If you wanna build a very special set of icons for you new Flash Dock, you must read this little tutorial. Although you won't need skill with Flash and/or Photoshop, you'll need a minimum knowledge of this programs.

The first thing will be see what tools you'll need:

• Macromedia Flash (doesn't matter the version)
• Icon XP (ar any other icon program able to export PSD files from icon files)
• Adobe PhotoShop
• Your original set of icons (with 128x128 size)
• A computer over a table
• A chair (or you'll be really tired after this tutorial)

First case: I have only .ico files with alpha transparency and I wanna use it!

1. Turn on the computer. Sit in the chair. Log in Windows (if needed).

2. Open your icon with IconXP (or your icon edit program) I recommend IconXP because it's able to export your icons with alpha transparency straight to Photoshop format (.psd) If your icon doesn't have alpha transparency then you can skip all the first case. Select the biggest size of the icon (usually 128x128px) in the right icons bar.

3. Select File -> Export Image from the main menu. In the field "Save as Type" select "Photoshop image (.psd)" and choose a name and location for your icon. Click "Save" and move to the next step.

4. Open the resulting image in Photoshop. Now you'll see your icon with some little grey squares in the background, this is your transparency channel. If you icon doesn't have the right size (128x128 px) please resize it using the Image -> Image Size... command. Select File -> Save As from the main menu and choose "PNG (.PNG)" in the "Format" menu. Click over "Save" and choose "None" in the "Interlace Options" dialog. That's all, now we import this PNG image from Flash and export it as a movie clip. Move to the next case:

Second Case: I have my icons saved as PNG images and I just need to know how to export it to flash (swf) format.

1. Open Macromedia Flash, and set the size of a blank movie to 128 x 128 pixels. The color background and FPS of the movie doesn't matter at all.

2. Select File -> Import from the main menu. Choose your png saved image and click "Open". Now you'll see your image centered over the stage area.

3. Select File -> Export Movie from the main menu. Choose a name and location for your new icon and click "Save". In the next dialog window "Export Flash Player", set all the options in this way:

That's all. Copy this new swf file to your "zoomers" folder, located where your'e storing your Flash Dock, and edit the proper line in the config.txt file in order to use your new icon.

Enjoy!

If you have suggestions about this tutorial, plese letme know in my contact page,