Clock widget is Sense v2 Flip Clock Widget, wallpaper is Weather Live and I use custom icon for folders. Dock is Borealis theme, theme Icons are KitKat. Launcher is Nova Prime.
When you finally post your screenshots, please at some info about what icons, widgets, docks and wallpapers you're using. You could also at the items in your post.
It all depends oh-so-much on the kind of icon/dock you're making.
Things you need:
- Launcher Pro (Plus) app
- Desktop Visualizer widget
- Photoshop/Gimp or any other proper photo manipulation software on your computer
The first thing you want to do is read a short intro to Photoshop (or GIMP which is free). Basic information is needed, the internet is full of guides and there's no point re-writing them. Just learn how layers work, that's pretty much all you need.
The .psd file people talk about is just a Photoshop template (works with Gimp, too), that has the needed layers to create the icons/docks. A layer is just as it sounds, a layer of the image that have different information in it. In my icons, I have a layer for the image, a semi-transparent black layer for the title and a layer for the text.
Icons
For my icons (screenshot at the 2nd last post on the previous page), I use the following technique:
I divide my icon grid in the Launcher Pro Plus settings to 4 horizontal and 5 vertical.
I create a new image to Photoshop, size depends on the size I want to make, here's the measurements I've found to work with hdpi devices (like the DHD)
Resolution = 72 ppi
1x1 = 110 x 122
2x1 = 230 x 122
3x1 = 350 x 122
4x1 = 470 x 122
1x2 = 110 x 254
1x3 = 110 x 386
1x4 = 110 x 518
2x2 = 230 x 254
3x3 = 350 x 386
4x4 = 470 x 518
I make a new black layer on top of the background, put the transparency to 50% and resize it to 30 pixels from the bottom
I make another layer on top of the "title" layer to write the text on.
I paste a new layer containing the actual picture. Resize it to fit the icon as I want and save it all to .png
I transfer the .png file to my phone with ftp, but whatever method works.
Long-press homescreen, make a Desktop Visualizer icon in the size of 3x3 (resize it later to the correct size with the Launcher Pro Plus). Browse for your icon, make it start an app, remove the text from the field, and press ok. Resize. Place. Done.
Docks
I guess the "basic" dock creation starts with an idea. You decide what you want it to be like, then think how to do it.
Personally, I started by downloading a ready-made dock just to get the "right" image size. Open it in Photoshop, make it the way I want it to make. There's no "magic" here to teach, you either know how to use Photoshop, learn how to use it, or leave it to other people to do for you
The standard Dock size that I use is 480 x 84 pixels.