Axialis Icon Workshop: Microsoft Visual Studio doesn't support Windows Vista icons there is no support for alpha channel or more than colors. Production Step 1: Conceptualize Use established concepts where possible, to ensure consistency of meanings for the icon and its relevance to other uses. Consider how the icon will appear in the context of the UI, and how it might work as part of a set of icons.

If revising an existing icon, consider whether complexity can be reduced. Consider the cultural impact of your graphics. Avoid using letters, words, hands, or faces in icons. Depict representations of people or users as generically as possible, if needed. If combining multiple objects into a single image in an icon, consider how the image will scale to smaller sizes. Use no more than three objects in an icon two is preferred.

For the 16x16 size, consider removing objects or simplifying the image to improve recognition. Do not use the Windows flag in icons. Step 2: Use the palette and style characteristics as outlined earlier in this article. Illustrate image using Freehand or Illustrator.

Copy and paste the vector images into Adobe Photoshop. Make and use a template layer in Photoshop to make sure that work is done within square regions of the regulated sizes. Create the images in a size a bit smaller than the overall icon size demands to allow space for a drop shadow for those sizes that require one. Place images at the bottom of the squares, so that all icons in a directory are positioned consistently. Avoid cutting off shadows. If you are adding another object to an image or a series, keep the main object in a fixed position, and place flat smaller sized images in a fixed position, such as the lower-left or upper-right depending on the case.

Step 3: Create the bit images Once you've pasted sizes in Photoshop, check the readability of images, especially at 16x16 and smaller sizes. Pixel-poking using percentages of colors may be required. Reduction of transparency may also be needed. It is common to exaggerate aspects at smaller sizes and to eliminate aspects as well, in order to focus on the key point. The 8-bit icons will be displayed in any color mode lower than bit and will not have the 8-bit alpha channel, so they may need to have their edges or more cleaned up because there's no anti-aliasing edges may be jagged and image may be hard to read.

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In Photoshop, duplicate the bit image layer and rename the layer to 4-bit images. Index 4-bit images to the Windows 16 color palette. Clean up images using only the colors from the 16 color palette. Outlines made from darker or lighter versions of the object's colors are usually preferable to grey or black. If working on a bitmap, be sure that the background color isn't used in the image itself, because that color that will be the transparent color.

Magenta R G0 B is often used as the background transparency color. Step 4: Create the 8-bit and 4-bit images Now that the bit images are ready to be made into bit icons, 8-bit versions need to be created. This is a great time to test contextual screen shots.

It's amazing what can be discovered by viewing other icons or a family of icons in context. This step can save time and money. It is much better to catch issues before files go through production and are handed off. Add the drop shadow to your images in sizes that require them. Merge the drop shadow and the bit images together. Create a new Photoshop file for each size. Copy and paste the appropriate image. Save each file as a. Do not merge the image layer with the background layer. It's helpful to include the size and color depth in the file name while working, but the file may ultimately need to be renamed.

Step 5: Create the. Remember that icons to be used in a shipping product must be created in a tool that has been purchased or licensed. This means that trial versions cannot be used.

Guidelines

Both of the products listed below have been used by designers who have produced icons for Windows Vista, and each offers the ability to export to Adobe Photoshop CS. Save files as a "Windows icon. Some iconographic assets may actually be bitmap strips, which also require an alpha channel for example, for toolbars , or. Not all are necessarily. Step 6: Evaluate Look at all sizes. Look at the family together to evaluate family resemblance, optical balance, and distinction. Look at in context to evaluate relative weights and visibility make sure that one doesn't dominate.

Consider cases that may not be used now, but could be in the near future. Could this icon ever be annotated or have an overlay? Look at in code.

Icons in the context of list views, toolbars, and tree views List views For Windows Vista, use thumbnails for files holding content that is visually distinct at small scale, such that users can directly recognize the file they are looking for. Toolbars Icons that appear in a toolbar must have an optical balance in size, color, and complexity. Test potential icons in a contextual screen shot to avoid any undesired dominance or imbalances. Testing in screen shots easily helps avoid expensive iterations in code.

Review the icons in code as well. Motion and other factors can impact the success of an icon; in some cases further iterations may be needed. In the above example, the optical balance has not yet been achieved.

Try iterations in context. Tree views Optical balance is needed to preserve the hierarchy in a tree view control. There are a staggering number of websites that offer free icons for download, but many of them are rather dodgy. To help you, we have checked several locations, and now we are ready to share the best websites where you can download icons safely, and for free:.

It has a large number of beautiful and well-crafted icons from artists all over the world. The community constantly adds new content, and we are sure that you can find something that suits you. They have over , icons, most of them look great, and many are free even for commercial use. They also offer sets that group icons with the same style for a uniform look.

All you have to do is to type what kind of icon you want in the search bar. Here is what we got when we typed multimedia. All you have to do is type the keywords that describe the icon you want and download it. They offer over icons and vector graphics with free, regular or extended licenses for a great variety of styles, themes, and colors. First, they offer a large number of icons, and they are all black and white. You can use them as icons on your desktop, on your websites or as graphics in your presentations, for a greater visual impact.

Secondly, they offer all their icons in the.

This means that you have to convert them to the. If you like Android and its icons, Google offers them all on its Material Design website. They are all simple and follow Google's guidelines for simplicity and usability. You can get any of the Google icons you like but take notice that they were designed to be used on Android, iOS and the web, so they are available only in.

That means that you must first convert the icons you download into. It is run by a Romanian designer Raul Taciu and all the icons, and other design resources he offers are free to use by anyone. However, you must know that icons are available in. Changing the icons of your shortcuts and folders is a simple procedure, and it should not take long.

If you do not know how to do it, read this guide: How to change the icon of any shortcut in Windows. The websites that we presented are reliable sources where you can find plenty of great looking icons. We are sure that in only a couple of minutes you are going to find some good looking icon sets that help you transform the looks of your Windows desktop.

If you know other great sources for free desktop icons, please share them with us, in the comments section below. People have been continuously arguing about which is better: Basic license You are free to: Use the icon for commercial purposes Edit the icon You cannot: Share the icon nor its edited version Use the icon on merchandise for sale T-shirts, mugs etc.

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Use the icon on mass distributed digital templates Use the icon as part of a logo Note: It is nice to attribute the author, but not mandatory for this license type. Show all 1, premium icons. Creative Commons Attribution 3. Free for commercial use You are free to: