Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How to start the Easy Icon Maker?
  2. How to make a point transparent?
  3. How to make a color to transparent?
  4. How to replace a color to another color?
  5. How to add text to an icon?
  6. How to add special processing on the icon?
  7. How to make an icon with one format not the default?
  8. How to add/remove a format from the icon?
  9. How to make an icon with many formats?
  10. How to make an icon from graphic files like JPG, BMP, GIF?
  11. How to make a 32-bit icon?
  12. How to make a WinXP style icon?
  13. What is the alpha channel?
  14. How to change the order of an icon in the icon file?
  15. How to extract an icon from other applications?
  16. How to change an application's icon?
  17. How to make *.ico files associated with the Easy Icon Maker?
  18. How to remove the association of *.ico files?
  19. How to remove the software from my computer?
  20. What's the value for registered users?
  21. What's the limitation of unregistered version?
  22. How to remove the limitation?
  23. How to enter the registration code (The menu item is grayed)?
  24. How to reget the registration code?
  25. What's new for this version?
  26. How to upgrade to a new version?
  27. What's the price?
  28. How to order the software?
  29. How to order without credit cards?
  30. How to order without US dollars?
  31. How to order it without Internet collection?
  32. How to order a CD?
  33. What's your refund policy?
  34. How to get a refund?
  35. How to resell the software?
  36. How to order multiple licenses for saving money?
  37. How to contact the author?


  1. How to start the Easy Icon Maker?

    If you had not installed the Easy Icon Maker, you need to install it first. You may download it from our website http://www.icon-maker.com If you had already installed it, ok, there should be a shortcut icon created on the desktop, double click it to launch it. If there is no shortcut on the desktop, you may also launch it from your computer's "Start -> Programs -> Easy Icon Maker" . If what you are using is an unregistered version, then when you launched it, it would prompt out a license agreenment dialog. You must read it carefully. If you agree with it, you may click the "I Agree" button to continue to evaluate. If you do not agree with it, please click the "I Don't Agree" button to exit. If you don't agree with the evaluation license agreement, please uninstall the software from your computer. You may see also "How to remove the software from my computer?" to know how to uninstall it.

  2. How to make a point transparent?

    To make a point transparent, please follow the following steps,
    Step 1. Select the "Erase All" menu item from the pull-down menu "Tools", or select the "Rubble" button from the toolbox.
    Step 2. Select the Rubble's size under the toolbox.
    Step 3. Use the Rubble to erase the point to transparent.

  3. How to make a color to transparent?

    To make a color transparent, please do according to the following steps,
    Step 1. Select the "Pipe" tool (also called color picker) from the toolbox, or select menu item "Pipe" from the pull-down menu "Tools".
    Step 2. Use the color picker to pick a color from the editor window.
    Step 3. Click the "Transparent Color ..." menu item from the "Tools" pull-down menu to activate the color palette dialog.
    Step 4. The color that picked should have been set to the selected color in the palette, if not please re-select the color that you want it to be set to transparent. Then click the "OK" button.
    Step 5. All the points that matches the selected color will be set to transparent.

  4. How to replace a color to another color?

    To replace a color with another color, please do according to the following steps,
    Step 1. Select the "Pipe" tool (also called color picker) from the toolbox, or select menu item "Pipe" from the pull-down menu "Tools".
    Step 2. Use the color picker to pick a color from the editor window that will be replaced.
    Step 3. Click the "Replace Color ..." menu item from the "Filters" pull-down menu to activate the color replace dialog.
    Step 4. The color that picked should have been set to COLOR1, if not please reset the COLOR1 value that that you need. Set the COLOR2 value to that you want to replace with COLOR1.
    Step 5. Click the "OK" button.
    Step 6. All matched points will be replaced.

  5. How to add text to an icon?

    To add text to icon, please do according to the following steps,

    Step 1. Select the "Text" tool from the toolbox, or select menu item "Text ..." from the pull-down menu "Tools".

    Step 2. Click on the editor window's appropriate position, then the "End text" dialog will be activated.

    Step 3. Enter the text in the text box, and click the "Font" button to set the text's properties.

    Step 4. Click "OK" button.

    Step 5. The text will be drawn in the editor window.

  6. How to add special processing on the icon?

    When use Easy Icon Maker to edit/make an icon, there are several filters for processing. You may use this filters to process your icon. Click the pull-down menu "Filters", you will see them.

