Icon - Make from Image

Yes it will display in IcoFx But it will not let you build it the correct way.
Jerry

I must correct myself I can build it with IcoFx using the different color bit.
Thank you kado897 for pointing that out.
Jerry

No problem Jerry. I was just about to post this.

This is an interesting article on Vista icons. I think Win 7 is much the same.Icons

Excuse me, everyone, I still don't understand how to make an icon. I've tried it but my icon doesn't have a transparent background. Can someone help me please? Thank you very much.


Never mind, figure it out, thanks.

Registered solely for those who are trying to follow this tutorial and are as frustrated as I am... here are some minor corrections/additions that may help them.

Follow the tutorial steps #2 thru #7 but change your file saves to reflect the following formats. (This is alluded to later on but the reference doesn't make sense to those who have not done this before.):

Save these in the first group with a unique filename (ex: 'Save As 5_32b_alpha'):

256x256 32bit + Alpha
48x48: 32bit + Alpha
32x32: 32bit + Alpha
24x24: 32bit + Alpha
16x16: 32bit + Alpha

Delete the first image as mentioned in step #6) then save these in the second group using a unique filename (ex 'Save as 4_8b_256'):

48x48: 8bit 256
32x32: 8bit 256
24x24: 8bit 256
16x16: 8bit 256

Save these in the final group again saving as a unique filename (ex 'Save as 4_4b_16'):

48x48: 4bit 16
32x32: 4bit 16
24x24: 4bit 16
16x16: 4bit 16

I had quite a bit of difficulty figuring out just WTH was being said in some of the steps (missing punctuation & words) so here are 'de-frustrated' instructions for the following steps:

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Step #9) - You will see the five images in the GIMP layers box.

Click on the top layer in IcoFX and then drag the second image containing the four 256-bit layers onto the GIMP workspace. It should be on top of the first five images. (A small outline box will appear.)

Click on the top layer in IcoFX again and then drag the image with four 8-bit layers into the GIMP work space. You should now have 13 layers total. (Take a look up top where it should mention (RGB color, 13 layers) after your file image name.)

Step #10) - The newest version of GIMP (currently v2.8.22) no longer functions this way. You will have to use 'EXPORT AS...' to export the 13 layer image as an .ico manually. There was no direct 'Windows Icon' function found in the latest version (v2.8.22).




It also helps to get the Devices and Printers Metadata Authoring Wizard from MicroSoft after you finally muddle together a custom icon. It will let you know immediately if your custom icon is not suitable and show what is in (and not in) the package. It also lets you set the MetaData so that your fancy custom icon will impress hot chicks and attract all the cool electrons from neighboring networks.

Once I deciphered the 'plain language' way to do this it wasn't hard but was absolutely tearing my hair out trying to figure out what was 'unsaid & implied'. Hope this helps anyone else who stumbles this way.