Batch Icon/Base Tutorial Irfan View
Make sure you have the latest version of Irfan View:
http://www.irfanview.com/
Open Irfan view and select the Batch Conversion Rename option
Set your rename to something like usernameSN4x1Left#### or someting. If you have more than 9,999 caps you are using for your source images,make sure you use another place setter # in the number part of the file name. like over 10,000 caps would be usernameSN4x1Left##### and not usernameSN4x1Left####
Make a folder for the icons, in the folder make 3 more folders called left, right and center.
As you know, action isn't always in the middle, and I have gotten some wicked brushes from the "blurry" icons.
So lets say for example we have 1280x720 caps.
Set your first batch to go to the "left" folder in your icon folder.
Set output format to .png ( I think jpg icons look like shit)
Now click the "options" button next to the file type.
*make SURE the save transparent color is UNCHECKED*
Otherwise this batch of 6000 ions or whatever will make you select a transparent color after every icon, and make it all grainy and shitty looking.
Check the box that says (Use advanced options (for bulk resize)
then click the advanced button.
Check the box that say crop
-For left icons use these parameters:
X-Position: 2
Y- Position 2
Height and Width set to 716 (720 pixels - the 4 pixles cropping off the edges, to avoid an edge on the output icons)
*make sure you click the "left-top" option because that is where it sets the coordinates from.*
Now, check the resize box and click the "set one or both sides to" option.
Put in 100 for width, and 100 for height
Check "use resample function"
In the next column check the "Change Color Depth" box
Select the 16,7 million colors option
and "use Floyd Steinberg dithering" option
In the third column Check the brightness and contrast boxes.
I usually go 80 for brightness and 100 for contrast.
I usually cap dark lighted things, and this seems the best for that.
With a show like "Lost" however you might want to go down to 60 brightness and 80 contrast.
A good color boost for kinda blah colors is about 10
You can mess around and take some of the RGB out of the icons individually as well, if the images are too red or too blue or something like that.
I usually only sharpen the image if the source is not HD. And then only a value of 3 or 4.
Just make sure what ever you have values for that you wanted applied to your batch of icons, that you have the box beside it checked.
Now click the OK button to close the advanced menu.
Now click the "sort files" button and select whichever one you want. I tend to use sort by date (ascending) if I havent renamed the caps yet. If yiou have renamed yours, Id use the alphabetcical(ascending) option.
Then check the "auto sort file list after insert" button. I am sure you want the icons to be in the same order as the caps, and it helps animators as well.
Click OK.
Now to search for your source caps!
Up at the top just browse for the folder of the caps you want and open it.
Click the "add all" button
Then click "start batch"
Once it says conversion complete exit the window where you see all of the file names being switched.
-----------------
Now for the Center cropped icons.
All you need to do is change the cropping and destination folders.
You will want to change it to the center folder obviously and rename to possibly include the "center" in the name so if you UL them to a gallery or whatever, they will be ordered alpahbetically and by center, right or left.
You may need to figure out how to go around the watermark and make sure it is not on your icon.
I suggest taking one of the caps into photoshop and seeing at what pixel location the water mark starts on its vertical axis.
Lets say for example here that the watermark starts at 1000 pixels across your cap.
Open the advanced menu below the output format selection. For your start corner check the "right top" button.
For your center cropped icon parameters
X position : 280 (1280 pixels - 1000 pixels)
Y Position: 2 pixels
Height and width still 716. (has to be square for the icon, so aspect ratio isnt messed up)
Double check to make sure you have the destination folder set to the folder for the center cropped icons.
Now open your source folder, click add all and "start Batch"
*if there is no watermark, you will only have to take 1280 - 720 (pixels) = 560. Divide by 2 = 280. *This will be your X Coordinate/position for center cropped icons)
Essentially (cap length - cap width) / 2 = "X coordinate/position"
-----
For the right cropped icon
Just set X and Y to 2 and make sure you have the top right corner selected as your start position.
Make sure you change destiantion folder to RIGHT
Open your source folder , add all, start batch.
If you are working around a watermark, Open a cap in photoshop and see how far from the bottom of the image the watermark ends.
Say for example you unfortunately are using CW (we love huge spammy watermarks) caps.
The top of the watermark is 300 pixels from the bottom.
Set your X and Y positions to 2 pixels and your height and width to 418. (720-300-2=418) or (height of cap) - (top of watermark position) - (the 2 pixels you are cropping of the edge to avoid black lines on the icon edges)= your height and width.
Make sure you have the start corner set to "right top"
Open your source folder , add all, start batch.
Now look at all your pretty icons and pick the ones you would post, want to modify or whatever.
Then look through them again, to see which one would make the most awesome 100x100 custom brushes you have ever seen.
Enjoy.
Please credit
phoenixothon @ 
capaholic in resources if using this tut for your icon/base making, possibly link to this post. Either is fine.
Let me know if this tut sucks lol.
http://www.irfanview.com/
Open Irfan view and select the Batch Conversion Rename option
Set your rename to something like usernameSN4x1Left#### or someting. If you have more than 9,999 caps you are using for your source images,make sure you use another place setter # in the number part of the file name. like over 10,000 caps would be usernameSN4x1Left##### and not usernameSN4x1Left####
Make a folder for the icons, in the folder make 3 more folders called left, right and center.
As you know, action isn't always in the middle, and I have gotten some wicked brushes from the "blurry" icons.
So lets say for example we have 1280x720 caps.
Set your first batch to go to the "left" folder in your icon folder.
Set output format to .png ( I think jpg icons look like shit)
Now click the "options" button next to the file type.
*make SURE the save transparent color is UNCHECKED*
Otherwise this batch of 6000 ions or whatever will make you select a transparent color after every icon, and make it all grainy and shitty looking.
Check the box that says (Use advanced options (for bulk resize)
then click the advanced button.
Check the box that say crop
-For left icons use these parameters:
X-Position: 2
Y- Position 2
Height and Width set to 716 (720 pixels - the 4 pixles cropping off the edges, to avoid an edge on the output icons)
*make sure you click the "left-top" option because that is where it sets the coordinates from.*
Now, check the resize box and click the "set one or both sides to" option.
Put in 100 for width, and 100 for height
Check "use resample function"
In the next column check the "Change Color Depth" box
Select the 16,7 million colors option
and "use Floyd Steinberg dithering" option
In the third column Check the brightness and contrast boxes.
I usually go 80 for brightness and 100 for contrast.
I usually cap dark lighted things, and this seems the best for that.
With a show like "Lost" however you might want to go down to 60 brightness and 80 contrast.
A good color boost for kinda blah colors is about 10
You can mess around and take some of the RGB out of the icons individually as well, if the images are too red or too blue or something like that.
I usually only sharpen the image if the source is not HD. And then only a value of 3 or 4.
Just make sure what ever you have values for that you wanted applied to your batch of icons, that you have the box beside it checked.
Now click the OK button to close the advanced menu.
Now click the "sort files" button and select whichever one you want. I tend to use sort by date (ascending) if I havent renamed the caps yet. If yiou have renamed yours, Id use the alphabetcical(ascending) option.
Then check the "auto sort file list after insert" button. I am sure you want the icons to be in the same order as the caps, and it helps animators as well.
Click OK.
Now to search for your source caps!
Up at the top just browse for the folder of the caps you want and open it.
Click the "add all" button
Then click "start batch"
Once it says conversion complete exit the window where you see all of the file names being switched.
-----------------
Now for the Center cropped icons.
All you need to do is change the cropping and destination folders.
You will want to change it to the center folder obviously and rename to possibly include the "center" in the name so if you UL them to a gallery or whatever, they will be ordered alpahbetically and by center, right or left.
You may need to figure out how to go around the watermark and make sure it is not on your icon.
I suggest taking one of the caps into photoshop and seeing at what pixel location the water mark starts on its vertical axis.
Lets say for example here that the watermark starts at 1000 pixels across your cap.
Open the advanced menu below the output format selection. For your start corner check the "right top" button.
For your center cropped icon parameters
X position : 280 (1280 pixels - 1000 pixels)
Y Position: 2 pixels
Height and width still 716. (has to be square for the icon, so aspect ratio isnt messed up)
Double check to make sure you have the destination folder set to the folder for the center cropped icons.
Now open your source folder, click add all and "start Batch"
*if there is no watermark, you will only have to take 1280 - 720 (pixels) = 560. Divide by 2 = 280. *This will be your X Coordinate/position for center cropped icons)
Essentially (cap length - cap width) / 2 = "X coordinate/position"
-----
For the right cropped icon
Just set X and Y to 2 and make sure you have the top right corner selected as your start position.
Make sure you change destiantion folder to RIGHT
Open your source folder , add all, start batch.
If you are working around a watermark, Open a cap in photoshop and see how far from the bottom of the image the watermark ends.
Say for example you unfortunately are using CW (we love huge spammy watermarks) caps.
The top of the watermark is 300 pixels from the bottom.
Set your X and Y positions to 2 pixels and your height and width to 418. (720-300-2=418) or (height of cap) - (top of watermark position) - (the 2 pixels you are cropping of the edge to avoid black lines on the icon edges)= your height and width.
Make sure you have the start corner set to "right top"
Open your source folder , add all, start batch.
Now look at all your pretty icons and pick the ones you would post, want to modify or whatever.
Then look through them again, to see which one would make the most awesome 100x100 custom brushes you have ever seen.
Enjoy.
Please credit
phoenixothon @ capaholic in resources if using this tut for your icon/base making, possibly link to this post. Either is fine.Let me know if this tut sucks lol.