Good Source for Icon Images for Forms

[JMongi]

Does anyone have a nice source for icon images that can be used as buttons on a form? Thanks!

 

[Kayleigh]

You may find this thread helpful:

Icons in Access

I've learned a lot in the last week and this site and Google have been kind to me except for this: How do i find, call up or download images / icons/ bitmaps like the one that seem to be on a lot of default forms? (Attached) I've downloaded .ico and .png and .bmp files but they are "blocky"...

www.access-programmers.co.uk

 

[Minty]

I use quite few from here 16*16 and 32*32 for command buttons - just make sure you add some attribution on your app

3926 Free "Farm-Fresh Web Icons" by FatCow Web Hosting

Free Farm-Fresh web icons set includes both 16 and 32 pixel versions. Images have been saved in PNG format on transparent background for your convenience. Download and enjoy this enormous free icons set designed by FatCow - a leading provider of web hosting for individuals and small businesses.

www.fatcow.com

 

[Isaac]

I often create a word document with a background the identical color of the displayed form in access (identical because i've taken a screenshot and pasted it in word), then go Insert > Icon. In office 365 there is a wonderful assortment of transparent, real icons and they go right on top of the other background. Then they both get screenshotted together, pasted into paint, and boom- I've made a picture (for Access) that looks like a professional transparent icon on top of my form

 

[Kayleigh]

Is it not quicker to 'save as picture'?

 

[JMongi]

@Isaac - That's a nice idea. As a power user in other computer areas (is it prideful to self-proclaim that...probably...lol). It wouldn't be too hard (just a little bit of time) to use paint.net, the alpha mask plugin and/or something similar to create truly transparent icons for your use in Access if that's what you wanted. Here's a link for the adventurous.

Step 1 - Insert Icon into Word Document as Outlined Above
Step 2 - Screenshot, snip tool, etc to get a copy of the icon
Step 3 - Open screenshot/snip in paint.net or equivalent.
Step 4 - Follow the steps in the link to change the background to transparent.
Step 5 - Make any modifications to the picture size (if you want to standardize on 32 x 32 for example)
Step 6 - Save as .png file in your preferred folder of choice.

This would work for icons or more involved graphics as well.

Edit: My info is out of date (sorry, I'm old ). But the general concepts are the same. There are newer plugins that likely work better with the newer updates of paint.net. Use a paint.net plugin to "convert" the white background to transparent once you've opened your screen cap/snip. A newer thread is here.

 

[Isaac]

Thanks jmongi. I guess i'm lazy - since word already gives me the icons I need for the most part, I just use those transparent ones and paste them onto a background, ha ha too lazy

 

[Isaac]

Is it not quicker to 'save as picture'?

you replying to me?

well it would be if it had the right background. the key is to get the background of your form behind it.

 

[JMongi]

Thanks jmongi. I guess i'm lazy - since word already gives me the icons I need for the most part, I just use those transparent ones and paste them onto a background, ha ha too lazy.

Well, I can't judge. I'm gladly downloading icons and using those as opposed to creating my own. Saves me time. I figured that the process might be useful for those that have graphics they wanted with transparent backgrounds that fall outside of the typical iconography.

 

[Isaac]

Well, I can't judge. I'm gladly downloading icons and using those as opposed to creating my own. Saves me time. I figured that the process might be useful for those that have graphics they wanted with transparent backgrounds that fall outside of the typical iconography.

ok, so let's say you download a transparent ICO file. how do you put it on your access form?

 

[JMongi]

I see what you are asking. These aren't actual .ico files. These are .png files. So I just use insert image. They just already have transparent backgrounds (something .png files can do) and thus can go on any background color.

The process I outlined for doing it yourself is the "right" way to create a transparent background from an existing image. A simpler version involves magic wand tools, but these tend to leave a halo of the original color that is jarring and doesn't look very good.

 

[Isaac]

Cool, well, good topic anyway - always a big need for graphics.

 

[JMongi]

Here is an example of my work in progress form with a couple of .png icons inserted from the FatCows download linked above.

 

[Kayleigh]

Looks good!