Dumb Icon Question
Tuesday, January 27, 2004 by TunieV | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
I have a bunch of icons I've downloaded for ObjectDock. Because it seemed using ObjectDock was really slowing down my system, I've stopped using it for now.
However, I would like to use some of the icons I've collected on my desktop. When I create a shortcut on the desktop, name it and then check Properties and Change Icon then select the .png icon I would like to use it says "C:\Program Files\Stardock\ObjectDock\Icons\acrobat.png does not exist. Choose an icon from the list or specify a different file." Does Windows XP not "read" png files??
Thanks for any help...
However, I would like to use some of the icons I've collected on my desktop. When I create a shortcut on the desktop, name it and then check Properties and Change Icon then select the .png icon I would like to use it says "C:\Program Files\Stardock\ObjectDock\Icons\acrobat.png does not exist. Choose an icon from the list or specify a different file." Does Windows XP not "read" png files??
Thanks for any help...
GreatSilverWyrm
Reply #2 Tuesday, January 27, 2004 8:37 PM
Reply #2 Tuesday, January 27, 2004 8:37 PM
there are also some programs out there that can convert other files into .ico files, unfortunately I don't remember any of them right now...Just search on google for icon file converter or something..you should find some 
TunieV
Reply #3 Tuesday, January 27, 2004 10:15 PM
Reply #3 Tuesday, January 27, 2004 10:15 PM
Ah ha... just got Icon Developer but haven't had time to check it out yet! Now I have a good reason. Thanks for the replies and not making me feel stupid!
TunieV
Reply #5 Wednesday, January 28, 2004 8:37 AM
Reply #5 Wednesday, January 28, 2004 8:37 AM
Well, I've been playing around with Icon Developer and I really like it's ease of use - great for someone not too familiar with all this stuff yet. Have a couple more questions, if anyone would be kind enough to help....
Does anyone know what the "standard" size is for an ico icon as used on the taskbar in Winbdows XP? In other words, if I add a quick launch icon to my taskbar for a partcular program, what "default" size is the icon that goes with the quick launch shortcut?
And, since these icons appear to be pretty small and I like to keep my desktop clean of icons and only use the start menu or quick launch items, is there a way to make icons on the taskbar bigger than what is apparently the default? I also use a WindowBlind most of the time so maybe the limitations on icon size are part and parcel of the Blind skin itself???
Does anyone know what the "standard" size is for an ico icon as used on the taskbar in Winbdows XP? In other words, if I add a quick launch icon to my taskbar for a partcular program, what "default" size is the icon that goes with the quick launch shortcut?
And, since these icons appear to be pretty small and I like to keep my desktop clean of icons and only use the start menu or quick launch items, is there a way to make icons on the taskbar bigger than what is apparently the default? I also use a WindowBlind most of the time so maybe the limitations on icon size are part and parcel of the Blind skin itself???
kongit
Reply #6 Wednesday, January 28, 2004 12:05 PM
Reply #6 Wednesday, January 28, 2004 12:05 PM
the standard sizes(as I know them are as follows):
16 px: for the taskbar, the small icons when in details view in explorer, and on the titlebar.
32 px: the "small" icons
48 px: the "large" icons
windows can be set to use small or large icons in different areas.
64 - 128 px; large icons which while windows can display (you have to set it manually through the registry or a tweaking program) will not always be shown right in every place (some dialogues cut off part of the icon). also very useful for programs like desktopx or objectdock that let you use larger icons on the desktop.
256 px: big ass icon. not much use unless you like them.
16 px: for the taskbar, the small icons when in details view in explorer, and on the titlebar.
32 px: the "small" icons
48 px: the "large" icons
windows can be set to use small or large icons in different areas.
64 - 128 px; large icons which while windows can display (you have to set it manually through the registry or a tweaking program) will not always be shown right in every place (some dialogues cut off part of the icon). also very useful for programs like desktopx or objectdock that let you use larger icons on the desktop.
256 px: big ass icon. not much use unless you like them.
TunieV
Reply #7 Wednesday, January 28, 2004 12:41 PM
Reply #7 Wednesday, January 28, 2004 12:41 PM
Thanks for the reply. Still muddling thru Icon Developer. I use Photoshop so I should be able to figure out Icon Developer, right?? I do notice if I pull in one of the ObjectDock Icons (png) I've collected that when making an ico file out of in Icon Developer at 48 x 48 for my desktop that it looks pretty choppy - pixelated. Any ideas on what I might be doing wrong?
