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 Post subject: How to create ICONS with GIMP
PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 7:15 am  (#1) 
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This is a simple tutorial for making Icons swith GIMP. I tried this with Windows so far I can't be sure how it works with others.

1. Create an Image in GIMP that fits 128x128 (or 36x36) px box
2. If the size is bigger than that you might want to adjust it. Remember that it may look pixelated depending on how it looks.
3. Save as GIMP (in case you want to edit it again)
4. Save/Export the file as PNG for transparency.
5. Save/Export the file as DotIcon .ico file.
6. Find a program that you want to change then right click to Properties.
7. Click Customize then Change Icon.
8. Select the Icon you made (make sure it is the .ico file) then click OK.

I did have some problems with the border because it shows up in the .ico file. I don't know how to deal with that. And I haven't made something as good as that Firefox logo. Some of it looks really pixelated.


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 Post subject: Re: How to create ICONS with GIMP
PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 9:29 am  (#2) 
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You need to start with an image 256x256

You would be much better off creating an icon file containing all the possible sizes of icon so that you don't rely on the operating system scaling your images badly.

You make one layer for each size of icon.

I have attached an example .xcf file.

When you export the .ico file make sure the largest layer isn't saved as compressed.

Kevin


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 Post subject: Re: How to create ICONS with GIMP
PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 10:24 am  (#3) 
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What Kevin said. You may even want to start with 512px X 512px.

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 Post subject: Re: How to create ICONS with GIMP
PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 10:32 am  (#4) 
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Also consider, Optimizing for High Resolution.

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 Post subject: Re: How to create ICONS with GIMP
PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 1:02 pm  (#5) 
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I agree with the other.
Starting at 16x16 than 32x32, 128x128, 256x256 and finally 512x512, when making your icon.

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 Post subject: Re: How to create ICONS with GIMP
PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 3:15 pm  (#6) 
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Wallace wrote:
I agree with the other.
Starting at 16x16 than 32x32, 128x128, 256x256 and finally 512x512, when making your icon.


The three most useful sizes are 16x16, 32x32, and 48x48. Hi-res displays may render the 64x64 size useful.

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 Post subject: Re: How to create ICONS with GIMP
PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 3:58 pm  (#7) 
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ofnuts wrote:
Wallace wrote:
I agree with the other.
Starting at 16x16 than 32x32, 128x128, 256x256 and finally 512x512, when making your icon.


The three most useful sizes are 16x16, 32x32, and 48x48. Hi-res displays may render the 64x64 size useful.

All the icons that I've made are all 256x256.

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 Post subject: Re: How to create ICONS with GIMP
PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 4:11 pm  (#8) 
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Using multiple views can be handy when creating icons, as Saul Goode demonstrates in this post.

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 Post subject: Re: How to create ICONS with GIMP
PostPosted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 5:20 pm  (#9) 
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Wallace wrote:
ofnuts wrote:
Wallace wrote:
I agree with the other.
Starting at 16x16 than 32x32, 128x128, 256x256 and finally 512x512, when making your icon.


The three most useful sizes are 16x16, 32x32, and 48x48. Hi-res displays may render the 64x64 size useful.

All the icons that I've made are all 256x256.


The whole purpose of the .ICO format is to contain several images of different sizes, each optimized for that specific size, i.e. not necessarily (and, in practice, very rarely) just scaled versions of the same image.

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