Icon-A-Day, Icon # 65, Program Group Folder

Not as simple as I planed it to be.

from WinCustomize Forums
Icon 65 (Program Group)

I wanted to do another simple icon today, but it turned out a bit more of a project then I had expected. So here we go, lets make a Programs Folder.
 
Step 1:

We will start with a copy of our Active X folder. I remove the X and its shadow and reflection.

 Step 2:

Now I want to make a little Explorer Window with some programs in it. So I draw the simple shapes with boxes.

 Step 3:

I take those boxes and group them, then I slant them back against the folder with the perspective tool.

 
Step 4:

Now I take some new boxes and with the Mesh tool start going over the title bar area of my Explorer window. I give it the same sort of look we are using on the folders.

 Step 5:

You can see here that I end up with 5 Mesh fill objects, "Skinning" my Explorer window.


 Step 6:

Now I copy a few of my earlier icons and make a sort of "List View" to go in the icon area of the Explorer window.

Step 4:

To save a bit of time I convert my new "List View" Into a bitmap. Using The Bitmap Effects I give it a bit of perspective. Then I tweak it a bit with size and skew to make it fit in the icon Area.

 Step 4:

To polish off our Explorer Window I give it 3 Command buttons and some boxes to flesh out the Shellstyle area. I also give the frame of the window some texture, copied from the folder. Last I give the Window a little Gloss.

 Step 4:

I don't think it is showing up well, so I go back in with the Mesh tool and darken some of the colors for a bit more contrast.
I also give the icon our standard Reflection.

Step 4:

To finish up we go in and give the new Explorer window a nice drop shadow.

  

Finished Icon design.

  




Click here to download the finished icon.

Well, that's one more folder down, tomorrow we will try and finish up another. See ya then.

Read the other Icon-A-Day Articles: (Icon-A-Day Index)

Check out the CorelDRAW for Skinner Index, for links to all the related Video Tutorials.

And don't forget to check for all the Icon-A-Day icons as they get made, in the Miscellaneous Icons Gallery at Wincustomize.com
All Images and Text in this tutorial are © Paul Boyer, and may not be reused without written permission.

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8,001 views 3 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I haven't commented before in your icon a day, but all of your icons and descriptions is great!
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hope the move went well, thanks for taking the time on this one today, Paul.
Start11 - Customize the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10/11.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hey, maybe the window style is a nice idea for a Window Blinds skin to go with this icon pack.
Almost forgot to say, the icon is great as the icon-a-day icons always are.