Icon creation for Vista?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]
  • Start date Start date
A

Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]

When saving in Paint, Choose File > Save As and add the .ico extension to
the file name. Select the application executable > right click > Properties
 
I guess that you personally have not tried this.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban MVP
Microsoft Windows Shell/User
 
Just changing a file extension does not change a graphic file into an icon.
The icon file has to be created to certain standards. If you try what you
said - nothing will happen. The file can't be opened, nor can it be used as
an icon.

This is why there are so many icon creation programs available for download.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban MVP
Microsoft Windows Shell/User
 
Are you making a point, It works as it did on XP. The big change from
earlier was transparancy was no longer recognised.
 
Ok Donny, follow me, I just did this on Vista:

Open MS Paint
Click Image > Attributes
I think the width and height for icons in Vista go up to 256 by 256, for
this example, we will choose 128 x 128
Click OK
Edit the image the way you like
Click File > Save As
Save it to a location where you can easily find it, I chose the desktop
I saved mine as test, choose 24 bitmap as the file type.
Close paint, go to desktop
select the "test" image file, rename test.icon
Select the application's executable you would like to change
Right click it
Click Properties
On the Shortcut tab, click "Change icon"
Click "Browse"
Select desktop
Click in the file type list box, click "All Files"
Select test.ico
Click Open
Click OK
Click OK
If a permission dialog pops up, click "Continue"

and there you have it.

I hope this satisfies Richard Urbans curiosity to find out if I know what
I'm doing. ;)
Tried and tested on Windows Vista Ultimate x64 and it works 100%

If you are working in an image editor such as Photoshop, save your images as
..png to maintain translucency.
 
I knew what you were trying to say. (-:

This is a big difference than just saving a file with a .ico file extension,
don't you think?

--


Regards,

Richard Urban MVP
Microsoft Windows Shell/User
 
Hi Folks,

Still exploring what-all I can do with Vista. Is there an easy way to
create custom Icons for my desktop from images I have on file, or find
on the 'net?

I've played with the clipping tool, and or course MS Paint, but I was
wondering how to turn it into an .ico file with what I have on hand,
instead of having to download a proggy. Is there possibly some other
program I have on hand that will do this?

If so, what steps would I take?

Thanks
Donny
 
No, you save it in the image format first. You can't use png as an icon
format.
 
Ok Donny, follow me, I just did this on Vista:

Open MS Paint
Click Image > Attributes
I think the width and height for icons in Vista go up to 256 by 256, for
this example, we will choose 128 x 128
Click OK
Edit the image the way you like
Click File > Save As
Save it to a location where you can easily find it, I chose the desktop
I saved mine as test, choose 24 bitmap as the file type.
Close paint, go to desktop
select the "test" image file, rename test.icon
Select the application's executable you would like to change
Right click it
Click Properties
On the Shortcut tab, click "Change icon"
Click "Browse"
Select desktop
Click in the file type list box, click "All Files"
Select test.ico
Click Open
Click OK
Click OK
If a permission dialog pops up, click "Continue"

and there you have it.

I hope this satisfies Richard Urbans curiosity to find out if I know what
I'm doing. ;)
Tried and tested on Windows Vista Ultimate x64 and it works 100%

If you are working in an image editor such as Photoshop, save your images as
.png to maintain translucency.
Click to expand...

Worked like a charm, thanks. Can I use .png's instead of .ico's as
well? I tried that and it won't let me assign a .png as a desktop
icon.

Nice work, and fast, too!

Donny
 
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