How to Make Custom Icons
If you spend a lot of time chatting to friends on the computer, competing in online games or socializing on message boards, you may get bored of the standard pre-set icons available through various programs. Icons are small graphical files used to represent you on the Internet and may also be used in place of the graphics on your computer for items such as file folders and software packages. You can make your own custom graphics with just a few minutes of time using Microsoft Paint, included with your computer’s installation. Create personalized icons to introduce yourself on the web.
- Open Paint and click “Image,” then click “Attributes.” Icons are very small files; the Windows XP recommendation for icons is a maximum of 48 by 48 pixels. Input your desired dimensions and click the “OK” button. To give yourself room to draw, enlarge the image by clicking “View,” then “Zoom,” then “Custom,” then “800%.”
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Step 2
Click the “Text” tool, which looks like a capital “A” and position your cursor at the bottom of the white box. Click your mouse and a toolbar appears; select a font and size, then type the name of the icon, such as “Documents,” “Gaming” or your name.
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Step 3
Click the “Paintbrush” tool and select one of the slash mark brush heads. Choose a paint color from the “Color Picker” at the bottom of the screen, then draw the outline of the icon, such as a heart, circle, cat head or sports team logo.
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Step 4
Click the “Fill” tool, which looks like a spilling paint can, then click inside the icon you just drew, which fills with color.
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Step 5
Click the “Pencil” tool and a new paint color, then add some accents to the icon such as shadows or facial features. Change paint colors and add more accents as desired.
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Step 6
(Optional) Click the “Fill” tool again and change paint colors, then click anywhere within the white background of the box, which fills with color, giving your icon a colored backdrop.
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You can make custom icons in programs other than Paint. The Photoshop graphics software, available in the Adobe Creative Suite, will allow you to use your own photos and images, plus comes with a variety of tools, filters and colors to transform images for your icons. Depending on your version of the Microsoft Office Suite, you may have Publisher, a design and layout desktop publishing program, which may also be used to create icons.