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Use True-Color Icons

Intended For
Windows Me
Windows 98
Windows 95
Windows supports true-color icons (16-bit/65,000 colors or higher) for users with displays that can support them. However, there are two obstacles to using them on your system. First, you need to turn on Windows' support for true-color icons (which may not be enabled on your system). Secondly, you need to be able to create these icons (most icon editors only support 16-colors). Here's what you need to do:


To enable true-color icons:

  • First of all, your display color-depth needs to be set to 16-bit or higher. Double-click on the Display icon in Control Panel, and click on the Settings tab. Adjust the Color Palette to your liking. Note: Your video card or monitor may not support the higher color depths necessary to use true-color icons.
  • Next, choose the Effects tab, and make sure the Show Icon Using All Possible Colors option is checked.
  • Press Ok when you're done.

  • If your Show Icon Using All Possible Colors option is grayed out, open the Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop, and change the UserPreferencesMask value to 9c 00 00 80.


To create true-color icons:

  • Create a Windows Bitmap (.BMP), 32 pixels by 32 pixels, any color depth, and save it to a directory on your hard disk.
  • In the properties window (right-click on the icon) of any shortcut, choose the Program tab, click Change Icon, and specify your new .BMP file.

  • Related Topics: Change the Icons of Desktop Items and Enable Iconic Preview of Bitmaps.


Written by: Annoyances.org
Last updated: Wednesday, February 7, 2007

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