Icon Creation

from WinCustomize Forums
Hi there one and all I'm a newbie so be gentle.

I want to start bulding up libraries of Icons fro XP but have no idea of how to convert my images into .ico files. I did hear that you can just re-name .bmp files but I am a bit dubious about this!

Can anyone point me in the direction of an app or tute that will sort this out for me?

Cheers!
2,693 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Most Icon editing programs will import a bitmap and save it as an icon. I use Axialis IconShop and IconForge. They both will perform this function. Also, they both will save the icons in an icl, but Axialis does a better job of this (IMO).
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I posted a similar thread like your on this messageboard. So i think that i need to help you.
Do you need a program that converts your graphics to .ico files (individual icon files with multiple sizes) or .icl libraries (libraries of .ico files).
Some good programs for making this tasks are:
-Axialis IconWorkshop: http://www.axialis.com/iconworkshop/index.html
Very good and complete program for creating/editing icons. This is shareware.
-Icon Sushi: http://towofu.s5.xrea.com/soft/e-index.html
Good program for creating/editing icons. This is freeware.
You can use these or others programs. Iconworkshop are better if you need to create icons for XP and older Windows versions.
Icon Sushi are faster if you wish to create individual .ico files.
How to create icons for WIndowsXP?:
Create your graphic on a cubic size (i.e 64x64 pixels) and 32 BITS colour depth. Save this as a .png file with transparency (if you create your graphic in a program such Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, make the background transparent, when you saving it saves with smoth transparent mask).
Reduce your image to a small size. Repeat this step until you create all sizes you need. Windows deffault sizes are: 16x16, 24x24, 32x32 and 48x48 (Micrososft don't recommends the 24x24 sizes). If you wish to perform an Icon Package, you can also add 64x64 and 72x72 sizes (72x72 not works always correctly).
Then create a new .ico file on any icon's program and select all files yo are created, and create the final .ico file.
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Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Listen to Carlitus. @iconSushi is definitely cool. You should try that one to convert your graphics.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
yeah but it does not let you convert a .jpg nor .gif right?
no biggy you can convert those into .bmp and then open and create I guess...
(talk about lazy)
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
.jpg --> no transparency
.gif --> single colour transparency
.png --> alpha transparency (256 colours)

And seeing icons in XP support alpha transparency these days, .png is the format to use.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
hmm interesting, I've been making icons for programs for ppc apps (some support .gif & .jpg) others will only take .ico
(never tried .png yet, I must try tomorrow)
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Oh. And a little note: You cannot just rename bmp to ico becuase, althouhg some versions of windows will display OK, it is using a bitmap filter to ashow the image, not a icon one. This means that on some versions (w2k & XP), the transparency does not always show. And of course, it is not the corrent way. Just do what the guys above say (import bmp and save ico).

And a couple of icon progs I like: ArtIcons Pro from Ahasoft, and MicroAngelo (umm... who makes that???).