Icon Mania

First, I would like to start out with the reminder that you should NOT copy graphics unless you have the permission of the page owner. Graphics are owned by the person who created them, this is the law. While there are a lot of public domain graphics out there, there are also graphics that are not free for use.

The icon graphics on my icon pages are available to copy freely. One set asks for a small shareware payment if you use the graphics. Please honor the authors who have shared their work.

To copy a graphic using Netscape:

1. move your mouse to point to the graphic you want

2. hold down the (right) mouse button

3. select 'Copy this image' to put the image in the clipboard or 'Save this image as..' to save it to a gif or jpg file

Mac Users:

This seems a little complicated to describe, but it is actually very simple.
• To use the web graphic as an icon, copy it to the clipboard, use CMD-I to 'get info' on the file you want to attach the icon to, then click on the icon in the get-info box. A black box will appear around it. CMD-V (paste) the new icon. That's it.

• To copy the icon from one file to another, use CMD-I (get info) on the file with the icon you want to copy, click the icon, and CMD-C (copy) it. Then CMD-I (get info) the file you want to attach the icon to. Click its icon, and CMD-V (paste). This will give you the best quality icon.

• To use the graphic as wallpaper, copy the graphic, go to 'Apple Menu-Control Panels-Desktop Patterns'. CMD-V (paste) in the new graphic. Then click the button 'Set Desktop Pattern' to use that pattern.

PC Users:

Windows is not as flexible about icons as the Mac is. You can change the icons on SHORTCUTS, but not on the original files - at least not without an add on to your system. So make a shortcut for the program you want to set the icon for. To do this, right click on the program and select 'Send To' and then 'Desktop as Shortcut' from the pulldown menu.

To use a web page image as an icon:

• Click on the right mouse button, choose to save the graphic as a bitmap file with the extension ".ico".
• Save this in your Windows files.
• Then, when changing the properties of your shortcuts, select "change icon."
• Then select "browse" and look for the icon in Windows and select it.

• Right click on the program that you want to set the icon for, usually a .exe file.
• Click on 'Send To' and then 'Desktop as Shortcut' from the pulldown menus.
• Alternatively, you can click on 'Create Shortcut' and then click on the shortcut and drag it to the desktop.
• Right click on the shortcut icon that appeared on your desktop from either of these operations.
• Click on 'Properties' in the pulldown menu.
• Click on 'Change Icon' in the form that pops up.
• Click OK to the message telling you to choose an icon from the list or specify a different file.
• A window comes up with a set of standard icons - click on the 'Browse' button.
• Find the .ico file that you want to use for the icon.
• Select it and click on 'Open'.
• Click on OK to confirm.
• Click on OK to confirm again.
• The new icon will appear on the desktop shortcut.