Creating Custom Icons

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gogatrs

gogatrs

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gogatrs
So I'm running Windows XP and would like to use a custom icon for some of my rFactor shortcuts. I have multiple installs and would like to have a different icon for each shortcut.
However, it seems like this is more complicated than it should be.
Why are the icon files .dll? Why not just .jpg or similar? How might I make a .jpg or similar usable for an icon?
 
Icons are 32bit image files with 8 bits in each channel(Red,Green,Blue and Alpha) JPG do not support alpha so they wont have any clear parts.

Some .dlls are icon stores most well known one is shell32.dll.

To make an icon download gimp and open the file you want and make its size a multiple of 2(16, 32, 64, 128, ect) it is also best to have multiple icons in the one file with smallest being on the bottom layer and largest being on top layer.

I start in the center with the largest moving to the top left as the icon gets smaller.
You could also add extra layers for 8bit color but then again who uses 8bit color.

This is one I made for my WD My book drive.
I got the image from the web and cleaned it up and them made the layering and then saved it as an .ico file.

96359508.png


If you want I could make the icon format for you if you provide the file.
 
Thanks GrayFox!
Will give it a shot tomorrow.
I'd like to try it myself just so I can use this skill in the future. May need some help though. :)
 
There are a number of icon editors out there as well, just do a quick Google search.

Having said that, though, I haven't used a dedicated icon editor in years (with the exception of kiconedit); I usually use the gimp as Grayfox suggests.
 
BobK
There are a number of icon editors out there as well, just do a quick Google search.

Having said that, though, I haven't used a dedicated icon editor in years (with the exception of kiconedit); I usually use the gimp as Grayfox suggests.
Click to expand...

I'd rather not download extra software.
I already have Gimp though.
 

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