    For the detailed usage of these menu items, please see also the topic "The Filters Menu".

  7. How to make an icon with one format not the default?

    When you launched the Easy Icon Maker, it will begin a new icon with the default format "32*32 - 8 bit color (256 colors)" . You may not need this format, and want to create an icon of your requirements. On this case, you may do according to the following steps,

    Step 1. Click the "Add Format ..." menu item from pull-down menu "Edit", or click the button on the toolbar (at the right of the drop-list box).

    Step 2. When the "New Icon" dialog is activated, choose the appropriate size and colors, then click the "OK" button.

    Step 3. Now, click the unwanted icon format from the right formats list or the top drop-list box.

    Step 4. Click the "Delete Format" menu item from the pull-down menu "Edit" to delete it.

    Step 5. Save it.

  8. How to add/remove a format from the icon?

    To add a format, please click the "Add Format ..." menu item from pull-down menu "Edit", or click the button on the toolbar (at the right of the drop-list box).

    To delete a format, you need to select the format from the right formats list area, or from the top drop-list box docked on the toolbar. Then click the "Delete Format" menu item from the "Edit" pull-down menu, or click the "Delete Format" button on the toolbar (the most right one).

  9. How to make an icon with many formats?

    Most icons includes more than one format for different using. For example, an icon might be displayed on windows with different environments, it might be switched to display among different formats such as 16*16 and 16 colors, 16*16 and 256 colors, 32*32 and 16 colors, 32*32 and 256 colors, and more. On this case, for displaying the icon under different environments with good effects, you'd better add many formats in one icon for meeting all the requirements.

    With "Add Format ..." and "Delete Format" menu item under the "Edit" menu, or the "Add Format ..." and "Delete Format" button on the toolbar, we may add formats with different sizes, colors to the icon.

  10. How to make an icon from graphic files like JPG, BMP, GIF?

    You may want to make an icon with your favorite graphic files. There are many ways to turn your pictures into icon formats. Now, I will tell you several the most used ways, and you may think out more other solutions yourself.

    1. Easy Icon Maker supports importing BMP, GIF, or JPG file into editor window for editing. If the imported picture's size is larger than the current's size, you may choose to stretch it to fit for the format.

    2. Our software now only opens BMP, GIF, and JPG image formats. If you are using other image formats such as PNG, TIF, and more. You may use graphic converter software to convert it to bmp first for importing.

    3. No matter what you want to get into the editor window, you may also use picture viewer or other software to display it on your computer's screen, then use the "Capture" tool in the toolbox to capture the displayed area into the editor.

  11. How to make a 32-bit icon?

    To make a 32-bit icon, please do according to the following steps,
    Step 1, Click the menu item "File > New...", or press the short key "Ctrl+N".
    Step 2, Set the color to "True Colors + Alpha (32-bit colors)".
    Step 3, Edit the icon in the grid window.
    Step 4, Click the button "Alpha" from the bottom or check the menu item "Edit > Edit in Alpha Mode".
    Step 5, Edit the alpha values in the grid window, this will make the icon seems smooth and transparent.

  12. How to make a WinXP style icon?

    This is the same as "How to make a 32-bit icon?".
    A WinXP style icon is a 32-bit icon with 24-bit storing the RGB icon and 8-bit storing the alpha channel.

  13. What is the alpha channel?

    The alpha channel is used for storing the transparent for each point of the icon. The alpha value of each point may be from 0 to 255. From our software, 0 stands for completely intransparent, while 255 stands for completely transparent, that is a "x" in the point. From 1 to 255, the transparency will increase.

  14. How to change the order of an icon in the icon file?

    To change the order of an icon in a file with many icon formats, you need only focus the icon, then click the "Up" and "Down" button at the top of the icon format list view to move the icon up and down.

  15. How to extract an icon from other applications?

    To extract an icon from other applications, you need only do according to the following steps,

    Step 1. Click the "Extract from Applications ..." menu item from the "File" pull-down menu.

    Step 2. When the dialog is activated, open an application that you want to extract icon from. The application may be of *.EXE, *.OCX, *.DLL, *.SCR, and other executable applications.

    Step 3. When the application is loaded, it will show all the available icons in the application, you may choose one from it, and click "OK" to extract it to the editor window.

