[verbalista]

Hi, experts! Well, this will sound a bit weird, but I want to convert my desktop icons into bird icons, to match my desk picture. I have an icon creating program (CoolIcons) and can make icons from image files, jpegs seem to work best. However, I want my icons to be made from images with transparent backgrounds, so my birds will seem as though they're sitting in the trees, not with boxes around them. I know how to use Photoshop, but the only way I've been able to create an image there with a transparent background is to put the bird by itself on a transparent background and save the image as a tiff with "preserve transparency" as my option while saving. However, when I try to take that image into my icon manager, the icon manager can't see it (probably because it's still layered). So, does anyone know how to get an image to have a transparent background that is NOT layered and can be made into an icon? I've seen icons with images that have transparent backgrounds and I know this can be done. Thanks! Shoshana

[LONGHAIR]

Have you tried saving it as a .gif? They can have transparent backgrounds and be converted to .ico for use as an icon.

[verbalista]

Thanks, Longhair, I did try saving it as a .gif, every time I did that the transparent background filled itself in and became a white background! I made the background transparent two ways, first, I just cleared the background or used the "extract" filter to do so. Saving that made it fill back in. The other way was to start with a new document made from a transparent background and drag the object onto it. Neither worked.

[-MaDcOw-]

If you post the images here I could have a go at it for you

[lister]

For icons I export from PS as PNG & use Icon Sushi to create the icon libraries...

of course you could just download the free ICO import/export plugin for Photoshop!
http://www.telegraphics.com.au/sw/

[verbalista]

Wow, Madcow, such a generous offer!!!
I won't trouble you until I exhaust my own possibilities...first I'll try downloading the ico import/export for Photoshop, I don't have icon Sushi, but, if it turns out that I need it, I'll find it. *rubs hands together eagerly* thanks, Lister for your shining ideas and to you Madcow for your amazing kindness. What a great start to my New Year! Oh, and Happy New Year to you guys... Shoshana

[verbalista]

Lister, it worked! I can make all the icons I want, thank you sooo much. I'm marking this question SOLVED.