Step 4. Finish the Job

Now you need to apply the IconBuilder filter to the image you've placed on the icon grid. Select Filter > Iconfactory > IconBuilder 8.0. In the drop-down window in the upper-left, make sure Macintosh – Normal is selected by pressing Command-3. Click the Build button, which is a left-pointing arrow located between the two panes. Save your icon by clicking Save and designating a location for the file. Click Close to exit the filter. Now you can use your personalized icon as you would any other Mac icon.

Choose Macintosh – Normal from the drop-down in the upper-left.

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BONUS TIP: Creating an icon with a transparent background.

If it's something relatively simple, like a bold, black signature or a simple logo on a solid-colored background, you can remove the background using Photoshop's Magic Wand tool. Here's how:

1. Open the image in Photoshop. Select the Magic Wand tool and click on the background of the image. If it doesn't select all of the background initially, press Control and click in the area you want to add. In the drop-down that appears, select Add to Selection. Continue doing this until all of the background is selected. (Remember to include the spaces inside letters too.)

We had to do four Add to Selections to select all of the white background on the Mac|Life logo, including separate additions for the enclosed portions inside the lowercase a and e.

2. To select the text (rather than the background) go to Select > Inverse (or press Shift-Command-I). Press Command-X to cut out the text only (Edit > Cut). Create a new file with a transparent background (Command-N). Name your file, and be sure to select Transparent for the background next to Background Contents. To paste the cut text currently in the clipboard into your new file, press Command-V (Edit > Paste).

Photoshop helpfully creates your new file in the same dimensions and resolution as the open file. Just be sure to select Transparent for the background.

3. Now save your new file as a PSD file (default format). Now when you create your icon using the steps previously outlined, it will maintain a transparent background.

Our original image (top) and our new image, now with a transparent background (bottom).