Create your own icons on Windows and Mac OS

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To illustrate shortcuts on your desktop, links in the Start menu or folders and documents, Windows uses icons.

You can easily customize these icons by choosing new in the collection of Windows icons. But if it does not suit you and you want the icons a bit more personal, there is a solution: create your own unique icons.

From one of your photos, a picture, clip art or your imagination, IcoFX free software lets you create your icons and automatically generate different sizes adapted to Windows and your style of display.

And if you feel like an illustrator, you can draw your own icons using drawing tools of the software.

Download and install IcoFX:

Installation of IcoFX is very easy. First download it from here and follow the steps:

• Click the Save button. Select a folder to save the installation file IcoFX then click Save.
  
• Once the download is complete, click the Run button.
  
• Confirm the launch of the software by clicking the Save button.
  
• The installation wizard opens IcoFX. Click the Next button.
  
• Select I accept the agreement and then click 4 times on the Next button.
  
• Then click the Install button.
  
• Finally click the Finish button. IcoFX is then executed.

Convert a photo in icon:
You have a picture you want to convert into an icon? With IcoFX is very simple.

• Click the File menu and then click Import Picture.
  
• Select your hard disk image to use to convert into an icon and then click the Open button.
  
• Select 256 x 256 Size heading. The icon will then be greater and can be resized without distortion.
  
• Click the OK button.
  
• By default, the entire image is selected to give your icon. For best results, resize the selection around the subject to put forward, in order to have a square selection.
  
  
  
• Help your information W and H, which give information on the width and height of selection: those two values should be equal (to 1 pixel).
  
• If the bottom of your image is smooth, you can make it transparent. Select this option to custom color the Transparency box and click the eyedropper on the right. Then click in the image on the color to make transparent.
  
• Then click the OK button.
  
• A preview of your icon is displayed. IcoFX will allow you to generate a whole bunch of icons of different sizes from the image. Just click on the icon Create Windows icon from image.
  
• Leave the options selected and then click the OK button.
  
• A new icon file is created with your image in different sizes and colors. The correct version can be used as well depending on your Windows settings.
  
• Click the File menu and then click Save As.
  
• Enter a name for your icon, select the folder where the store and then click the Save button.
  
• You can also use the icon to customize a shortcut for example.

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Extract icons from a file:
Many executable software or Windows system files contain icons. IcoFX allows you to extract the ones you like to be able to be reused easily.

• IcoFX Start by clicking on the shortcut in the Start menu.
  
• Click the File menu and then click Extract.
  
• Select your hard drive the file you want to extract icons: this may be the executable software (feel free to rummage in the Program Files folder where the software is installed) or a Windows system file ( many DLLs in the folder

  C: \ Windows \ System32 include icons such as the file shell32.dll.

• The list of icons in the file appears. Click on the icon you want then click the Extract button.
  
• The icon is displayed.
  
• You can then save the icon by clicking the File menu then Save As.
  
• Enter a name for the icon, choose the folder where the store and then click the Save button.
  
• You can also use this icon to customize a shortcut for example.

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Draw an icon:

IcoFX also allows you to create your own icon by using a brush, geometric tools, text functions, etc..

• Run IcoFX by clicking on the shortcut in the Start menu.
  
• Click the New icon.
  
• Select the size of your icon, 48 x 48 pixels for example, then click the OK button.
  
• Then use the tools of the toolbar and palette of colors to create your icon.
  
• Notice the preview window gives you a preview of your icon in real time.
  
• Click on the icon Create Windows icon from image.
  
• Leave the options selected and then click the OK button.
  
• A new icon file is created with your image in different sizes and colors. The correct version can be used as well depending on your Windows settings.
  
• Click the File menu and then click Save As.
  
• Enter a name for your icon, select the folder where the store and then click the Save button.
  
• You can also use the icon to customize a shortcut for example.

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Change your shortcut icon:
Now that you've created new icons, you can use to customize your desktop shortcuts in the Start menu, etc..

• Click the right mouse button on a shortcut and then choose Properties.
  
• In the window that appears, then click the Change Icon button.
  
• Windows offers then the other icons associated with the program. Click the Browse button.
  
• Browse your hard drive looking for the icon file you want and click the Open button.
  
• Finally, click twice on the OK button.
  
• Your shortcut is now identified by a new icon.