Creating Icons

[Severn Bore]

Hi

Can anyone please recommend a free program fo creating icons?

Thanks in anticipation.

[ronwil]

There have been earlier threads on this subject which you may be able to locate using search.

However, I make my original creation in Photoshop usually from an image within the sequence, cropping it to 4x4 ratio. I then add lettering usually three characters otherwise they will not show. I then reduce the image to 32 x 32 pixels and save as a *.jpg file.

Next I use the IrfanView programme a freebie downloaded on the Internet. There are various sites if you search, but try www.IrfanView.com. Once you have the programme, open it and select File>Open and your saved file above. Check from Image>Resize Resample that the image is still 32x 32 pixels and from Image>Decrease color depth that it is set at 256 colors (here I have found it necessary for use in PTE to select 16 colors then back to 256 colors, don’t ask me why)

Then, still in IrfanView, File>Save as>File Type>ICO-Windows Icon, give it a file name and select where you want it saved. I have a separate folder for my icons.

Ron [uK]

[denwell]

Try this :

www.telegraphics.com.au

Here's a little plugin file for saving icon file direct from an image made in Photoshop.

Just copy the file into your Photoshop Plugins directory and the ability to save as *.ico format apppears when you save/saveas - easy as that !

Den (NE UK)

[ronwil]

Den

I have the plugin which enables me to save as a Windows Icon (*.ico) file in Photoshop 7, but I find that this is not always accepted in PTE, hence my method suggested earlier, using Irfanview which always works.

Ron [uK]

[Kurt S]

My favorite Icon editor is Axialis IconWorkshop. Make great icons and can work with transparent channels.

it's not free (shareware) but if you can handle the nag screen at staartup, it's fully functional with no expiration limits.

[Severn Bore]

Hi Everyone

I knew I could rely on forum members to come up with some good suggestions. Will try them all. Thanks for your help.

[Guest guru]

You can try also this simple, free but very convenient software: Randy's Icon Editor (IconEdit 1.5). 185 KB, no installation. Allows transparency but can use only 16 colors (not so serious limitation, in my opinion).

[leroyb]

I use a handy shareware program called, "IconToy 3.1". It has a 30 day free trial, and to register it's $15 US

http://www.lighttek.com/toy.htm