I know how to make a photo the icon for a folder, just wondering if anyone has found a faster way to apply the photo to the folder? It's a lot of steps as it is now. Anyway to drag and drop? Any 3rd party app that does this? Like my left folder shown here.
Here is an AppleScript using Objective-C to select the image, and then select the folder target. It places the image on the folder. There are three ways to revert the folder icon:
Here is an image of the dog cow placed on a folder:
or an .icns with some transparency:
Launch the Script Editor from Dock : Launchpad : Other, and copy/paste the following ASOC source into it. Press its compile button, and then run it. You can save the script as text (applescript), script (.scpt/scptd), or application (.app).
use framework "AppKit"
use AppleScript version "2.4" -- Yosemite or later
use scripting additions
property NSImage : a reference to current application's NSImage
property NSWorkspace : a reference to current application's NSWorkspace
property imgType : {"public.image"}
-- Choose Image first
set theImg to POSIX path of (choose file of type imgType default location (path to desktop) without invisibles)
-- Chose folder next
set theFolder to POSIX path of (choose folder default location (path to desktop))
set imgFile to NSImage's alloc()'s initWithContentsOfFile:theImg
set status to ((NSWorkspace's sharedWorkspace)'s setIcon:imgFile forFile:theFolder options:0) as boolean
return
Translated from a Python/Objective-C script since Apple is vanquishing system installations of Python, Ruby, and Perl in a forthcoming release of macOS.
Here is an AppleScript using Objective-C to select the image, and then select the folder target. It places the image on the folder. There are three ways to revert the folder icon:
Here is an image of the dog cow placed on a folder:
or an .icns with some transparency:
Launch the Script Editor from Dock : Launchpad : Other, and copy/paste the following ASOC source into it. Press its compile button, and then run it. You can save the script as text (applescript), script (.scpt/scptd), or application (.app).
use framework "AppKit"
use AppleScript version "2.4" -- Yosemite or later
use scripting additions
property NSImage : a reference to current application's NSImage
property NSWorkspace : a reference to current application's NSWorkspace
property imgType : {"public.image"}
-- Choose Image first
set theImg to POSIX path of (choose file of type imgType default location (path to desktop) without invisibles)
-- Chose folder next
set theFolder to POSIX path of (choose folder default location (path to desktop))
set imgFile to NSImage's alloc()'s initWithContentsOfFile:theImg
set status to ((NSWorkspace's sharedWorkspace)'s setIcon:imgFile forFile:theFolder options:0) as boolean
return
Translated from a Python/Objective-C script since Apple is vanquishing system installations of Python, Ruby, and Perl in a forthcoming release of macOS.
Image2Icon is drag and drop.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/image2icon-make-your-icons/id992115977?mt=12
Let Apple know. The more people request a feature, the better chances of Apple addressing it.
My error. Sorry. This only works for .icn image files.
You do need to open the photo first and copy it, then paste.
FWIW, the utility I use for customizing icons is Image2Icon, but there are many more- and less-sophisticated apps, depending on your preference. Search the Mac App Store or the MacUpdate site. https://www.macupdate.com/
Image2Icon is perfect for what I need. Took me a bit to figure out how it works since there's little to no info. I always say; "Plug and Play. Plug it in, play around with it until you figure it out." You drag the image into the app's window (circle), then, and this is the step I missed, you drag the folder into the same circle of the app. Boom, photo on folder. Really fast. I did about 30 folders last night in about 5 minutes.
It's a lot of steps as it is now.
Right-click on the folder icon > select Get Info > drag the photo over the top icon in the window.
If you want to superimpose the photo on a folder, so it still looks like a folder, there are apps you can download for that.
I just tried Image2icon. That is very nice. I will use it. Thanks
Yea, it's too bad that it doesn't work with the drag and drop, it should and it would be SO much easier. I looked for a simple drag and drop ico converter app, but they are only online, and that's more work than Apple's way of doing it now.
I provided the shortest amount of code to get the job done. Even the code to provide one prompt to select the image and the folder would double the code size. Once you add a Cocoa graphical interface with drag and drop capability, then the code would at least quadruple in size and complexity.
Apple is not in the useful, add-on utility business, and I am almost certain they would never build what you want, which is why there is a third-party developer opportunity.
I also have a Python-based Terminal utility that takes a 1024x1024, or 512x512 PNG image and generates an .icns icon bundle from it.
I have tried Right-click on the folder icon > select Get Info > drag the photo over the top icon in the window, and I just tried that again. I don't get the photo. This is what I get, the generic Preview icon:
Very nice! It does create a square image which is good enough (the shakers are much shorter in reality), and I'm not sure it really saves much time with all the clicking needed, but still very nice. Thanks. I will send feedback to Apple making a request. This could be made as simple as drag the photo onto the folder icon while holding down a modifier key.
I always use the presets to get more than just a photo or an app logo, so documents look like documents and folders look like folders, etc. This way, I just export the final result. Don't even need to drag a folder onto the artwork well. But to each, it's own.
Glad you like it!
Enjoy!
Use a photo as a folder icon?
