How to substitute an iChat buddy icon

Have you ever wished you could substitute someone’s iChat buddy icon? Maybe you’d prefer to see a favorite photo for close family members or perhaps you have a friend with questionable buddy icon taste. Whatever the reason, it’s quite easy to override the iChat buddy icon by replacing it with one of your own. Here’s how.

To replace a buddy icon, open iChat and Control+Click or Right Click on a name in your Buddy List. Choose Show Profile from the contextual menu that appears and then select the Address Card tab.

Now simply drag a preferred photo or image from the Finder to the Picture box to replace the existing picture. Be sure that you check the box labeled Always use this picture or the old buddy picture will reappear later.