Icons and Cursors
 

Chasys Draw IES Artist supports the creation and editing of icon and cursor files, including icon-library files. Vista-style icons and cursors (32 bits per pixel with alpha channel) and also supported, as are Apple-style icons. In fact, all the icons and cursors used in the Chasys Draw IES suite were created using Chasys Draw IES. All icon types are supported for loading. Saving is allowed subject to the following specifications:

To create an icon from an image using the automated method, you first need to open or create the image you intend to convert to an icon.

On the main menu, select Processes, then Icon Generator. You will be presented with a window where you can select various image sizes to be included in the automatically generated icon:

Select the images then select OK. Chasys Draw IES Artist will flatten the image, create icons in the selected standard sizes and perform all the other necessary changes to make the set a valid icon.

Select Save As from the menu, and select output format as Icon (.ico). Save the icon file.

To create an icon from an image using the manual method, you’ll need to prepare the images and all related information manually. Proceed as follows:

• Create a new image.
• Go to the image menu and set the IMAGE MODE to Image List.
• Insert layers with the required dimensions (e.g. a 32 x 32 layer for a 32 x32 icon entry).
• By default, icons are created in true color. To create 256 color entries, mark the corresponding layers by adding "image.bpp=8" to their mark-up attachments.
• Arrange the layers in the order you want the icon images arranged in the icon file. Normally, the images are arranged from smallest to largest.
• Edit the images as you wish.
• Select Save As from the File menu, and select output format as Icon (.ico).

To create a static cursor, create a single-layer image of a standard size then add a hotspot attachment to it. A hotspot tag may by added using the “Hot-spot” option of the Mark-up tool.

Save the file as Cursor (.cur).

You may also create a static cursor by using the “Static Cursor” project from the New Project dialog.

To create an animated cursor, create a frame animation of a standard size then add a hotspot attachment to each frame of the animation. Alternatively, you can create an object animation the render it to a frame animation. A hotspot tag may by added using the “Hot-spot” option of the Mark-up tool.

Save the file as Animated Cursor (.ani).

You may also create an animated cursor by using the “Animated Cursor” project from the New Project dialog.