Custom Icons for Windows 11 Thread (Folders, Dropbox, Google Drive, Podcasts, NVME Drive, Steam, Adobe)

[QuicktellPro]

Hi,
I have just changed to notepad++ after having used metapad for many years. I do not like the default notepad++ icon because it resembles my image file icons too closely. Therefore, I want to change its icon but I'm having trouble replacing it despite having used 2 different programs specifically designed for the job, Resource Hacker, and manually editing the txtfile icon path in regedit. See How can I change an application's icon?

Any suggestions would be very welcome, please.

 

[biyakuga]

New user folder

 

[TizianoMad]

Hi @QuicktellPro,

I've been able to change icons by replacing them directly in the app with ResourceHacker without any trouble.

For example 7zip with a blue folder theme (icons using the app),
and sView Media Player with the original Windows Media Player logo (icons of the app).

You have to run RH as administrator, spot and replace the icon (group).
Check the dimensions of the icon, there could be a difference with the formats used (256, 64, 48, 40...)
There were quite a few in these 2 programs I edited, so I had to adapt them (removed a few and create a 96x96 one...)
I didn't try actually to replace the icon without those changes, so I can't tell if it can work that way.

You may have to Rebuild Icon Cache to see the result applied.

 

[QuicktellPro]

You may have to Rebuild Icon Cache to see the result applied.

Thanks very much. That fixed it.

 

[bluishminty]

hi

 

[davidvkimball]

Hey all.

It's in Alpha, and very buggy, but I have a new tool I'm working on:

Drum roll, please....

Windows Folder Designer


The main use case is more easily getting particular icons for each size like how Windows handles it - which I haven't found any other tool doing properly that made it easy enough.

You can check it out here:

Windows Folder Designer

And here's the project on GitHub. It's open source so you can see how I just vibe coded my way to its existence.

Pull requests and improvement suggestions are welcome.

I'll update the first post in this thread with a new thread on this piece of software if there's interest.

@jbcarreon123 - maybe you'd be interested?

 

[bluishminty]

Woah i want to try as well! where do i download it?

 

[OAT]

Woah i want to try as well! where do i download it?

You don't download it.
You use it on line.

Folder Icon Designer

Create custom Windows 11 style folder icons with advanced layering, color gradients, and multi-size export capabilities.

winfolders.davidvkimball.com

 

[bluishminty]

Oooh ok

 

[IveBenGamin]

Hey all.

It's in Alpha, and very buggy, but I have a new tool I'm working on:

Drum roll, please....

Windows Folder Designer
View attachment 142322

The main use case is more easily getting particular icons for each size like how Windows handles it - which I haven't found any other tool doing properly that made it easy enough.

You can check it out here:

Windows Folder Designer

And here's the project on GitHub. It's open source so you can see how I just vibe coded my way to its existence.

Pull requests and improvement suggestions are welcome.

I'll update the first post in this thread with a new thread on this piece of software if there's interest.

@jbcarreon123 - maybe you'd be interested?

I already have a recommendation. Would it be possible to add the shadow and edge lighting images to the "Front Folder" layer when a custom color is applied?

The shadow and edge lighting images I'm referring to are from this post.

View attachment 141178 View attachment 141179 View attachment 141180 View attachment 141181

Note: This would only apply when the custom color is active, as the default image already has the shadow and edge lighting. It could also be nice if this was a toggle, if I haven't recommended enough changes.

 

[davidvkimball]

I already have a recommendation. Would it be possible to add the shadow and edge lighting images to the "Front Folder" layer when a custom color is applied?

The shadow and edge lighting images I'm referring to are from this post.


Note: This would only apply when the custom color is active, as the default image already has the shadow and edge lighting. It could also be nice if this was a toggle, if I haven't recommended enough changes.

Yeah that's possible. What I'm noticing though is that shadow and edge lighting don't line up perfectly with my folder versions, is it possible you could get me .PNGs of each of the supported sizes for each one *and* have it lined up in the right spot? Since the front part of the folder was custom-made, the highlight and shadow may need to be moved and adjusted to fit over it first.

Not sure what your capabilities are, but maybe @TizianoMad would be willing to help. I could probably do this myself, but I have limited free time right now.

Once those assets are made, I might be able to add them to it with the behavior you described.

 

[TizianoMad]

Hi @davidvkimball & @IveBenGamin

I haven't looked at the program yet, but will take time for it this week.

In fact, the folder templates (both separate front & back) should stay in their fixed alignment, in each 8 sizes.
You can easy extract the 8 PNG files of the 4 separate parts I made.
(with IcoFX, select each format, right click > extract > choose PNG /name them xx256, xx48, xx40...)

For example, once you have the 4 separate 256 images, paste them one upon the other, and it will restore identically the original windows folder.
Of course, all separate 8 images of each part respect the correct alignment, so you proceed the same way with them for each size.

David, check them out when you have time, if it can help you correct the alignment, I'll have a look too and come back to you.
It looks you haven't included the 48x48 format, it is pretty essentiel for the desktop and explorer display.

When I edited folders with replacing the color with a custom picture, I first had to convert it (in 8 sizes) and sometimes work on the zoom to get the best pixel fit, and I "kind of" cropped it using the opacity only of the template. Doing this in all 8 sizes x2 (front & back) took me quite a while, and of corse an app which calibrates all this would ease the task consequently to reproduce the exact features of the original, in order to look nice in any dimension in the File explorer and task bar.

