to resize photos using Paint Shop Pro. You can get to the article by clicking this link: Edit Digital Photos.

If you just double click the image, you'll discover what photo program is your default. By reading the above article, you may find that your program has similar tools for editing, so it might help you get started.

The Subject

You might also have a great shot, but even if you resize it, you'll realize that the subject in the photo is too difficult to view, because the subjects are very small in relationship to the overall image.

In that case you'll need to crop your photo—remove the excess portions of the image to make the subjects more prominent.

Although PSP has a cropping tool, the easiest way to capture the portion you want from a photo, using PSP, is to use the Selection Tool, draw a selection net (or marquee) around the part you want.

Image 4: Photo in PSP with area selected.

Once you capture the portion of the photo you want, you can simply hit Ctrl/C to copy that selection to the Clipboard and then hit Ctrl/V to paste it into a new image.

Image 5: Newly selected area now displayed in it's own image window in PSP.

A quick resize, using Alt/I+E and you're ready to save the new image.

Note! Just incase you accidentally altered the original photo while you were making adjustments to your new seletion, be sure not to resave the original, so you don't save changes you didn't mean to save!

Inserting a Custom Photo

Now that you've made any necessary adjustments, so that you have the best possible image to use, you just need to choose it as your new login logo.

To do this, click Start/Control Panel and locate the User Account icon.

Image 6: User Accounts icon in the Control Panel.

Click to open it. There you'll find all the User Accounts on your system. Click on the one you want to modify.

Image 7: Display of accounts on Dian's system.

Once within the bounds of that account, you'll find options to make various changes. Use caution if you decide you want to mess with any of these other options!

Image 8: Display of Dian's account options.

Click the Change my picture option. This will take you to the Windows stock images. You won't see your photo listed there. However, notice the option to Browse for more pictures. Click that option. A file dialog box will open which will allow you to ferret around your hard drive to find the photo you want.

Image 9: Windows User Account photo dialog.

Tada! Your image is now customized. Just close this window. The next time you login to your computer, your new picture will greet you!

Image 10: User Accounts with revised images.

So now when you breakup with that boyfriend—it's easy to change to that new photo!<evil grin>