Just Some Applications for this Icon Converter Software - there may be more

APPLICATIONS

• Screen Top Shortcuts -  It appears, at least on my computer usage, that if you put "shortcuts" to files and programs on your desktop instead of the actual programs or files themselves, then the icons can sometimes be changed.  I right click the shortcut and look through properties and I often find a place where I can change the icon.  I have done this in the past, but had found my options limited due to not that many great icons on my computer.  Now I can change them at will to a photo or a drawing that I make myself in a good drawing package.
• Screen Folder Groups - A bit ago, I cleaned up my computer screen by putting the many icons instead into about 7 different "folders" in order to make things more readable, while also grouping startup icons, making them easier to find.  But when I did that, my computer just put folder icons for all the folders!  I then looked for icons to change those images to, but that was a limited choice, but I did change the icons even back then.  But now with this program, I changed the folder images to something more colorful in each case that has more of a meaning to me about what programs and files I might find inside.  They are also much more colorful.  Since I now only have about 7 items on my computer screen, I use the computer "large icons" option and saved the icons in 128x128 format for best picture.  Yes, it shrunk the 128x128 size, but still, not bad images if one is careful with what they begin with.
• Your Own Work - Which of course could be a program, but also a file.  If you create a shortcut for your work, either file or program, then of course being able to create your own icon might be quite helpful.
  
  There may be of course ... even more applications.

SUGGESTIONS FOR USAGE WITH DRAWING PACKAGES to CUSTOMIZE  ICONS

• PICTURE and DRAWING TIPS for the ORIGINAL IMAGE LOADED
• Make It Square - If you can.  Icons are square, so there will be less distortion if you begin with a mostly square image.  Many drawing packages, even simple ones, can help trim a photo or other image to help make it more square.
• Keep the Size in Mind - Note that if you are targeting for a 32 x 32 icon, the so called normal size, that there is not much detail since that is, I believe just 32 pixels by 32 pixels.   And so your choices may be to design at 32 x 32 and see if you can make the drawing program design screen area larger so you can see it better, or design at a higher number of pixels while remembering that lines will get narrower and lettering smaller.  Let me also say that I do not yet know everything about how all icons work.  You might get better results for example designing at 64 x 64 and letting your computer shrink the image.  I am not sure since I did not experiment that much.  But keep in mind that most computer screens that I have seen so far are 96 dpi.  So then, do not assume that you can shrink an image and get, say 300 dpi, if your screen can only handle 96 dpi.  But as I say, I do not have all of the answers.  Some experimentation might get you to be more of an expert on icons than I am.
  Transparency - Icons can have transparency, but only if the original picture loaded had transparency in it before loading, and was a type of file (png recommended, one gif file we tried also worked) that can handle transparency. If so, those transparent portions should transfer to the icon.
• IF YOU HAVE NO DRAWING PACKAGE - You can still use this program. If it is only for personal usage and you are certain that copyrights are not infringed (no public usage) then you can look for simple clipart or photos of simple images to load at start.
• SIMPLE DRAWING PACKAGES - Such as “Paint” that may not do transparency. You can draw images then and then load your results. Keep in mind the simplicity of icon size such as “32, 32” that tiny detail may not be seen. No transparency?  Save as bmp type for perhaps best usage (nothing thrown away from the picture when saved).
• POWER DRAWING PACKAGES - Such as Adobe, Corel, Gimp (On Gimp - I am told it can do transparency - I never tried it) in their good packages can do transparency. You can therefore load a photo or clipart, create transparency in the areas you wish, and save it as a png file to be loaded into the icon maker. Of course, you could also do your entire own artwork beginning with transparency as well and save.

PROGRAMMER'S OPINION

When I first began this software program, I felt apologetic that it did not have a drawing package to create your own icons.  But now I find that I actually prefer loading images into it and having it do an icon conversion.  In fact most of the icons I used the last few days began from photos or clipart.    Of course, drawing packages still have their value before using this program.  In a few cases I used a high level drawing program to ensure transparency in parts of a photo.  Then I saved it in png format and used it to make an icon - which was also of course transparent in those same places.  I did do the same for just one gif image and it also created an icon with transparency.

But of course, there is still the need some days for drawing your own icon - totally - your entire own creation without the help of a camera.  And I found then by some attempts that it was unwise for me to compete in those realms with the super drawing packages - where much thought and effort has gone into them.  But of course the option is there for you to do your own drawing package creation, using rectangles, circles, lines, paint fill, pencil dabs and more on a transparent background to get something totally unique.  And when done, taking the smaller detail allowed in an icon format, you can then save that creation from your favorite drawing package.  You can then load that image, png or other allowed format, into this program and make an icon of your desired size.

But most of all .. have fun with this program.