One thing I hate is when a website goes to all the trouble of making up a nice design (or even just grabbing a template and putting it up) and then they don’t go ahead and create a Favicon or worse still in my mind they use the default one that came with the CMS they are using. ARGH!
So what can you do … well really you’ve no excuse there are a multitude of free online favicon generators out there. I however prefer being able to do things from within my trusty version of Photoshop. I’m running Photoshop CS3 and thankfully there is a nice little plugin for it from the lovely people over at Telegraphics. They have versions of the plugin for both windows and Mac (I’m a Mac) and they also have versions or CS3 and CS4.
So install the plugin .. create your 32×32 pixel image and away you go Click the Save As button from the Format Dropdown choose ICO (Windows Icon) and I normally select Standard format.
Of course you can just go ahead and use PNG graphics for your icons I do believe however you’ll end up no doubt having issues with compatability and this method described here has just worked for me.
All this sounding like too much hastle to you ? well there are loads of free online generators out there
Take this one over at Dynamicdrive Favicon Generator or HTML Kit Favicon Generator
Lastly I might add in order for this favicon to appear on the tab / URL area you’ll need to let browsers know it exists. I recommend uploading it to the root webfolder / on your website calling it favicon.ico for consistancy not to mention some browsers automagically pick up the name and search for it, and you’ll want to add in a small snippet of code to all your webpages
<link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon" href="/favicon.ico" />
And finally some Favicons I’ve created (not to mention the one you’re hopefully seeing above)
So once again we’ve saved the world .. well no … its not made that much difference on the greater scale of things but its a nice little finishing touch to your sites and something you or your customers can kinda go oooh thats cool about
That reminds me, I gotta get one sorted for mine – been meaning to for months…
Well you’ve no excuse now Phil
Remember you’ll probably need to kill your browser and open it again and even possibly clear the cache to see the favicon (At least I need to with Firefox)
I need to do one too!
Ha. Stumbled upon this in a “Google Alert” for Jim Larkin (it kills me not knowing what people are saying about me and my business.) I have been needing to do this for a while now but wasn’t sure how to. Now I know. Thanks.
Ha
well Jim now you know 
Took a quick look through your portfolio of work you’ve some lovely shots in there loving the one of the girl in the field / forest (First one on the from little to big gallery) is very stricking great colours. I’m a complete amateur photographer, currently the cat is my muse, though I’ve gotten some nice shots of family as well
Yeah, I used to have one, but haven’t got round to making a new one since deciding about a year ago the old one was crap…
Funnily enough the Irish Times uses one “IT” (white text / red gradient background) and I’ve absolutely no idea where it comes from … the colours aren’t its colours … looks more like an IT resource (info tech)
Damm you now have to go and create favicons
Love the new site – all crisp colors and like that snappy blue!
So instead of tweeting you have been blogging !!
Thanks Kieran … Not really doing much of either TBH … though I’m trying to invest my time in my own projects / sites more and spend less “unproductive” time on the likes of twitter