Print

[Phizzy]

QUOTE

I can open them in paint and save them as a jpeg but the background always turns black and the quality is really bad.

Hmm, don't know why that would happen.

Have you tried this...

Open "My Computer" and browse until you see an icon you want to use.
Press Alt+PrtScr to capture a snapshot of the "My Computer" window.
Open "MS Paint".
Press Cntl+V to paste the image in "MS Paint".
Use the Select tool in "MS Paint", forming a box around the icon you want to use.
Press Cntl+C to copy the selected icon.
Open your skin in "Photoshop".
Press Cntl+V to paste the selected icon in "Photoshop" (should create a new layer).
Use the Magic Wand tool to select the unwanted whitespace around your icon.
Press Del to delete the whitespace.
 
Sounds complicated, but it really isn't.

Let me know if you have any questions.

[Phizzy]

QUOTE

p.s how do these guys create these 3d shapes you see on some skins i cant seem to do it with adobe photoshop

 
Right click on the layer you want to make 3d, select "Blending Options...", then select "Bevel and Emboss" and "Contour". This can give a 3d effect.