Customizing icons

Question

Customizing icons

I am, of course, familiar with how setting up custom icons works in MacOS 7 through 9 (i.e., from "Get Info". But how do you do it in MacOS-X?

One of the first things I want to do is change the disk icon. My traditional icon for disk drives is the flowchart symbol for a disk, which is what I'll use on the MacOS-9 side of the machine, but since MacOS-X has photorealistic icons, I'm thinking of a picture of an unmounted classic IBM 3336 disk pack, with protective cover in place (assuming I can find a decent color picture of one -- and I think I just did).

iMac G4 15", Mac OS X (10.1.x)

Posted on Aug 29, 2007 7:13 PM

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Answer 1

Niel

Level 10

741,863 points

Aug 29, 2007 7:52 PM in response to hbquikcomjamesl

The process of assigning a custom icon to a file or folder is the same in Mac OS X. You may need to have write access to the invisible .DS_Store file in that folder; to do this for the startup disk, open the Terminal in the /Applications/Utilities/ folder and enter 'sudo chmod a+w /.DS_Store' without the quote marks. Next, provide your administrator password, which won't appear in the Terminal window while it is being entered, log out, and log back in.

(23999)

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Answer 2

ali brown

Level 7

26,493 points

Aug 30, 2007 6:34 AM in response to hbquikcomjamesl

Hi hbquikcomjamesl!

Here is a KB Article Mac OS X: How to Use Custom Icons, which describes the process.

It also includes links, to some custom icons to download.

ali b

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Answer 3

Aug 30, 2007 1:32 PM in response to hbquikcomjamesl

Dunno why it didn't seem to work before (maybe I didn't have anything on the clipboard?), but it worked great (and I didn't even have to go into the console and futz with authorities and visibility) this time.

UP TO A POINT.

The image I tried to use was one I'd saved as a PNG, with a transparent background. When I opened it in "Preview," copied it, and stuck it into a hard disk volume icon, it appeared all right, but it was on a rectangular black field.

Also, when I opened it in AppleWorks, it appeared on a rectangular white field.

What format image should I use, in order for transparency to work?

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Answer 4

ali brown

Level 7

26,493 points

Aug 30, 2007 6:11 PM in response to hbquikcomjamesl

hbquikcomjamesl,

I'm not sure this will help, but;

Open the .PNG image again, in Preview.
Once open, from the File contextual menu, select Export.
In the text field for Save As: insert a name for the file.
Save to the Desktop.
In the Format: contextual menu, select JPEG.
Click Save.

Does that image work for you?

And Thank You, for extending the courtesy, of awarding

in  Discussions, as this is not a requirement, nor mandatory, but is much appreciated!

ali b

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Answer 5

Sep 1, 2007 8:04 AM in response to ali brown

No, I'm afraid it didn't. But thanks. What did help was another thread I found, from a few months ago, that directly addressed the transparency thing.

It seems that at least the MacOS-X version I've currently got installed doesn't recognize transparency in PNGs or GIFs; neither does it treat a white background as transparent. Instead, in order for the icon to work, it has to be built AS a Macintosh icon, complete with a mask.

The other thread turned me onto a shareware product called iconographer, and a freeware utility called icns2icon, that has at least brought my goal within reach. I still, however, need to do my scaling and mask-generation in GIMP; Iconographer simply can't do it to a satisfactory degree.

I also found out (since my OS-X level wasn't high enough for the OS-X version of Iconographer) that Classic Mode can find MacOS-9 even though it's in its own partition. That almost makes up for custom icon support not being as sophisticated as it is in GNOME on Linux.

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Answer 6

ali brown

Level 7

26,493 points

Sep 1, 2007 8:12 AM in response to hbquikcomjamesl

You're Welcome hbquikcomjamesl!

Is there any particular reason, that you have not upgraded from Puma 10.1.x, to a newer version of OS X?

You are really missing out on additional functionality, and system stability with that version.
You may be very pleasantly surprised, if you upgrade.

ali b

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Answer 7

Sep 1, 2007 1:03 PM in response to ali brown

Yes, actually. I just bought the machine (used, on eBay), and it won't be until later this month that I pick up Tiger.

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Answer 8

ali brown

Level 7

26,493 points

Sep 2, 2007 8:45 AM in response to hbquikcomjamesl

Hi Again hbquikcomjamesl!

Once an OS has been installed, the point upgrades, such as 10.1.x to 10.1.5 (Final) 10.2.x to 10.2.8 (Final), 10.3.x to 10.3.9 (Final), and 10.4.x to 10.4.10 (Pending), can be downloaded for free.

Tiger is available for purchase at The Apple Store (U.S.).

If you know what to look for, a Full Retail Version, of the Tiger Install DVD, can also be purchased rather inexpensively, at some online Apple retailers, Amazon, eBay, FastMac, HardCore Mac, etc.

Be sure not to purchase grey, upgrade or machine specific CDs or DVDs.
The discs should look exactly like the images in the above links, and not say Upgrade, CPU Drop-in DVD, or "This software is part of a hardware bundle purchase - not to be sold seperately." on them.

Scrutinize these items Tiger On eBay, very carefully, and if in doubt, ask the seller questions, before purchasing.

Additional info in these links.
Using OS X Install CDs/DVDs On Multiple Macs
What's A Computer Specific Mac OS X Release
Software Update, Upgrade: What's The Difference?

Before upgrading to any OS X version, check to see if your Mac needs a Firmware Update.
If one is required, you must start the computer from a Mac OS 8 or Mac OS 9 System Folder on the computer's hard disk, not from a CD, in order to install it.
It appears that the 15" iMac G4, does not need a Firmware Update.

If your Mac meets the Tiger System Requirements, once Tiger 10.4.x is installed, you can use the PPC 10.4.10 Combo Update, to upgrade to the current version.

Additionally, Tiger 10.4.x ships on a DVD, so if your Mac doesn’t have a built-in DVD-ROM player, you will have to use an alternative method of installation.
Info here Installing Tiger Without A DVD Drive.

The Tiger Media Exchange Program, referred to in that article, is no longer available.

Shop Carefully, Examine All Documentation, And I Wish You Success!

ali b

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Answer 9

Sep 2, 2007 12:30 PM in response to ali brown

Dear Ali:

Yes, I have a DVD-ROM drive (I was careful to look for it when I bought the thing), and yes, I have at least four local dealers (an Apple Store location, a MicroCenter location, and 2 Best Buy locations, and possibly others) that stock Tiger as packaged product.

Years ago, I was fairly quick to bump my Performa to MacOS-8. And my DOS machines are all on IBM PC-DOS 2000, which is probably the last pure DOS release that's ever going to happen.

But it will most likely be a few weeks before I can spare the $128, or however much Tiger packaged product goes for. At the moment, I'm concentrating on deranging the user interface to fit my tastes (and the new hard disk volume icons look great)

You wouldn't happen to have any insights with regard to my other thread, about customizing the icons on the boot menu screen that comes up when you hold down OPTION at power-up?

--
JHHL

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Answer 10

ali brown

Level 7

26,493 points

Sep 2, 2007 1:02 PM in response to hbquikcomjamesl

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