Folder icons, how to make them

[jcarter]

I like to use my pictures for some folder icons on the desktop.  And most of them show up when I do the get-info, so all I do is copy and paste them to the standard folder.
Most of them show up like a tiny picture, but this one wont.
Any idea why it wont?
This isnt really important, but thanks in advance anyway.
jane

[Paddy]

http://tutorialdog.com/how-to-create-icons-for-mac-os-x/
http://www.workingwith.me.uk/articles/chan...in_5_easy_steps
http://macapper.com/2007/04/21/how-to-crea...s-for-your-mac/

Jane, I've never done it myself (looks like fun though!) and these three tutorials mention TIFF and PNG for the file formats - and then converting them to icns format. (this little app looks handy: http://www.img2icnsapp.com/) Couldn't find mention of GIFs anywhere.

What format did you use with the ones that worked?

[jcarter]

Always used jpgs, and a few gifs with no issue, but sometimes now they show up as a picture, and sometimes just as a file.
Ive never been able to figure out why or why not. Perhaps they are different with different versions of PSE or PS.

Though Ive never had to use any third party icon maker, this way always works in os 9 and 10.  Until I tried this one little gif.
Its more curiosity then necessity.  And thanks for the links. Those links are great, I never catch up on how much wonderful info is out there for us Maccies.
Jane

[sunset]

Hi Jane-- I, too, love using custom icons for my folders, partitions, applications, etc., and have for as long as I can remember.  Have never used a .gif, however, so, after reading your post, thought I'd give it a try.  You're right--it doesn't work.  The icon just shows up as a generic placeholder.  Even tried removing the extension and that didn't do it, either.  Strange...  You said you used to be able to use a .gif--wow!! sure can't now.  If you ever figure it out, please let us know.  L.

[jcarter]

Hi Sunset,
The old OS 9 Mac which I gave to our grandaughter was the one that I could use a .gif on. I loved the way you could just have a transparent picture with just one flower in the middle, or a hummingbird just looking like it was sitting on the desktop without any background beside it.
That was cool.  But I guess that wont work here.  If I do figure it out, I will put the info here.

I did manage to make a page with some of my flowers by taking the flower and setting it on my scanner with a black velvet cloth over it.  Scanned them and then took out the black background with PS, then they showed up on the page(which I put in a dark background image on), as floating flowers and stuff. With style="background-attachment:fixed", so that they slid over the subtle pattern very dark background.
That was a lot of fun.  
Jane

[Xairbusdriver]

The new format allows folder/app icons to be expanded up to 256 x 256 pixels while maintaining high quality. I doubt that any gif (even if it had worked) or jpeg would expand to that size well. I'd check out the apps Paddy linked to and probably start out with a larger than maximum sized image. "These ain't your fathers icone!"

[sunset]

That sounds like fun, Jane!  I've never done anything that involved--just used copy/paste in the 'get info' boxes with my photos or icons found on the internet, etc.  Never had a problem with quality except some very old ones in OS8 or prior that were pixely and then didn't use those.    

Have fun with your project.

Laurel

[jcarter]

Hi Laurel,
Actually where I first saw this done was in one of my husband's Scientific American magazines, with a link to the author. Then the instructions with the scanner and the black velvet(non reflective) cloth, got me going.

And Ive never used any icon software, just did the copy paste thing too.
But I did find that the desktop got a bit cluttered, so I only do the ones that I leave on permanently nowadays.
Its all fun, thats for sure.
jane