  16. How to change an application's icon?

    You may had made a beautiful icon, and you want to use it to replace your application's icon. With the Easy Icon Maker, it's very easy if you do according to the following steps,

    Step 1. Click the "Icon Changer ..." menu item from the pull-down menu "File".

    Step 2. When the icon changer dialog is activated, open the application file on the top and the icon file at the below.

    Step 3. Click "OK" button to change.

    Note: make sure the icon that you used to replace the application's icon must be the same format as the application's. That means, the size and the color must be the same. Otherwise, it will not replace it correctly.

  17. How to make *.ico files associated with the Easy Icon Maker?

    You may want to make the Easy Icon Maker as your default icon file's editor, in other words, you want to make the Easy Icon Maker associated with *.ico files. It's easy. Click the "Associations Manger ..." from the pull-down menu "Tools". Check the association options and click the "OK" button, the association will be created. That means, when you double click an icon file, it will be opened by the Easy Icon Maker automatically. You may also remove the association with the associations manager, just uncheck the option and click "OK".

  18. How to remove the association of *.ico files?

    You may want to remove the association of *.ico and the Easy Icon Maker. It's easy. Click the "Associations Manger ..." from the pull-down menu "Tools". Uncheck the association options and click the "OK" button, the association will be removed. That means, when you double click an icon file, it will not be opened by the Easy Icon Maker automatically.

  19. How to remove the software from my computer?

    If you want to uninstall the software from your computer, please do according to the following steps,

    Step 1. Open the control panel from "Start -> Settings -> Control Panel".

    Step 2. Double click "Add/Remove" program.

    Step 3. Click Install/Uninstall. Then select Easy Icon Maker from the list of programs that can be automatically removed.

    Step 4. Click the [Remove...] button to uninstall the Easy Icon Maker.

    Step 5. When the procedure is finished, you may enter the directory that you had installed the Easy Icon Maker to delete other unremoved files manually.

  20. What's the value for registered users?

    The unregistered verison of Easy Icon Maker will be added different limitations according to different builds.

    We add these limitations, because we need money to support our developer team.

    We will offer the following values for registered users

    1. Remove the registration screen .

    2. Remove the times limitation.

    3. Free technical support.

    4. Early notification of new versions.

    5. Resend the registration code whenever you lost it.

  21. What's the limitation of unregistered version?

    The unregistered verison of Easy Icon Maker will be added different limitations according to different builds.

    Different versions may have different limitations, but the followings are suitable for the most versions,

    1. Display snag screen for evaluation license agreement.

    2. Limitation for saving times or trial days.

  22. How to remove the limitation?

    To remove the limitation, you need to order a license. After your order we will send you an email with registration information or full version.

  23. How to enter the registration code (The menu item is grayed)?

    After your order, we will send you an email within 24 hours with detailed instructions.

    If you can not receive the email from us within 24 hours, feel free to contact us with email address     support@icon-maker.com or sales@icon-maker.com

  24. How to reget the registration code?

    If you had ever ordered our software, and you had lost it now, you may send an email to us for resending the registration information to you. Please include your order receipt in the email to prove your purchase.

    In case you had lost your order receipt, you must include the following details in your email, so that we could locate your order in our database.
    • Order ID
    • Date in the order
    • Email address in the order
    • Name in the order
    • Address in the order


    Note: please print out your order receipt and keep it safely after your purchase. Whenever you lost your software, you may scan the order receipt and send it to us for resending you the software and registration instructions.

  25. What's new for this version?

    Comparing with the older versions, the following features were added to version 4.0,

    • True colors (32-bit) with Alpha channels added.

    • Edit in RGB and Alpha mode.

    • Change the order of an icon format in the file.

    • Added toolbar for filters for easy work.

    • Added features "Rotate", "Flip", and "Move"

    • Open several instances of Easy Icon Maker at the same time, and copy data from one to another.

    • Icon Explorer was added for exploring icons from files and applications.



  26. How to upgrade to a new version?

    If you are a registered user, you may upgrade at no charge to any small updates like 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, ...

    We will inform our customers when a new version is available.

    You may also contact us for upgrading to a new version with your order receipt included.

    Note: please print out your order receipt and keep it safely after your purchase. Whenever you lost your software, you may scan the order receipt and send it to us for resending you the software and registration instructions.

