Create a dynamic display picture

Creating a dynamic display picture is one of the most entertaining ways to personalise the new Windows Live Messenger — all you need is a webcam and few silly faces to pull, and then you're just a few clicks away.

Once you've set your webcam and decided on your mood, expression, gesture, action or whatever it is you hope to capture, all you have to do is follow the next few easy steps to create your dynamic display picture.

1. Open the "Tools" menu. Select the "Change display picture" option.

2. You will be presented with the "Select a Display Picture" screen, select the "Tile with moods" tab.
Handy hint: To activate this feature, ensure that your webcam is plugged in first.

3. You will be presented with five frames — each one needs to be filled with a snapshot or a four-second video. You can assign an emoticon (mood) to four of the slots. The first will act as your default Messenger profile picture.

4. When you've taken all of your shots hit "Done" to save changes.
Handy hint: Did you know that Windows Live Messenger now accepts animated GIF files as profile pictures?