Windows 7 - Transparent Desktop Icons

Hello All,

I was just wondering if anyone knew of a way to get semi-transparent desktop icons, like how the gadgets work. I dont want the shadow on the font, and whenever i google "transparent desktop icons" thats all that shows up. I cant find anything and i was wondering if anyone has had better luck and/or knows of a solution. Maybe im just one of a kind here.

Anyway, Thanks in advanced

Posermobile89

The only thing that I could suggest is.
If your desktop icons are always the same, like recycle bin and three or four programs etc. I'd make some semi-transparent icons for each of them.
OR.
Go to and open your desktop folder, select all, r-click one of them to bring up the context menu, click properties, select hidden, apply, OK. In your Windows Explorer, click Tools on the menu bar, select folder options, then view tab, check show hidden files, folders and drives. That just leaves your recycle bin to deal with. For that you will have to change the icons.

You may try Stardock IconX . It may fulfill your needs .

1. Create your own icons or icon files form images and more by using a third party utility. IrFanview is an excellent example.
2. 2
   Download the program "Irfanview".
3. 3
   Place the program in the Icon folder your created above. Create a new folder named Icons if you do not already have one.
4. 4
   Open any icon or image file, including an image you may have created yourself in a paint program.
5. 5
   Insure the image is square.
   1. Square the image by choosing Image->Resize.
   2. Select Resample.
   3. Select a size, either 16 or 32 pixels.
   4. Click OK.
6. 6
   Insure the correct color depth
   1. Open the image again
   2. Click Decrease Color Depth
   3. Select the number of colors.
   4. Click OK.
7. 7
   Save image where you want, but select ICO (Windows Icon) file type.
8. 8
   If you select Save Transparent Color, you can select the invisible image color, so its background look transparent and look the same as your desktop.

This information was quoted from: How to Change or Create Desktop Icons for Windows - wikiHow

Haha, wow, talk about doing it the hard way!

Just install IcoFX, open your whatever sized picture, and draw transparency around where you want it

I have an application in the Software > Projects section that'll make your icons transparent in maybe 3 clicks or so, but be warned that it also affects the desktop wallpaper... if it changes, it'll overlap the current wallpaper and could cause some lag. But it's a quick way of getting it done.

I tried your application, but it doesnt seem to effect the icons. It works on the others ive tried, but no matter what i do, the icons stay the same. (Though this looks promising, and just what ive been looking for)

Huh, I thought it worked for me before. Oh well.
Go ahead and use it as you like.

All I should have to do is run it, select "Affect Desktop and Icons?" and click Okay, correct?

Yup, that's all there is to it.