I’ve taken the liberty of visiting some Web sites of fellow Dopers. A few sites are devoted to “dolls” … apparently bitmapped caricature-like graphics, usually of girls and women. (Sorry, but that’s the best way I can describe it.)
Where did online “dolling” get its start? Why does it appeal to some? How big is the “dolling” community?
Nope … like this.
Virtual paper dolls! They’re quite neat 
Bump. Since some Dopers are involved, including one with more then 15,000 posts, I was hoping that they would chime in.
Guess not. Mods: please delete this thread.
Hey, hey, stop. Your thread isn’t even a day old.
I, too, have wondered at why people have created those personalized Doll images. I’ll bring links when I come back shortly.
This one has links to other doll pages and is quite impressive, offering "preps, minis, guyz, couples, groups, ravers, skaters, wonderkins and fairies plus much more. "
It also has a messageboard! Perhaps the answer to your question as to why people make these lies somewhere on that site.
And why do they always seem to be punk teenager dolls?
ME!!!
Check out my link-I do dolls all the time.
They were started as “avatars” for a chat called the Palace, and then they really took off. A lot of them are really cheesy, but I try to make mine more as period costumes, movie and tv characters, not the little Britney Spears crap. They’re a LOT of fun to do-mostly for people like me, who love clothes, vintage, movies, etc.
Also, for those wanting to learn:
xandorra.co.uk
over-the-moon.org/dollz
Both have excellent tutorials and links for doll making.
In a similar vein: KiSS (aka Kisekae Set system).
Yeah, but KiSS dolls are more of a drag and drop program. I know some who use KiSS bases and make them from scratch, like I do.
I think the reason the doll thing appeals to people is because you can make them little represatations of you, like in some message boards for examples, your allowd to post pics/gifs, people post these doll thingies along with there name accross the front or whatever, and its a way of signing off a post… I guess thats the appeal of it… Or the fact that you can make them to represent your friends and stuff to. There not actually too hard to make, the basic dolls that is… get them moving and animated is tricky enough but when you get the hang of it its not so bad…
If your interested in making them… I know a couple people who have some sites about them, & making them…
Oh and there usually made in Animation Shop and Psp.
AS for when it all started: no idea! I think it was about a year ago I first saw some but Im not quiet sure, but that doesnt mean anything.
As for how big is the doll community… Absolutely Massive!
Oh and you can get some male dolls to
Anyway Im gonna shut up now…