GIFs and name colours are unlocked with XP. The forum spends XP but never pays any out: XP is earned in LearningHub, TypingHub and the rest of the site, and the forum is one place to spend it.
GIFs
The GIF button in the message box, or /gif, opens the GIF picker. It has a search box (well done, oops, thinking and so on), the GIFs you own under Yours, and the whole library under All GIFs.
- A handful of starter GIFs are free for everyone.
- Every other GIF is a collectible. A locked one shows its cost; unlocking it spends that XP once, and it is then yours to send for good.
- If the balance is short, the picker says how much more is needed and nothing is taken.
- GIFs can only be sent every so often, so a room does not fill up with them.
Name colours and banners
In the forum's Settings, Colours lists the name colours and the banner colours. A name colour is worn on your name everywhere in the forum. A banner colour sits behind your name on your profile card, the card that opens when someone clicks your name.
Name colours are grouped by rarity, from Common up to Legendary, and the rarest ones shimmer gently. They stay still on a device set to reduce motion. Every colour is checked so it stays easy to read in both the light and the dark theme.
Each colour shows its cost beside your balance. Buying one spends the XP once and it stays yours, so you can switch between the colours you own at any time without paying again.
Teachers
Teachers and staff have every GIF and every colour without spending XP.
If something looks wrong
An unlock either completes or takes nothing, and pressing twice never charges twice. If XP seems to have gone without the GIF or colour appearing, tell us through Contact us.