Download an easy to use icon creation program. IcoFX is great for quickly turning your image into an icon. It supports many image types such as PNG, JPEG and GIF. All you need to do is drag and drop your image into the program. Once there you will see the options available to you. Pick the option you want and the image will instantly turn into an icon. Then you can save your icon to your desktop.
Installation:
This is a portable download so you won’t need to install it. Just open up the ZIP file and open the IcoFX2.exe file.
- Developer: Atilla Kovrig
- Devices: Desktop and Laptop Computers
- Size: 9.1MB
- O.S.: Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10, 11
- Language: English
- License: 30 Day Trial
- Price: $32
- Using IcoFX
IcoFX is very easy to use. All you need to do is drag your image from your desktop. Once opened you will see a window with 4 options.
- Open as Image – This lets you open the image as it is.
- Create an icon – This turns your image into an icon. You can pick from multiple sizes. 16×16, 20×20, 24×24, 32×32, 40×40, 48×48, 64×64 and 256×256. Choose your desired size and save.
- Create a Cursor – This creates a 32×32 cursor. This can be used as a favicon on websites. You can just save this.
Create an Animated Cursor – This allows you to crop a part of your image. Pressing the option below will let you crop your image. Choose Show the Import dialog for more options. This will give you a cropping area. Choose the part you want to crop and then create a new icon.
Overall these options are great for creating icons. However there are also editing tools included. You can edit an existing image or you can create a fresh icon from scratch. Below are details on the menus and tools.
Menus
- File – This allows you to open, save and insert images. This is useful if you don’t want to use your mouse.
- Edit – Editing tools. Copy, Paste, Delete and Cut.
- View – This allows you to show/hide the tools. If they’re turned on they’ll show in the workspace. If off they’ll not show.
- Effects – This allows you to change the appearance of your icon. You can change to different colours, add shadows and change the brightness. Colour Adjustments, Emboss, Blur, Sharpen, Crop, Highlight and Fade.
- Image – This allows you to change the tones of your image. You can adjust the brightness, contrast, hue, saturation, colour balance, opacity, size of the icon, fade, shadows, rotate and flip.
There are other options such as Settings and Help. These are standard.
Tools
Below are the tools in the left-hand toolbar. The key shortcuts are listed below each tool.
- Rectangle selection (Alt+M) – This lets you select a section of your image. There are other options such as Square, Circle and Freeform. Click the small triangle at the bottom right of the icon.
- Magic Wand (Alt+W) – This lets you select a similar coloured section of your image. For example if you have a yellow background, clicking on the yellow with this tool will select the yellow area around the car. You can delete this.
- Crop (Alt+C) – This lets you select and crop a section of your image. For example if you want to crop around someone’s head.
- Move (Alt+V) – This lets you move your image around by dragging. You cannot move your image with your mouse unless this is selected.
- Brush (Alt+B) – This lets you paint over a section of your image. Clicking the small triangle at the bottom right of the icon will give you the option to use the Pencil Tool (Alt + B). This will allow you to paint over in a more detailed line, like a pencil.
- Line (Alt+U) – This lets you draw straight lines. Clicking the corner of the icon will give you the option to use the Curve tool. This lets you draw curved lines by clicking different points.
- Rectangle (Alt+R) – This lets you draw a square. This uses the colour in the foreground colour box at the bottom of the toolbar. Clicking the corner of the icon will give you other options.
- Ellipse (Alt+L) – This draws an ellipse.
- Rounded Rectangle – This draws a rectangle with rounded corners.
- Custom Shape – This draws a custom polygon.
- Text (Alt+T) – This adds text to your icon. You can create designs with text.
- Fill (Alt+F) – This fills the area you have selected with your foreground colour. Alternatively you can use the Gradient tool (Alt + G).
- Eraser (Alt+E) – This erases parts of your icon.
- Blur – This blurs your image. Sharpen – This sharpens your image.
- Brighten – This brightens your image. Darken – This darkens your image.
- Color Picker (Alt+I) – This lets you choose a colour from your image. Then it will become your current colour and you can use it whilst editing.
- Ruler – This lets you measure the distance between 2 points.
- Zoom (Alt+Z) – This zooms in/out of your image. Clicking the +/– magnifying glass icons at the top of your image will zoom in/out.
- Hand (Alt+H) – This moves the area you can see of your image. This is useful if your image is too long/wide.
- Rotational tools – Flips or rotates the image in any direction.
- Color Boxes – There are 2 colour boxes. The top one is black to begin with. This is your main colour for drawing/painting. The bottom box allows you to choose an alternative colour. If you want to use this as your main colour click the horizontal arrow above the boxes.
- Mask – This adds a mask to your selected area. For example if you draw a square, you can only edit the inside of the square. This can also be used to edit certain details. For example if you want to change the colour of someone’s eyes.
Right Hand Options
These options vary depending on what tool you have selected. For example if you have the Text tool selected you’ll have options to change your font size, paragraph alignment and bold text.
If you have any questions regarding IcoFX feel free to email me.
