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Creating XP-Type Alpha Icons

IconForge allows you to create and modify the icons containing semi-tranparent areas (Alpha Channel). Alpha icons work only in Windows XP, and are probably best avoided if you are creating icons which are intended to be displayed on a variety of systems running different versions of Windows.

To create an Alpha icon or cursor:

1) When creating a New icon or cursor, under the Colors option, select the 16.7M (32-bit XP) option

2) When editing an existing icon or cursor, you can change it to an Alpha icon by clicking the Options menu, selecting Icon Color Depth, and choosing the 16.7M (32-bit XP) option;

3) If you are creating a Multi-Resolution icon, simply click the green + icon, and in the Colors field, choose the 16.7M (32-bit XP) option;

4) The editing window for Alpha icons and cursors has 3 tabs along the bottom:


5) Paint onto the Color Channel tab if you want to block in large areas of color without worrying about alpha transparency.

6) Use the Alpha Channel tab to adjust only the transparency attributes of the image. Darkening areas on this layer will result in the colors in those areas being more solid  and less transparent. Making an area lighter will cause the colors in that area to become more transparent;

7) The Composite tab allows you to paint with adjustable transparency. Use the slider to adjust the transparency of the selected color.

Notes:
  • You will not be able to preview alpha transparency in your work unless your version of Windows supports the display of alpha-channel icons and cursors. Using the Test (binoculars) icon will only display the transparency in the center of its preview panel.
  • The Inverse paint button on the Color Palette is disabled when you are editing XP-style icons. This attribute is not used for alpha-channel icons or cursors.

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