icons!

[sophinisba]

Some have been saying that all paid accounts now automatically get 100 userpics. I got all excited and went around collecting and even trying to make them yesterday (see?), and bought an account this morning, and it turns out I only get 15 of them. I mean, it's still pretty exciting (and I was planning to get a paid account around this time anyway), but I just thought you should know. It seems the 100 are only for people who already bought extras.

Even being limited to 15, I was thinking this might be a nice time to learn how to make icons. Would anyone like to recommend a good website or livejournal with a basic (and I mean very basic) tutorial? Favorite icon sources? Favorite programs for making them? Etc.?

Comments

[slipperieslope.livejournal.com]

Hmm... Shoe taught me using PhotoEd which is simple. The pictures have to be shrunk to 100X100 and the pixels (properties) need to be like 72. If no one else knows another way that you can just read and learn, I might could have Shoe help me send you the program - she gave it to me via msn messenger and we could teach you online on msn or I have AIM? I hope someone has a site you can go to - I would hate for you to have to wait for me to have the time - I can't see me sticking my head up much to be online at home till Sunday afternoon : (

[sophinisba]

Hey, no worries, I have plenty of other projects to fill up my time and plenty of stolen icons to fell up my space (but am getting jealous enough over everybody else's squee that I may have to go ahead and buy the add-on). I'm sure I'll get some more advice, or else can go out and find some. Thanks for yours.

Um, I don't think I know Shoe. What's her username exactly?

[alchemie.livejournal.com]

For an extra $10 you have have 100.

:)

[sophinisba]

Yeah, I'm thinking I'm gonna have to go for it, now that I've had a taste. $10 isn't that much, and the icons really are fun.

[suzy-74.livejournal.com]

Hee, a few weeks after I got a paid account I bought extra. 15 was not enough. Getting 100 is wonderful. Too bad I can't make icons, but there are a lot of icon communities and in most of them there are links to various tutorial journals.

This is the first time I use this other non LOTR icon I've snagged. I liked the colors.

Btw, I got your email. Will answer later. :D

[sophinisba]

The tutorials I've come across so far are mostly for more complicated stuff, superimposing various images with huge amounts of text that's far too small to read. So far I've just been playing around with some programs on my computer that I'd never used before. It's been a lot of fun, though very time-consuming.

The colors in that icon are beautiful. I was excited to get a few non-LOTR ones for showing up at other journals and communities where not everyone appreciates the beauty of hobbits.

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

I love your flower icons! :-)

[sophinisba]

Thanks! I don't know what I'm doing at all, but I like that this one shows up with no background.

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

That's so cool. I wish I could help, but my icon-making is very accidental. Most of my icons come from other people :-)

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

not everyone appreciates the beauty of hobbits.

*is baffled that such people exist*

[slipperieslope.livejournal.com]

shoesparks says that if you have Office you have PhotoEd. Do you have Office? Photo Ed is easy - if I can use it you can.

[sophinisba]

Yeah, I mostly just steal them. There are some really talented people out there making really beautiful pictures of Frodo. This one's by a person I don't know named transigent.

(I think my favorite of yours is the one with Frodo in jail.)

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

Hee. This one?

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

And then there's the one with me and lilybaggins in jail... :-D

[sophinisba]

I love this one too, and when mariole started writing about the three of you together in a cell, that was just awesome.

[sophinisba]

Hahahaha yes!

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

hehehe, that WAS awesome! We're a merry crew, we are! :-D Oh, and Mariole is awesome, too. She seriously kept us in stitches the whole time in Houston! ;-)

[sophinisba]

I have Office but I don't see anything called Photo Ed or Photo Editor. The program I've been using is in Office though, it's called Microsoft Office Picture Manager.

[sophinisba]

It boggles the mind!

[sophinisba]

I actually had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard when I read that.

[slipperieslope.livejournal.com]

Shoe is going to email you PhotoEd - that is what we call 'him' to your gmail addy right now. Watch for him and then we will 'talk'. Ed is a pretty simple guy to use. Do you have Paint?

[slipperieslope.livejournal.com]

Nope the email bounced back from gmail and said 'illegal content'. Do you have another addy she can send it to? It came through my yahoo address just fine.

[sophinisba]

That is weird. I'll e-mail shoe with my yahoo address. I do have paint but have been a little frustrated with it. Like once I put in text on a picture I can't figure out how to edit it, move it, change the font, or even delete it. Thank you very much for your help.