Copy Icons in OSX

by hzimmerman in Circuits > Computers

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Copy Icons in OSX

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Sometimes I just want to change a default icon (e.g. for a folder) in OSX. So where to do this? First you need a source image to copy. These day just about every image you can preview can be used, as well as other Application or Document icons. It wasn’t always so.

Choose a Boring Folder That Needs a New Icon

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Say for instance we want to use the Blender icon for the folder it occupies in our Applications folder. The default is the boring blue folder.

Find the Image You Would Like to Use Instead

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I enter the Blender folder, select the actual Application and choose Command – I (Get Info) to get the Info window:

Select and Copy the Small Icon Upper Left

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The trick is now to select the small upper icon in the upper left and Command – C (Copy) it. It's actually a detailed icon.

Change the Folder Icon

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Now you select Command - I (Get Info) for the icon you want to change. Again, select the upper left small icon so it gets a selection border.

Paste the Copied Image Over It

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Command - V (Paste) now replaces the boring icon with the one of your choice.

Voila

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...a folder with a nice icon!