IconStudio by HTML Helper	Icon Studio Page	This is a top-of-the-line icon creating/editing program which has oodles of great features. If you have a lick of artistic sense, you will do great things with this!
	4.5 megs HERE!

Icon Studio by HTML Helper Warning....... This free program requires you to register with an e-mail address to receive the registration code. If you feel this is not in your interpretation of freeware, I apologize. However, I suggest you read further and see if this program might be worth applying for a free e-mail account at another provider, just to get the code. I usually keep three e-mail addresses anyway just for circumstances like this. One is private, the other two are for bulk mail and applications. It doesn't cost a cent to do this and you get an absolutely marvelous program too. Platform........ Windows 95, 98, 2000, Me!! Web Site.......... This site is a bit difficult to navigate if you're looking for icon studio from the main page. It's there, you just have to search a bit. They also offer other programs for free and you might want to check them out while you're there. Downloading........ Size zipped: 4.5 megs (.zip file) Size Installed: about 2.8 megs including a TON of icons from the program. (Plus system files) Installation.......... Setting up Icon Studio on your computer couldn't be easier. Just open up the .zip file to a directory and click on the setup.exe file. There's no questions to ask, no choices to make. It just installs it and that's that!! Can it be easier? Help Files.......... The help file for this program is nothing fancy. I couldn't find any screen shots to talk about but the information is there if basic. You get a good rundown on the tools to use and the rest is up to your imagination! Interface............. Icon Studio has a really great and easy to use interface with all user tools readily accessible from the desktop. The default installation has all toolbars showing. Of course, you can remove any of them from the "View" menu. Here's a pic of the working screen: Most of the important tools and functions are within reach at the toolbar. Some of these are pen, brush, eraser, line plus shapes and flood fill. There is a "property" bar which allows the adjustment of "Brush, Zoom and Device" functions. With the color palette open and the menu above, everything is placed for optimum accessibility. Features........... This is truly a full featured freeware program!! The zoom goes to 1:16 so working on your icon can be up close and personal. :) Your choices for icon sizes vary from 16x16, with 16 colors to 48x48 with 256 colors, allowing for some very nice detail. The color palette allows you to set a color for right and left mouse clicking, giving you full use of your resources. There is a multiple "undo" (I did twenty and stopped, but it does more!), and the brush size goes from 1 to 8. The grid settings are configurable, and the "image" menu allows for such features as loading a specific palette, Transparent Color, plus Flipping and Rotating the image. Another great feature comes when the program first starts. You are given a window which gives you many options. Here's a pic of that screen and what choices it gives you: When you do a search for icons, the program searches your hard drive for every icon file it can find. It's amazing just how many icons your computer can have after being used for a while!! Here's a pic of the search screen:   Icon Studio found over 1000 icons on my machine, and I just did a new install about four weeks ago. If you've been using the same install for a while, you can imagine just how many YOU have! :) Does it Work........... Extremely well however, please realize that I'm not the most artistic individual in the world, but I'll bet that if you have even a bit of talent, you'll be making some great looking icons with this program!! Problems......... I haven't found any problems with this program while I was testing it out. Of course, if using an e-mail address to get a registration code for IconStudio is a problem for you, then I've found one! Closing......... Honestly, if this program isn't worth going to excite or yahoo just to open an e-mail account to get the code, then I don't know what is. It takes a couple of minutes and for the effort, you'll get an excellent icon creation program with enough bells and whistles to make you want to wear ear plugs!! Enjoy Buzzy J

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