WordPress offers native a series of smilies automatically generated when capturing the shortcut to which they refer. For example, typing ":)" WordPress convert the text image at the publication of an article to get a smiley such . Here is a simple trick that allows you to replace Smilies default by those of your choice which will not fail to give a more personal to your site or blog.

Procedure installation / replacement

With the help of your favorite FTP client, open the following directory:

  / wp-includes/images/smilies / 

Here are stored Smilies default. We can only replace them with those of your choice. Above all, do a complete backup of the file on your PC case to avoid any inconvenience unexpected.

2 solutions now available to you:

• Either you create émoticones one by one by hand;
• Either you download from the Internet;

Packs émoticones

Believing that the second solution would override the first, so I took the trouble to concoct a list of sites offering smilies to download:

• PNGs Smile for WordPress (English): click Download now and then unzip the archive. For info, these are the ones currently used on the blog. Requires that you convert to GIF;
• Emoticons Pack for WordPress (English): very good list, the download link below the list of smilies. No conversion required;
• Pack Emoticones Post-It (french) proposed on the blog Niss.fr, they are the ones that I used on the old version of the blog. They have the look of a post-it;
• Skype Smilies with WordPress: very comprehensive list although it is necessary to rename files to match the name WordPress;
• WordPress Yahoo / MSN Messenger Style Smileys Plugin (English): Series of émoticones comprising those of Yahoo! and MSN Messenger. Although it is here also possible to rename files to match those of WordPress, you can also install the plugin site. For direct download here;

Use plugins

Many WordPress plugins can manage collections of smilies without having to worry about anything. They suggest, furthermore, to display a list of quick access in the editor or articles in the module comment, much more convenient for visitors not familiar syntax to use.

Among them are noted:

• Custom Smile: the weight of its kind, one must of course;
• WP Grins: a good alternative to previous although less complete;
• Smilies Themer: just as good as the previous;

Now that you know how to customize it to your liking smilies on your blog, do not hesitate to share your packs émoticones!