You don't need an expensive converting program to make your own icon. Here's how you can create an icon for free to use on your website or forum.
There are programs for sale all over the internet to convert your graphic into an icon, but this one is free and will allow you to take your picture and create an icon file (Windows .ico)
First, download IrfanView for free. It’s a handy image viewer/converter which is easy to use and you can’t beat the price. It can also be used for slide shows, thumbnails, scanning, sending pictures to your desktop and more. Open the picture you want in that program. A distinct simple symbol or picture is best, because you’re barely going to be able to see it otherwise. A head shot or simple shape like a circle or square would be appropriate. It doesn’t matter what size or file type it is as you will be resizing and converting it. What you’re aiming for is an even square, so crop it first.
- To crop a picture in IrfanView, simply left click and drag your mouse around until you have a square surrounding the part you want cropped. If it doesn’t look right, start over. Now that you have your selection, go to edit and choose crop selection.
- Now you want to resize your picture into a proper icon size. To do this choose image, then resize/resample. You will be taken to a window that shows the present size and gives options for resizing. If the width and height aren’t close to an even square, crop it again. Uncheck preserve aspect ratio if it’s not a perfect square, but make sure it’s close because that’s what you’re sizing it into and it will distort if doesn’t start out as a square.
- A typical icon size is 32 by 32 pixels, so specify that where it says "reset new size" in the width and height area. You can make a larger or smaller icon if you want also. Now you should have your graphic showing up as a small icon size. To convert it to an icon, simply go to file, save as and in the file type area, scroll and select the .ico-Windows icon. If you want to save the transparent color, check that off when it prompts you. Voila, you have an icon!
Icons are fun and you can use them in place of bullets in lists, as favicons (short for favorite’s icon) and more. If you’re going to create a favicon, it needs to be 16 by 16 pixels. Have fun collecting as it gets addicting!
