how do you make banners and avatars

i always wonder how does one go about making those banners that site have and the avatars people use on thier forums...please tellme guys...im going mad about this

Time and imagination.

But Photoshop doesn't hurt.

i have photoshop...but how do i make avatars,as in the .gifs for example where one roclstar is headbanging

Making animations for dummies:

Step 1: open your browser(a browser is a program for viewing webpages)
step 2: Go to http://www.google.com(a searchengine; for those who lived in a cave)
step 3: Type in: "Animated gif tutorial"
step 4: Start reading.

Michael

Google 101

Since you have PS, Adobe ImageRady should have came bundled with the program. It will allow you to make animations and save as .gif. Now follow Mikes Tutorial and you should be all set.