I'm just right clicking on the png icon to import into ID, selecting 48 x 48 as the size and saving as an ico file but, like I said, it doesn't look very nice sitting on my desktop....
I did notice that when I was using ObjectDock it seemed to really slow my system down and I have a fairly new system (3 months old) so I stopped using it. So, a side question.... do you use ObjectDock yourself and have you noticed it slows things down? I really love the ObjectDock icons and that's why I'm trying to make use of them as desktop icons in ico format but..... Maybe there's some tweaks to OD I don't know about that might make it NOT slow my system down and I can forget about creating ico files from the png files for a while! Thanks again...
I'm just right clicking on the png icon to import into ID, selecting 48 x 48 as the size and saving as an ico file but, like I said, it doesn't look very nice sitting on my desktop....
I did notice that when I was using ObjectDock it seemed to really slow my system down and I have a fairly new system (3 months old) so I stopped using it. So, a side question.... do you use ObjectDock yourself and have you noticed it slows things down? I really love the ObjectDock icons and that's why I'm trying to make use of them as desktop icons in ico format but..... Maybe there's some tweaks to OD I don't know about that might make it NOT slow my system down and I can forget about creating ico files from the png files for a while! Thanks again...
mormegil
Reply #8 Wednesday, January 28, 2004 2:24 PM
Reply #8 Wednesday, January 28, 2004 2:24 PM
OD can start to slow down if you are using alot of 256 Png's becuse it has to do more thinking. Your better off sticking to 1 Icon file that has 128x128 in it. This is just my expiriance with it however.
TunieV
Reply #9 Wednesday, January 28, 2004 6:07 PM
Reply #9 Wednesday, January 28, 2004 6:07 PM
Thanks, Mormegil for your reply. What do you mean by "sticking to 1 icon file that has 128x128" for ObjectDock.
On another note, in my previous post at 12:41, could someone possibly read the first 2 paragraphs of that post and maybe tell me why the png icons I've converted to ico icons look so crappy on my desktop?
I pasted the two paragraphs here too: "Still muddling thru Icon Developer. I use Photoshop so I should be able to figure out Icon Developer, right?? I do notice if I pull in one of the ObjectDock Icons (png) I've collected that when making an ico file out of it in Icon Developer at 48 x 48 for my desktop that it looks pretty choppy - pixelated. Any ideas on what I might be doing wrong?
I'm just right clicking on the png icon to import into ID, selecting 48 x 48 as the size and saving as an ico file but, like I said, it doesn't look very nice sitting on my desktop.... "
Thanks for any help.
On another note, in my previous post at 12:41, could someone possibly read the first 2 paragraphs of that post and maybe tell me why the png icons I've converted to ico icons look so crappy on my desktop?
I pasted the two paragraphs here too: "Still muddling thru Icon Developer. I use Photoshop so I should be able to figure out Icon Developer, right?? I do notice if I pull in one of the ObjectDock Icons (png) I've collected that when making an ico file out of it in Icon Developer at 48 x 48 for my desktop that it looks pretty choppy - pixelated. Any ideas on what I might be doing wrong?
I'm just right clicking on the png icon to import into ID, selecting 48 x 48 as the size and saving as an ico file but, like I said, it doesn't look very nice sitting on my desktop.... "
Thanks for any help.
mormegil
Reply #10 Wednesday, January 28, 2004 6:20 PM
Reply #10 Wednesday, January 28, 2004 6:20 PM
Make sure you have it resampleing with a good methed, I like Lanczos3
If it still looks bad it might be becuse the image is to complicated. That is one thing people like about OD is they can have very complex images, that dose not always work when you get down to 48x48 and below.
Also make sure you are using xp style Icons. (Assuming you are running XP)
TunieV
Reply #11 Wednesday, January 28, 2004 7:17 PM
Reply #11 Wednesday, January 28, 2004 7:17 PM
Okey dokey makes sense. Yes, I am running XP. Thanks again.
kongit
Reply #12 Wednesday, January 28, 2004 7:26 PM
Reply #12 Wednesday, January 28, 2004 7:26 PM
I personally don't use objectdock anymore, but when I did I found that ico files used less memory then pngs. and if you do like mormegil said and take out everythnig but the 128 it uses even less memory
also when trying to change icons to pngs usually icons that have the 128 already in them work the best because you don't have to resample anything
also when trying to change icons to pngs usually icons that have the 128 already in them work the best because you don't have to resample anything
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Reply #1 Tuesday, January 27, 2004 8:22 PM