when you use text smilies when you talk to your aim contacts through gmail do they stay in text format or do they convert to graphic smilies in AIM? How about when you use graphic smilies from gtalk to aim, do they stay in the gtalk graphic form or do they convert to AIM's graphic form?

Also, how come not all the text/graphic smilies gtalk offers are not available to click from in the quick emoticons box? And is there a way to customize it?

Any received from another service will be in the style of the service you are using.

Example
1: Sends :) from AIM, sees AIM style
2: Receives GTalk style :-) from AIM user
Works Vice Versa

I don't understand the last question *blushes and runs away*

thanks james

In regards to the last question, when you chat with someone you get the option of using text, circle, or square smilies. when you click on the text smilies you don't get the full menu to choose from, e.g., you can't choose the heart or the monkey smilie.

maybe its because they are kind of like Easter eggs...

You know what i noticed? You can't bold or italicize text chatting in AIM through gmail. The person who uses AIM will see * and _ before and after the text.

really? how do you normally do it in AIM? does that work?

to do it in AIM you normally just click the bold or italic button. But if you do it through gmail then you must do it the * or _ way. However, gmail way does not convert for AIM.