  27. What's the price?

    There are four types of licenses available:

    Single License ($29.95)
    - one computer license for installing on single CPU.

    2 Licenses ($39.95)
    - 2 licenses allowed for installing on 2 computers .

    10 Licenses ($99)
    - 10 licenses allowed for installing on 10 computers at the most.

    Site License ($299)
    - Site license for companies or orgnanizations, allowed for installing on unlimited computers for one company or organization.

    For purchasing the software, please see also "How to order the software?"

  28. How to order the software?

    To order the software, you'd better visit our online ordering page. It will include all the information needed.

    Click here to goto our online ordering page.

    Or, use the following URL directly. Make sure that your computer is connected to the Internet. Then
    open the Internet Explorer, then enter the following URL into the address bar and press "Enter" key on your keyboard.

    http://www.icon-maker.com/buy.htm

    Or, send email to our sales sales@icon-maker.com for any ordering questions.

  29. How to order without credit cards?

    If you have no credit cards, then you may pay with check, cash, bank/wire transfer. Please order with other ways from the following ordering link,

    https://secure.element5.com/shareit/checkout.html?productid=163882&language=English

    It supports the following options,

    Payment Options include,
    1. Credit Card
    2. Switch/Solo
    3. Bank/Wire Transfer
    4. Check
    5. Cash


    Payment currency may be,
    1. US Dollar
    2. Euro
    3. Pound Sterling
    4. Japanese Yen
    5. Australian Dollar
    6. Canadian Dollar
    7. Swiss Franc


  30. How to order without US dollars?

    If you have no US dollars, then you may order with other currency from the following ordering link,

    https://secure.element5.com/shareit/checkout.html?productid=163882&language=English

    It supports the following options,

    Payment Options include,
    1. Credit Card
    2. Switch/Solo
    3. Bank/Wire Transfer
    4. Check
    5. Cash


    Payment currency may be,
    1. US Dollar
    2. Euro
    3. Pound Sterling
    4. Japanese Yen
    5. Australian Dollar
    6. Canadian Dollar
    7. Swiss Franc


  31. How to order it without Internet collection?

    If you can not order it online, you may also order through voice and fax

    Sales 1.888.282.5887
    Int'l Sales 1.801.444.2837
    Fax 1.801.497.9456

    When placing your order, please refer to the following details:

    Product ID: 5136
    Product Name: Easy Icon Maker
    https://www.qwerks.com/order/buynow.asp?ProductID=5136

  32. How to order a CD?

    Please visit     http://www.icon-maker.com/buy.htm first. If you want to order with a CD, please order with the link that goes to qwerks.com. You need to check the option "Add a CD for extra $9.95" when you fill in the order form. The $9.95 is not for us, it's delivery fee for Qwerks.com Inc. who will send a CD for you. If you do not check this option, you will never receive a CD.

  33. What's your refund policy?

    We authorize refund based on the following conditions,

    1. If it's for our product's problem that you can not use the software.

    2. We only authorize refund for order that placed within the past 7 days.

    3. We do not authorize refund for site license

    4. If we authorized refund, you must remove the software from your computer completely.

  34. How to get a refund?

    If it's for our product's technical reason that you can not use the software. We may authorize you a refund within 7 days when the order was placed. On this case, please send an email to sales@icon-maker.com with the order receipt included.

  35. How to resell the software?

    If you want to resell our software, please contact sales@icon-maker.com for details.

  36. How to order multiple licenses for saving money?

    There are four types of licenses available:

    Single License ($29.95)
    - one computer license for installing on single CPU.

    2 Licenses ($39.95)
    - 2 licenses allowed for installing on 2 computers .

    10 Licenses ($99)
    - 10 licenses allowed for installing on 10 computers at the most.

    Site License ($299)
    - Site license for companies or orgnanizations, allowed for installing on unlimited computers for one company or organization.

    For purchasing the software, please see also "How to order the software?"

  37. How to contact the author?

    If you have any questions for the author, you may send an email to support@icon-maker.com with the subject set to "for the author of Easy Icon Maker" . The mail system will forward the message to the author.

    We will try to reply to all messages from registered users within 12 hours.

    Note: before requesting technical support, please ensure that you are using the latest version available from http://www.icon-maker.com

    Your ideas, suggestions, bugs report, or other comments are welcome.

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