The feature of pasting a logo (with transparent background) on top is something that should work in a similar way, with the possibility of readjusting the zoom and (mainly vertical) alignment on each 8 size.

Pasting the opacity of the folder (part) template is just making a "perfect crop" of the original design, I think it's the best concept for custom pics.
Then when you paste the front part upon the back one, there's no glitch, it's clean straight away.

The feature of choosing your own color (in app) and brightness, would be a good thing.
reproducing the same light variation aspect, with for example possible 2 color variation.

Also, the "border effect & shadow" could need some increase depending on the brightness of the color(s) used.
(the ones I made fit the original yellow folder, but I noticed intensity's a bit different with other colors).


That's it for my recommendations today !
I'll be happy to help, maybe try something myself if it's possible.

See you soon David and all the team.

 

[IveBenGamin]

Yeah that's possible. What I'm noticing though is that shadow and edge lighting don't line up perfectly with my folder versions, is it possible you could get me .PNGs of each of the supported sizes for each one *and* have it lined up in the right spot? Since the front part of the folder was custom-made, the highlight and shadow may need to be moved and adjusted to fit over it first.

Not sure what your capabilities are, but maybe @TizianoMad would be willing to help. I could probably do this myself, but I have limited free time right now.

Once those assets are made, I might be able to add them to it with the behavior you described.

The edge lighting file that @TizianoMad had worked just fine, but the shadow was a little wonky, so I made another one using some of the default Windows icons, then lined it up by referencing the folder designer app. So with that, here is the file for the edge lighting (@TizianoMad's, not mine), the shadow, and another of them combined, which will probably be most useful.

 

[davidvkimball]

The edge lighting file that @TizianoMad had worked just fine, but the shadow was a little wonky, so I made another one using some of the default Windows icons, then lined it up by referencing the folder designer app. So with that, here is the file for the edge lighting (@TizianoMad's, not mine), the shadow, and another of them combined, which will probably be most useful.

View attachment 143425View attachment 143426View attachment 143427

That's very helpful, thank you! However I noticed that it's only on the largest size - it doesn't include the other .ICO sizes. Is it possible to get those as well?

 

[IveBenGamin]

That's very helpful, thank you! However I noticed that it's only on the largest size - it doesn't include the other .ICO sizes. Is it possible to get those as well?

Not with what I know how to do. All I had was the 256px PNGs, and placing it into the folder maker seemed to scale down fine.

TL;DR, I'm not good enough yet to help there.

 

[TizianoMad]

There you are.

As I mentioned, both border and shadow may need increasing depending one the color used.
I tried mixing those 2 effect in one image, but it seems to alterate the result. There could be a cleaner way of making it.

 

[davidvkimball]

There you are.

As I mentioned, both border and shadow may need increasing depending one the color used.
I tried mixing those 2 effect in one image, but it seems to alterate the result. There could be a cleaner way of making it.

Thanks, this is perfect. I'll get to it when I can.

 

[TizianoMad]

Thanks, this is perfect. I'll get to it when I can.

Welcome David.

By the way, the "Front - no shadow" part should be named "without border effect"
Only the "Back" is original. (note that it is not the propper back "thumbnail folder" wich is strangely offset by 1 pixel in some formats)

I made this separation for 2 main reasons:

• Changing the color of the folder (with any tool) often reduces these effects, so it's better to work on a plain folder without them and then add them when the colors are set, with some increase if needed.
• Replacing totally each back & front color with a custom image :

    
In order to crop a custom picture, I had to copy the opacity only from the original template (back + front), and paste it on my picture (using Paint.NET).


I now remember why mixing the 2 effects doesn't suit :
It is because of the rounded and curved lines which have a precise opacity variation.
No other way out, I tryed out different ways and only that combination makes it right.
The "Front" has always priority upon the shadow, and the "Border" has always priority upon the "Front".
(Back >> Shadow >> Front >> Border)

 

[TizianoMad]

Hi again,

Here are a few icons I reworked quite a while ago, mainly from @JangOetama's amazing pieces of art.

• Cleaned up effects, lines and details.
• Repositioning and scaling
• 7 small conversions recreated

It took me a lot of time, so I couldn't edit everything from the tread.
I have an "Office pack" which is almost finished.


Quite a few of these can't be created with a basic icon app.
These edited icons will now appear clear and sharp in File Explorer, taskbar and desktop.


Hope you like this sample.
(ready portable folders, hidden icon and desktop.ini file in each of them)

 

[biyakuga]

Hey all.

It's in Alpha, and very buggy, but I have a new tool I'm working on:

Drum roll, please....

Windows Folder Designer
View attachment 142322

The main use case is more easily getting particular icons for each size like how Windows handles it - which I haven't found any other tool doing properly that made it easy enough.

You can check it out here:

Windows Folder Designer

And here's the project on GitHub. It's open source so you can see how I just vibe coded my way to its existence.

Pull requests and improvement suggestions are welcome.

I'll update the first post in this thread with a new thread on this piece of software if there's interest.

@jbcarreon123 - maybe you'd be interested?

Nice! Is there any chance you could make the color change on the front more fluid? Right now, it just switches colors without any gradients