Icon Software choice for detailed graphics?

Question

Icon drawing tool - what to use for greater detail?
What tool is used to create those tiny icons that display at the bottom right hand corner of a computer? I have Illustrator and Photoshop but have just started using them. Are these 16 x 16 images - I can't see how they get the detail if they are. And I can't imagine them being created in MSPaint where it would be easy to do a 16 x 16 but get no detail.
I do have some really great images but of course, I can't shrink them down and keep the detail because they are large illustrator files.

Answer 1

That is the art of icon design - being able to convey successfully your image in a tiny 16x16 or 32x32 pixels. It is never an easy task and there is no program that will do it for you automatically. I created all my icons for my website, including the favicon in Adobe Photoshop CS3, using a free .ico exporter plugin. With a little work I achieved what I was after.

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Firstly I indexed the colors to keep them at a minimum - then I shrunk the image down to its size requirement and pretty much touched up each pixel. I have attached a tutorial that helped me alot.

Answer 2

Go to the manufacturers website they will have the drivers for your card mate.

Answer 3

Look up Stardock, they might be able to help you.