Coolest Trick in OSX - How come no one told me???

[Doc]

System 7 introduced custom icons.

And it actually did a better job of making them when an icon was pasted-in, albeit in a 256 color palette.

OSX screws up masks. I use a program called "Pic2Icon" to make my custom icons.

[guitarist]

Doc is right, masks are tricky in OS X unless you use a software app that fixes things so it works reliably. The one Doc mentioned is different than the one or two apps that I employ, but the idea is similar.

[RAMd®d]

But now the cat's out of the bag.

Candybar.

[wowzer]

You mean you were able to copy a picture into the clipboard and then just paste it onto a folder in OS7-OS8? I used to remember doing hacks with resedit to make it happen...and an app called iconmaker (something like that) to make the icon.

But now in OSX, you can simply copy a picture---if you select just the picture you want in Photoshop, you can paste just that image into the HD icon. For masking, just select a few pixels outside of what you want in PS and then paint it with the paint bucket to get a backdrop.

I am so glad you guys finally fessed up! ;-)

[guitarist]

it can look pretty crude, unless you don't mind that your pic is uniformly square and has a background, whether you want it to or not. Getting an image to function as a silhouette, an irregular shaped object with a transparent background, requires more than just copying the picture and pasting it.

The more interesting looking images have been edited and processed to eliminate the unwanted square background. Like others here, I discovered some of this stuff through trial and error, and had fun along the way.

Icon Droplet, and Easy Bake Icon work together pretty well. They're examples of free mini apps that provide a convenient way to trim and customize images for use as icons.

[blooz]

I didn't know either.
I've just been copying the info icon of the image I wanted and pasting it into the info icon of the folder.

[smk]

I believe resedit was needed if you wanted to change all versions of the icon to another image (list, folder, button... remember button mode!) but for straight up regular icons you could just copy and paste a 32 x 32 pixel image into the get info window. Earliest I remember is 7.5 or 7.6.

Back in the OS 8-9 days I remember an app that would animate the icons, like a gif. You could even create your own with it. I made a couple for myself. Can't remember the name now though.

[wowzer]

SMK,

Now that's what I'm talking about! I recall having to go through a few hoops in OS8/9. I didn't recall being able to do it without resedit/another app.

I'll be getting my sawtooth back from my dad soon (after I get a mini for him)...then I can test. I can also run a test on my laserwriter 16/600 for Mattkime to see if the printer is any good before I give it to him.

[guitarist]

blooz wrote:
I didn't know either.
I've just been copying the info icon of the image I wanted and pasting it into the info icon of the folder.

This works fine if you want a flat, square, or folder shaped image only.

If the image has irregular borders--say, like Mickey Mouse's head, or some organic shape--then you'll benefit from taking a few steps to customize the image and prepare it for pasting.