First and foremost, let us define what a Favicon is; it is a symbol which appears alongside your web site and is in someone’s IE bar and bookmarks. It is a tiny 16 pixel character which provides a visual link to your web page.

However, favicons generate problems too; and it takes place when they get erased in the temporary internet files folder. When the user cleans the file on a routine basis, the favicon will be lost although it still remains to be bookmarked. So that the IE can locate it again, remember to save it as favicon.ico in the root information bank of your web site. Automatically, the IE-5 searches for the file name in the top level. As long as it is saved under those characters, there would be no difficulty extracting your files. Other than that, tools are available to help you keep track of the bookmarks on your page. The widely available ones in the market today are the freeware types such as FaveIcon Tracker and Freecode.

You can always choose to rename the “favicon.ico” character on your page. To successfully do that, you need to link the header of the HTML; it should supposedly come out this way - . Additionally, you can place a link in your homepage by going to the File tab, then Import followed by Add File. The last step should allow you to type the path leading to the favicon.ico.

In generating your favicon, you need to download a Windows freeware named Icon Maker. It could also be purchased through another type such that of the IconForge. There are simple rules to follow in crafting your own favicon, and these are: 16 x 16 pixels are allowed and there can only be a choice of 256 colors. Bitmap to Icon is accessible through download and is used if you already have a 16 x 16 bitmap on hand. Moreover, Irfanview is also an enticing new application which offers more possibilities than just creating and transforming icons. You have to download and see the amazing new features for yourself.

Favicons are small “friends” that can improve your site’s life. But just like any other “relationships” you have to keep favicons good looking and problem-free.

Tags: Generating Your Own Favicon