Inspirational favicons and how to make one by Yourself

By Dainis Graveris • August 31, 2008

So at first - what really is favicon?

Favicon is a small 16×16px icon used to differentiate between bookmarked web sites. Favicons also show up on the URL address bar and browser tabs and that`s the great way to stand out between similar websites and also for branding - it`s like little logotype.

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Below are examples, where icons are used :

So now You know what favicon really is, but how to make one by yourself?

There are of course Photoshop plugin to create *.ico file, but I would really suggest You to just use favicon generators to automate the process.

So I will cut workflow into steps:

1. You must make 16×16px small image - it`s really small, so You can put there just very simple and remarkable shapes, so sure it is a little challenge. Save image as *.gif, *.jpg or *.png.

*comment - You can make 32×32px icon too, but that`s not really necessary - it will be shown only if user on his Bookmark/Favorite toolbar enable it to display large icons.

2. At this step favicon generators will take place. Sure, web is full of those, but I choose only the most useful of them :

a) Nice design and very easy to use application:

b) DynamicDrive.com as always always some good solution:

c) I prefer to use this generator because there`s an option to make animated favicon to make it more remarkable and conspicuous.

Just upload Your image and download generated version, check animate favicon if You want to get one.

To submit favicon to Your web-page upload it on Your web-page and add the following code between <head> … </head> section :

You`re done! Congratulations - refresh web-page pressing ctrl+f5 to see the changes.

Inspirational favicons :

Check out those articles - really great for ideas:

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2007/06/14/creative-favicons-when-small-is-beautiful/

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2007/01/31/inspire-yourself-50-remarkable-favicons/

Great site. Everything about favicons You can imagine:

*Updated

One good friend of mine found this nice plugin for WordPress to make Your life even easier creating favicon.

Just upload Your icon in *.jpg, *.png, *.gif or *.ico format click update button and You’re done! Make sure You look out for this one:

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Categories: Development
Tags: favicon, favicon generator, Inspiration

One Response to “ Inspirational favicons and how to make one by Yourself ”

Leonaut.com Sep 1st, 2008 at 10:26 am

Inspirational favicons and how to make one by Yourself…

Favicon is a small 16×16px icon used to differentiate between bookmarked web sites. Favicons also show up on the URL address bar and browser tabs and that`s the great way to stand out between similar websites and also for branding - it`s like little l…