Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of snyperj
snyperjFlag for United States of America

asked on

Need help making program icons

I have several pictures, such as the infinity one below, that I need to make into 48x48 icon files.  Can someone help?  I have access to photoshop and I am willing to purchase something else if it is better.  I need to do this often, and it is always a struggle to get the end result into something that is crisp and with a transparent background.  As you can see below, I have been trying with this infinity, and it comes out ok on a white background, but on dark backgrounds I always get this fuzzy white border.  Help!

If someone can either give me the steps in photoshop (note: newb warning) or point me in some other direction I would be very grateful.
infinity-black.jpg
good.jpg
bad.jpg
Avatar of Craig Bowman
Craig Bowman
Flag of United States of America image

I can see on the white backround as to why you are getting this on the blue.  you need to go around the inside and outside of that infinty symbol and clean it up.

this can be done by opening it in photoshop and placing another darker layer underneath,  set the focus back to white version and use the backround eraser tool after you have made sure it is unlocked.  this will allow you to clean up that layer to where you will not get those white spots when placed on top of a dark backround later
to simplify,  if you open the white version in photoshop, unlock it, and erase all the white backround with the backround eraser tool.... then you can set this on top of another darker layer and you will not see those spots
There's some dedicated software for creating icon files. Take a look at http://www.icon-maker.com/download.htm
Cmd/Ctrl j Your layer to make a copy layer
Fill original layer with blue for testing purposes ( remember to delete this layer when done)

Use the wand tool select the symbol (black) tolerance set at 32 when selected

from menu > select > inverse

or cmd/ctrl shift I to inverse the selection

and simple delete the background

see screens and final png
infinity-black.png
Screen-shot-2010-03-02-at-20.23..png
Screen-shot-2010-03-02-at-20.24..png
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of David Brugge
David Brugge
Flag of United States of America image

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial