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Robert4

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 20, 2012
637
30
Hello,

Is there any way, or available APP perhaps, to colorize the individual Folders
on the Desktop ?

Or, perhaps, the Files also ?

Thanks,
Bob
 

goodthymes

macrumors regular
Oct 11, 2022
123
288
You should be able to change the icon for folders and files that not considered system files. You do need to find and download some macos icon packs.

Select the file or folder you want to change and use key combo: shift+i (or right click and select -get info) will open a window with the details about that folder/file and you can just either copy/paste or drag and drop the icon into the pictograph at the top to replace the default icon.

I still use packs I downloaded during the OSX aqua era, but https://macosicons.com/#/ seems to have lots more contemporary ones.
 

Robert4

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 20, 2012
637
30
Hi,

Downloaded an APP for $ 2.99 from the APP Store that does the colors for a Folder very well.

But, have not found one that enables changing the colors of a Desktop file (non-Folder).

Anyone know of one ?

Thanks,
Bob
 

capamac

macrumors regular
Jul 21, 2020
101
216
I just did this in Gimp:
Used the hue-chroma tool.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot 2024-11-03 at 8.34.56 AM.png
    Screenshot 2024-11-03 at 8.34.56 AM.png
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capamac

macrumors regular
Jul 21, 2020
101
216
Did the same thing for an alias of Facetime:
Pretty sure it'll work on any icon.
Gimp is free at www.gimp.org.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot 2024-11-03 at 8.38.32 AM.png
    Screenshot 2024-11-03 at 8.38.32 AM.png
    2.2 MB · Views: 15

capamac

macrumors regular
Jul 21, 2020
101
216
What I did was "get info" on the file. Click on the icon at top. Copy it. Go into Gimp. Create a new gimp file (i just used a 1920x1080 pixel image which is kinda of a default for me) set with a transparent background. Paste the icon into gimp. Then apply whatever filters you like. Copy again. Go back to the get info box, select the icon again, and paste.
 
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capamac

macrumors regular
Jul 21, 2020
101
216
Here's a Bieber folder that I made in Gimp:
XD
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot 2024-11-03 at 5.13.26 PM.png
    Screenshot 2024-11-03 at 5.13.26 PM.png
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Ben J.

macrumors 65816
Aug 29, 2019
1,062
623
Oslo
I want to just add that there are limits to the copy/paste functionality of icons on Finder items. I have been used to pasting custom icons in the getinfo box of many types of items, including volumes. Last time I tried, it didn't work. It was obviously a change had appeared. I don't remember the details, I think I might have just done an incremental update of macOS to v13.7, but the solution was to disable SIP.
 

Ben J.

macrumors 65816
Aug 29, 2019
1,062
623
Oslo
Didn't we have a color menu in Finder in the nineties (OS7/8/9), that let us colorize any item? I think so. Maybe that turned into what is now called 'labels'.
 
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