DESKTOP ICONS
Load the ding font that you plan to use.
I used Almanac MT for this mini-tut - small A.
Open a new image, fairly large, 350 X 350. Flood fill with white.
Select the colors you want to use for your icon set. I'll make this set black and deep maroon, just cuz I like the colors. Use the settings below and type a single letter.
Objects > Align > Center in Canvas
Add an inner bevel that you like... I used these settings - the fun part is playing with it to see what you like.
Add a drop shadow if you want. (I like to put my drop shadow on a new layer in case I don't like it or want to tweak it later.)
There is too much white space around my ram, and that makes it wasted space when you are resizing for icons. Make your icon square or Windows will resize it to fit its dimensions, distorting the picture.
The font is not square - but the white space around it needs to be squared. Reduce the amount of white space around it so that you're not wasting space.
Selection tool> Square Feather 0, Anti-alias checked.
Starting at a point to the lower right of the ram's knees, draw a square selection around the ram on the bottom (white layer). Promote the selection to a new layer. Hide the bottom layer.
To center the white space around the ram:
Edit > Cut.
Edit > Paste > Paste as new layer.
Image > Crop to Selection.
Now your icon is balanced. Both the image and background are centered in a perfect square.
Click on the bottom layer and add an inner bevel. This is a preset I made for something and named "cloudbutton"...
Resize your button to around 100 X 100 and save as an icon. Or export as a jpg. Save it in a folder where you keep extra icons for your desktop.
Use another letter for the next icon in the set.
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