Icon / Cursor Image Processing
Wednesday, April 5, 2017 by codewar65 | Discussion: Community
In my working with cursors and icons recently, I've had the need to be able to process images created outside of cursor and image editors so they can be imported. I wrote IC Warlock in C# (source code and project files included) to help with cropping, resizing, and aligning images to common icon and cursor dimensions. It includes the ability to automatically outline shapes, and convert background color of an image to transparent (denoted by pixel color at 0,0), etc. Drag-and-drop support, dropping multiple images onto open app will launch new instances with the image and current settings (except outline colors atm). Will save where input image is from with [size] appended to filename.
You are welcome to try it out free, recompile the source, alter the code, do what ever. Just give due credit if you redistribute please.
Screenshot:
IC Warlock program and source: http://www.vtxemu.com/misc/ICWarlock.zip
I may get around writing up mini documentation at some point, but until then, we can discuss here if need.
Reply #2 Wednesday, April 5, 2017 6:26 PM
That's great!
Thanks. The program is a quick hack as I found myself doing these simple tasks over and over and over in Corel. Especially for animated cursor frames. The source is not pretty by any means but it's functioning for me.

Here is the completed POV-Ray raytraced cursor set I made: http://www.rw-designer.com/cursor-set/roswell-3d
The POV-Ray source code is available in the description of the set if anyone wants to tinker around with the models and what not.
Reply #3 Wednesday, April 5, 2017 8:02 PM
You should try looking at CursorFX. Some of the cursors in the gallery are awesome.
Reply #4 Wednesday, April 5, 2017 8:11 PM
I gave CursorFX a try. I actually like creating my own content and sharing it. I didn't see much in the way of authoring tools in CursorFX. Maybe it was just because I tried the trial version? I can only import a single image for a cursor. I did not see any method for creating animated cursors. Plus, only people with CursorFX can use CursorFX cursors as far as I know. Generic windows cursors can be used by everyone.
Reply #6 Wednesday, April 5, 2017 11:13 PM
I did not see any method for creating animated cursors.
??? ALL my cursors have animated states, -some all states.
Okay. I see now. You can only import a single image for a cursor, but that image needs to have the frames tiled horizontally. It was unclear in the software.
I may need to add an ability to save to the frame in such a paletted image in my software.
Reply #7 Thursday, April 6, 2017 12:46 AM
I have a working frame saver to save in CursorFX format.
It's really later here, I will test more tomorrow. Want to be sure the filestream gets closed/disposed of correctly on save, etc.
Above example would append a 32x32 frame at 0, 128 of NormalSelect[32] if the [Save 32x32] button is pressed while in Palette Frame mode. If the palette image does not exist, it is created. if the frame is beyond the size of the palette image, it is resized accordingly, so the image will grow in width as you increase the frame number.
Nite all!
Reply #8 Thursday, April 6, 2017 4:35 AM
Beautiful. Now we get to see your's in CursorFX. Two thumbs up.
Reply #9 Thursday, April 6, 2017 8:05 AM
I have a working frame saver to save in CursorFX format.

It's really later here, I will test more tomorrow. Want to be sure the filestream gets closed/disposed of correctly on save, etc.
Above example would append a 32x32 frame at 0, 128 of NormalSelect[32] if the [Save 32x32] button is pressed while in Palette Frame mode. If the palette image does not exist, it is created. if the frame is beyond the size of the palette image, it is resized accordingly, so the image will grow in width as you increase the frame number.
Nite all!
There are some programs that will automatically convert all your animated images into a long strip. Aniutil is one of them. That actually comes with cursorfx. (its inside it in a folder) That is the one I use, and I love it.
When you do import the strip to cursor fx, on the right it has controls to set how many frames are in the animation....speed rate and also a checkbox if you want it to animate once or loop.
Hope this helps!!
Reply #10 Thursday, April 6, 2017 8:09 AM
https://forums.wincustomize.com/413168/page/1/#3017277
This post shows where aniutil is via cursor fx. courtesy of AVMan
Reply #11 Thursday, April 6, 2017 7:22 PM
I've updated this app. Sped up bitmap manipulation routines, cleaned up the UI, added CursorFX style frame paletted images, simplified the cropping. Tested it out make two CursorFX sets without failure.
I've uploaded it. Once it's approved, it should be here: https://www.wincustomize.com/explore/cursorfx/3201/
I will see about updating the zip file for this application this weekend.
Thanks for the help everyone!
Reply #14 Friday, April 7, 2017 6:43 PM
Faster cleaner newer version available at same link above. Source is cleaned up and better documented as well.
I will see about writing up some guide on how to use it this weekend.
Peace!
Reply #15 Saturday, April 8, 2017 1:12 PM
I've updated my website so this app has an official home. As well as a small write-up of what all the gizmos and do-hickeys on this app do. lol
http://www.vtxemu.com/misc.html
Please login to comment and/or vote for this skin.
Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:
- Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums and downloading skins.
- Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
- Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
- It's simple, and FREE!
Reply #1 Wednesday, April 5, 2017 5:59 PM
That's great!