Creating nice 3D icons?

I've searched through the forums here and most of the info on creating icons is pretty old. There was one good link to the way Microsoft created icons for XP, but that article was created in July 2001 and expects you to use Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. I would think there might be newer methods, programs, techniques, etc.

I have googled, but there is so much of information, its hard to weed out the good info from the bad. I wanted to hear some opinions from you guys who have actually created your own, what programs or techniques work the best? Things to watch out for, etc.

Thanks.

I'd also like to hear about this aswell as i am making my own program which requires a very stylish interface.

If you look on the internet there are loads of free programs that convert pictures into .ico format.

I know there are loads, thats why I was hoping someone could make a recommendation of some of the better programs, to weed out the junk.

Try Download.com

Below is the icon editor I use and i just love it. :thumb:

http://www.microangelo.us/

since the beginning of last year I create my own icons. I'm using Photoshop,'cause I know how to use that.

I import the image into Icon Cool Editor from which I can adjust colors in case needed.

The easy and good thing of Icon cool Editor is the export. It's easy to set the resolution and dimension.

Thanks ProphetBeal and Radjesh Klauke, thats the kind of information I was looking for!

sorry, it won't let me delete this reply