Colorizing Desktop Items: Any Way To?

[Robert4]

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]

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]

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]

I just did this in Gimp:
Used the hue-chroma tool.

 

[capamac]

Did the same thing for an alias of Facetime:
Pretty sure it'll work on any icon.
Gimp is free at www.gimp.org.

 

[capamac]

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.

 

[allan.nyholm]

Hello,

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

Or, perhaps, the Files also ?

Thanks,
Bob

there's an app on GitHub called https://github.com/neilsardesai/Manila

Should be able to colorize folders

 

[capamac]

Here's a Bieber folder that I made in Gimp:
XD

 

[ignatius345]

Select the file or folder you want to change and use key combo: shift+i (or right click and select -get info)

Minor correction, that key shortcut is command+I.

 

[Ben J.]

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.]

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'.

 

[zevrix]

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'.

You can restore the original label behavior (which was destroyed on Lion, I think) by using XtraFinder or TotalFinder (although I'm not sure that's what the OP wants).

 

[mac57mac57]

The App Store comes to your rescue! No need for clever work in GIMP or elsewhere. See:

‎Folder Colorizer

‎Folder Colorizer allows you to customize your folders with just about any color. Would like to make your folders looks cool? Or want to organize your folders to make things easier to find? Change the color of your folders and make them distinguishable! Folder Colorizer is the coolest and...

apps.apple.com

for the Folder-Colorizer app. It is $1.99 and worth every penny in my opinion. I can vouch for it on Monterey, where I purchased it and have been using it.