PixelToolBox is a freeware editor that can import 16x16pixel .bmp images from your graphics software and save them out as .ico. It can also create them from scratch.
PixelToolBox imports from most graphic formats but only exports/saves to .ico.
Select, in this order
Windows icon
16x16 size. Be sure to check this last or it may change back to 32x32.
Whatever palette you want. Default works for me.
I have found that the "soft" and "bold" options are useful with text.
Save out your file as favicon.ico (in filetype .ico).
It is a clunky little program, but it can convert to/from .bmp to .ico. I have needed it sometimes when I needed to change from .ico to .bmp.
HTML mods
Your icon should be in the directory where it will be used. If not you'll need to specify where it is in the path.
The icon can be named something other than favicon.ico.
Most tell you that you must make changes to your html code. I find that if there is a 16x16pixel icon in the root directory and it is named favicon.ico, the browsers usually pick it up.
The following may be added to the top of your html code. It is necessary if the icon is named anything other than favicon.ico and/or if it is located anywhere other than in the current or root directory. I put it immediately after
<html>
and before
<head>
<link REL="SHORTCUT ICON" href="favicon.ico">
You can view page source on this webpage and see what it looks like in this html code.
It can be useful to add this line of code to your html when you have modified the icon image and want to force the page to pick up the new one. You would, of course, modify the name (e.g, "favicon1.ico") and hit reload/refresh to make it load the new program. It is sometimes helpful to empty your browser
caches when working with a revised or new icon.
Note that I used filename "favicon.ico", but I could have used something else.
Here is an example of the html code when the icon is not named favicon.ico and the location of the file is not in the current or root directory:
Some .ico's I've made, converted to .bmp so you can see them easily.
For pages on my home webspace. With luck, you should be seeing this in the location box at the top of your browser. You may note that the icon shows up in this page located in a subdirectory below the root directory and by viewing page source, you can see that there is no mention of favicons in the html.
For BattleofCamden.org. With luck you should see it when you go to BattleofCamden.org or any of its webpages.
For a friend's webspace based on logo found on his site. I reduced the image to a 16x16 .bmp using Adobe PhotoShop Elements, then tweaked it with PixelToolBox.
This is a try for a logo for Cowpens NB ("Daybreak at Cowpens")
A trial version of an icon for Phil Norfleet.
They didn't have a favicon for this site so I made this one for use (as a .bmp) when I link to them.
Gadwin PrintScreen Download free from here
This makes the "PrintScreen" key on your keyboard useful. I use it to snag favicons from websites and then crop them down to 16x16 in PhotoShop Elements and save them out as .bmp's for use in webpages where I link to the websites.
Examples:
I use this to identify links using Internet Archives when a useful page is no longer online. You can see this icon used in this archive copy of my home page 5 years ago.
For pages on my home webspace. With luck, you should be seeing this in the location box at the top of your browser. You may note that the icon shows up in this page located in a subdirectory below the root directory and by viewing page source, you can see that there is no mention of favicons in the html.
For BattleofCamden.org. With luck you should see it when you go to BattleofCamden.org or any of its webpages.
For a friend's webspace based on logo found on his site. I reduced the image to a 16x16 .bmp using Adobe PhotoShop Elements, then tweaked it with PixelToolBox.
Possible favicon for Camden Campaign website.
for new website of author friend based on his "trademark" symbol.
An effort at making an icon similar to the Eastern National logo.
This is a try for a logo for Cowpens NB ("Daybreak at Cowpens")
A trial version of an icon for Phil Norfleet.
They didn't have a favicon for this site so I made this one for use (as a .bmp) when I link to them.
I use this to identify links using 
