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Creating Icons
This small tutorial will go over the process on how the icons for the cursor were created which allowed for transparent effects. In this example, I used Photoshop 6.0. Previous and later versions of Photoshop may, or may not, be different, depending on the version.
  1. Open up Photoshop.
  2. Create a new image, with 128 x 128 pixel dimensions.
  3. Draw the icon image.
  4. Using either the Lasso Tool or the Eliptical/Rectangular Marquee tool, select your icon. Do not select the entire picture, or the white background will not become transparent. For odd shaped items (like a hand), use the Magic Wand and click on your object. It tries to select similar colors to it. So it might take several clicks to get all of the icon selected.

    Another great way to select an odd shaped object, which is laying on a constant-colored background is to shift-click with the Magic Wand tool around the object until everything except the object is selected. Then go to Select -> Invert.
  5. Go to Select -> Save Selection. Name this selection Alpha.
  6. Go back to Select -> Load Selection. Channel should say Alpha.
  7. Go to File -> Save As, and save the image as a Targa (TGA) image. Targa allows for transparency effects. Also, this should be saved as 32 bit, or else PIGE will not load in the images.
Here are a few links for Photoshop tips on creating textures such as stone and wood. Another icon and image creation reference is at http://www.edenwaith.com/products/edenmath/tutorial/creatingicons.html
Page created: 1. April 2002
Last modified: 12. March 2003