Get into the spirit of Halloween by changing your photos with Picnik‘s Halloween Tools! This article will show you how to edit your avatar photos to celebrate Halloween.

I had so much fun trying on different looks for Halloween – I got to see myself become different characters without the annoyance of washing the face paint off later.

Using “Ogre Vision” to warp the area of my eye, “Zombify” to green my skin, “Ghoul Eye” to color my eyes, “Wounds” to add a gash and a stitched slash, and “Halloween Props” to add a spider to my shoulder, I went Ogre.

Next, I did a really simple, but effectively spooky edit. With one click on “Ghostify” and a quick adjustment of the focus to my eye, I went all Ghost.

And if we’re talking Halloween, how could I ignore the draw of the porcelain skin and fangs? So I used “Draculan Dermis” to make my skin pale, “Fangs” to stick in some good canines, “Vampire Eyes” to go blood red in the eyes, and then “VampiraScope” to throw a moonlight look over the whole thing. And so there was Vampire Lotus.

To round out my collection, I needed braaaainnnnnnssss. Okay, not yet, but I would once I became an Undead Zombie. I took a lot of time on this one, and it turned out very creepy.

I used “Zombify” to mottle my skin – I played with colors and the level of decay for the base, and I went back and did spots in a darker shade, to give it even more of a decayed look. I also used this effect to go over my hair because it gave it a dark, greasy rotten look. I even applied it very lightly in different colors to my shirt, b/c it looked too white and needed the stains of weeping skin. “Wounds” was really important, and I used several different ones, with sizes adjusted, to really damage myself. Finally, I used “Ghoul Eye” to give my eyes a milky, glazed, bluish look. And with all of that, I became Undead.

You really have to try this – it’s easy to use and horrifyingly fun. Be careful though, it can be quite addictive. I’m not going to say I spent days playing with it practically nonstop, while my child went neglected because it was REALLY important for me to get the perfect fang placement, but… well. It really is fun.

And I made it up to him by turning him into a vampire, too. Warning: It is ultra creepy to see your child become an Immortal Undead Bloodsucker. Even if it’s just a photo.

(But also kind of awesome.)

Most of the Halloween effects are free, but some of the effects are only for “Premium” Members. It’s not expensive ($24.95/year), and I highly recommend it. You’ll find great things to use there all year long.

Hop over to Picnik, use these tips, and turn your photos and avatars into Halloween masterpieces!