# Replacing avatar portraits

Currently, the registration procedure at [Passwordless.ID](https://passwordless.id) had three steps:

1. Register your device with biometrics/PIN
    
2. Select your portrait.
    
3. Fill in the profile information.
    
4. View your profile and continue.
    

The second step, the portrait selection, was kind of peculiar: it was a selection of icon-like characters. For the fans, here is an original screenshot.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1688381708039/74f97eb8-05c3-4022-865b-7a06d2d61965.png align="center")

## Let's remove that!

We wanted to improve the user experience by skipping this portrait selection altogether. Why? To ease registration even more: one step less and one less choice for the user during registration.

Instead, registration now provides a neutral-looking, randomly generated avatar picture. Simply a gradient with the username's first letter.

Here is what the generated portraits look like in their round versions:

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1688935072278/518b5e48-4691-4629-99db-026305cb9486.png align="center")

...and in their square version:

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1688934969268/9ddcf00e-7109-4ea0-b174-8764797e1972.png align="center")

Of course, every avatar is unique, with gradient direction and colors depending on the whole username, not just the first letter.