This is an implementation of Trollf's icon creation tutorial. His process explains how to automate the process with a Photoshop action script. This is my version of that script. It includes two stops to customize the settings. The first stop is to tweak the brightness and the second stop is to name and save the icon to a directory of your choice.

Import the action into Photoshop and then set things up as follows.

Usage

You need to configure Nifskope and Photoshop before playing the action.

Nifskope Settings

1. Set background colour to white (#ffffff).

2. Turn off all render settings (axes, nodes and havok).

Photoshop Settings

1. Set foreground colour to white.

2. Set background colour to #EAD1A3 for the glow around the icons.

Nifskope Start

1. Open mesh in Nifskope. Position as desired.

2. Print screen. Copy screen print to clipboard if using a program like WinSnap.

Photoshop

1. Create new document. Preset should be set to clipboard.

2. Set Background to Background colour.

3. Paste screen shot into document.

4. Use rectangular marquee to select a square around the object. Use Alt+Shift to select square from centre.

5. Select Create Icon action.

6. Click Continue to adjust brightness or accept settings when prompted.

7. Click Continue to save file.

The package includes the above instructions, a reprint of Trollf's icon creation tutorial with some comments by me (Icon Creation.rtf) and a second reprint of the tutorial with instructions on adding stops when creating the action (Creating Icons.docx). The extra documents are for information only, unless the action doesn't work in your version of Photoshop. Then you can follow the full tutorial to create your own copy of the action.

Photoshop Icon Creation Package.7z

@Vorians would you mind checking this out? I'm thinking of uploading it to Nexus and I'd like to verify that it works with your version of PS. I'd also like to know if my instructions are adequate. Thanks!

I can confirm I would get stuck trying to do this. What's an ATN file, what do I do with it?

It's an action file.

https://share.google/aimode/HHAwM0QXKiYmEDYHj

@Vorians did you run the script? Does it work? It might need some adjustments depending on your settings.

Haven't looked at any of the outstanding things you've requested in any thread yet, might get around to some of them this weekend.

Guidance needs to include how to add an ATN file to Photoshop.

I don't know how to set a foreground colour in Photoshop.

I don't know how to set a background colour in Photoshop outside of editing an image, so I set the image's background colour to #EAD1A3 instead of to background colour.

State that the print-screen (which by default will launch the snipping tool to select an area to copy) should be square/large enough to be able to crop down to a square in Photoshop. Or, instruct to increase the canvas size to enable dragging a square selection around the entire object.

Instruct to go to Windows > Actions if Actions window/panel is not already open.

Instruct to click the triangular Play button after selecting Create Icon action.

"Click Continue to adjust brightness or accept settings when prompted." - options are Continue or Stop, not Accept. Clicking Stop aborts the script so only Continue should be clicked. Instruction should be "Click Continue to adjust brightness, then OK to accept settings."

I've attached the resulting file. I believe the alpha negates any concern about the white borders top and bottom.

Test.psd

Stupid Windows. Yes, I had to switch print screen back to actually printing the screen and not launch an editing tool.

Thank you to giving this a test run. I'll enhance the instructions. The result at the end should be a DDS file, not a PSD.

At least the action itself ran without needing more adjustments.

You just set the foreground and background from the foreground and background colour blocks:

You just open Photoshop and set them. It will remember the settings when you open it again, or if you open it by double-clicking on a file.