Follow the instructions below to create simple base images in photoshop.


Create a new transparent image about 100 x 100 pixels


Go to your custom shapes tool


Select a shape that won't lose too much detail when shrunk


Drag the tool from the top left to bottom right, leaving a reasonable margin on all sides.

Select the magic wand tool and highlight the image

With your foreground and background colors set, select the gradient tool and drag from the center of the shape to the bottom right edge of the shape.



From the layers effect menu, choose stroke.


Choose a neutral but darker color to edge the shape. Brown works best on these yellow gradient images.
Note the stroke settings. On smaller images, a smaller stroke is best. Don't over do it but make sure there's enough to survive shrinking the image.

Back to the layer effect menu, select bevel and emboss.
Note the setings!



Now create a new layer


Merge all layers.



Go to 'image' and select 'trim'.



Note the settings


Go to 'image' again and select 'image size'.


For complex edges, allow a larger size. For simple round images, 20x20 pixels is best.


Now go to 'image' / 'canvas size'.

Add 2 pixels to the existing image size, horizontal and vertical.



Use 'save as', not save for web.
Save as .gif


Here's the finished base image.
Note how little of the stroke remains.
This is just enough to define the image on most pages though.

For use on darker sites, you'd want to lighten the stroke a bit but not too much or you'll get a visible 'halo' which is very annoying.
Now upload your image and create your smiley set.

You can usually resize the base image in 2 pixel increments if it doesn't look right.

Try to keep it to even numbers though so the animations will center correctly.
All the SmileySetter animations are prebuilt and roughly arranged at the center of the image (x=0, y=0)

If your base image has a cup of coffee in his left hand, then the animation at 0,0 won't work because the face will be centered on his ear instead.

So, we adjust the x (width/horizontal postition) and the y (height/vertical position) so the animated face is centered again.
 
If the left side of the image is larger, then add more to the x position.  
If he's wearing a hat, add more to the y position.
 
-x moves it(the face) to your left. +x moves it(the face) to your right
-y moves it(the face) up, +y moves it(the face) down

This generator creates all the default and animated IPB smileys that come with IPB  plus 1 or 2 additionals and zips them all for instant download.
So, a forum owner can upload and replace the full set for their theme all at once, with none missing from the defaults.