# Computer Help Question re: Icon creation

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-question-re-icon-creation/13172>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [January 28, 2000, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-question-re-icon-creation/13172 "2000-01-28T01:11:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2000, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-question-re-icon-creation/13172/1 "2000-01-28T01:11:00Z")

</div>

Hey you who read this,

I’m trying to make up a desktop theme to offer on my website and am having a devil of a time creating icons. I tried a couple icon editors/creators and I can’t get a color icon at 256 colors and at 16 colors, it’s impossible to get a range of colors useful to me. Is it possible to get a 256 color icon that doesn’t come out gray scaled when I try to use it? Any hints or tips on icon creation to share?

Erm… help?

* * *

“I guess one person can make a difference, although most of the time they probably shouldn’t.”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Louie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@Louie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Louie)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2000, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-question-re-icon-creation/13172/2 "2000-01-28T04:37:00Z")

</div>

Try making it in Microsoft Paint, save the file, then rename the file, replacing the end “.bmp” with “.ico”. Instant icon! 🙂

* * *

…and remember, duct tape fixes _all_ your problems, big and small.

[Fun with HTML (tutoral) : The True Sequal](http://www.straightdope.com/ubb/Archives/Archive-000001/HTML/19991103-2-000302.html)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2000, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-question-re-icon-creation/13172/3 "2000-01-28T06:24:00Z")

</div>

Thanks for the idea, but I was trying to use a .gif file converted to .bmp then turn it into an icon. I tried loading the .bmp in WinPaint and saving it as an .ico, but it just greyscaled out again ☹

* * *

“I guess one person can make a difference, although most of the time they probably shouldn’t.”

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fippo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/2bfe46/32.png) [@fippo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fippo)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2000, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-question-re-icon-creation/13172/4 "2000-01-28T17:06:00Z")

</div>

Whenever I create an icon, I use IconForge. I got it from [www.themeworld.com.](http://www.themeworld.com.) It lets you make 16 or 256 color icons, and it allows you to animate them as well. It’s quite swell.

## Upon reflection, I realize that I didn’t get it from ThemeWorld. Which means I haven’t the foggiest idea where the program came from! At any rate, it’s pretty good, so if you can find it, I’d recommend checking it out.

Fippo-

_Uh-Oh! The truck have started to move!_

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fippo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/2bfe46/32.png) [@fippo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fippo)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2000, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-help-question-re-icon-creation/13172/5 "2000-01-28T17:08:00Z")

</div>

Ah-ha! Found the site. Go to [www.cursorarts.com.](http://www.cursorarts.com.) It’s free!

* * *

Fippo-

_Uh-Oh! The truck have started to move!_