Icon editor

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An icon editor is software for creating and editing computer icons.

Icon editing software is generally only found on Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh operating systems as Unix-like (or Linux) operating systems generally use the PNG image format.

Icon editors usually contain a rudimentary raster image editor capable of modifying images of an icon pixel by pixel, by using simple drawing tools, or by applying simple image filters. Professional icon designers seldom modify icons inside an icon editor and use a more advanced drawing or 3D modeling application instead.

The main function performed by an icon editor is generation of icons from images. An icon editor resamples a source image to the resolution and color depth required for an icon. Some icon editors can apply preconfigured effects on the generated images during the conversion. Effects include softening, sharpening, edge enhancement, or drop shadow effect.

Other functions usually included into icon editors are icon extraction from executable files (exe, dll), creation of icon libraries, or saving individual images of an icon.

All icon editors can make icons for system files (folders, text files, etc.), and for web pages. These have a file extension of .ICO for Windows and web pages or .ICNS for the Macintosh. If the editor can also make a cursor, the image can be saved with a file extension of .CUR or .ANI for both Windows and the Macintosh. Using a new icon is simply a matter of moving the image into the correct file folder and using the system tools to select the icon. (In Windows you could go to My Computer, open Tools on the explorer window, choose Folder Options, then File Types, select a file type, click on Advanced and select an icon to be associated with that file type.)

It is rare for an icon editor to make icons for specific program files (a program you wrote as opposed to any file ending in .EXE). To assign an icon to a newly created program is usually done within the Integrated Development Environment. Many icon editors can copy a unique icon from a program file for editing. Only a few can assign an icon to a program file.

Simple icon editors and image to icon converters are also available as online services.

[edit] Software

• @icon sushi^[1] (freeware, windows)
• Axialis IconWorkshop - Supports both Windows and Mac icons. (commercial, windows)
• Greenfish Icon Editor Pro^[2] - Icon and cursor editor supporting PNG-compressed Vista icons (freeware, windows)
• IcoFX^[3] - Icon editor supporting Windows Vista icons with PNG compression (freeware, windows)
• IconBuilder - Plug-in for Photoshop; focused on Mac. (commercial, windows/mac)
• IconEdit2 - Create and edit icons, convert image files to icons, and extract icons from binary files. (commercial, windows)
• Microangelo Toolset^[4] - a set of tools (Studio, Explorer, Librarian, Animator, On Display) for editing Windows icons and cursors. (commercial, windows)
• RealWorld Icon Editor - Combination of icon editor and 3D graphics editor. (shareware, windows)

[edit] References

1. ^ http://winfuture.de/news,24860.html
2. ^ http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,73682-order,4-page,7-c,images/description.html
3. ^ http://www.crystalxp.net/news/en275-icofx-icon-editor-free-software.html
4. ^ http://news.thomasnet.com/companystory/490213