Question about icon formats
How many should I make
Monday, January 17, 2005 by TN Brat! | Discussion: Icons
Hi, uh, I need a little help with 2 things, if you guys don't mind...
First, I was wondering how many icon formats should I include when making icons? I'm sure a lot of it's a matter of personal preference, but I'm just looking for idea of what should at least be included? Right now, on the set that I'm working on I have 21 formats...which is like every size and then 128XP, 256 Colors, and True Color...so is that like too much?
And second, I was wondering about the Dock Icons (PNGS) VS. Misc. Icons? Ive finished a small pack of Valentine's Image File Types, and of course they are in PNG format....My plan, when I started these was to upload them to the Dock Icons section, but since there is now the Misc Icons, should I do both? Ive noticed that several people are uploading the same image to both sections, except for the file type (.png & .ico)...To me that seems like a waste of space...
Like when I download a set of dock icons that included both .png and .ico format, I delete the icons, and keep the pngs, and then if I need one of them as an icon, I just make it for myself...because most of the time I won't use very many of them as icons....with me? BUT then considering that Object Dock and the other application launcher utilities accept .pngs as well as .ico format, then to be honest, uploading the .pngs are more of a waste, right?
Cause it's like the .png images can only be used in a few places like DesktopX, Object Dock...stuff like that, but when it comes to your computer system you need the images as icons...and they can be used everywhere...pretty much.
So, should I make just the icons...then they can be used anywhere?
And if so, what formats?
Or should I go ahead and upload the .pngs to the Dock Icons section then make the icons and upload them to the Misc Icon section?
Here's the link to the pngs I'm refering to at Deviant Art, I'm going to upload them to here but I wanted to get you thoughts on where to put what?
Link
First, I was wondering how many icon formats should I include when making icons? I'm sure a lot of it's a matter of personal preference, but I'm just looking for idea of what should at least be included? Right now, on the set that I'm working on I have 21 formats...which is like every size and then 128XP, 256 Colors, and True Color...so is that like too much?
And second, I was wondering about the Dock Icons (PNGS) VS. Misc. Icons? Ive finished a small pack of Valentine's Image File Types, and of course they are in PNG format....My plan, when I started these was to upload them to the Dock Icons section, but since there is now the Misc Icons, should I do both? Ive noticed that several people are uploading the same image to both sections, except for the file type (.png & .ico)...To me that seems like a waste of space...
Like when I download a set of dock icons that included both .png and .ico format, I delete the icons, and keep the pngs, and then if I need one of them as an icon, I just make it for myself...because most of the time I won't use very many of them as icons....with me? BUT then considering that Object Dock and the other application launcher utilities accept .pngs as well as .ico format, then to be honest, uploading the .pngs are more of a waste, right?
Cause it's like the .png images can only be used in a few places like DesktopX, Object Dock...stuff like that, but when it comes to your computer system you need the images as icons...and they can be used everywhere...pretty much.
So, should I make just the icons...then they can be used anywhere?
And if so, what formats?
Or should I go ahead and upload the .pngs to the Dock Icons section then make the icons and upload them to the Misc Icon section?
Here's the link to the pngs I'm refering to at Deviant Art, I'm going to upload them to here but I wanted to get you thoughts on where to put what?
Link
BlueDev
Reply #2 Tuesday, January 18, 2005 11:07 AM
Reply #2 Tuesday, January 18, 2005 11:07 AM
I am interested to see the answers TN Brat!. I have been wondering myself, so while I don't have an answer I will just say: Good question!
Koasati
Reply #3 Tuesday, January 18, 2005 12:44 PM
Reply #3 Tuesday, January 18, 2005 12:44 PM
Personally I would go by mormegil's lead...... the formats he generally includes are;
16x16-256
32x32-256
48x48-256
16x16-Win XP
24x24-Win XP
32x32-Win XP
48x48-Win XP
64x64-Win XP
72x72-Win XP
128x128-Win XP
16x16-256
32x32-256
48x48-256
16x16-Win XP
24x24-Win XP
32x32-Win XP
48x48-Win XP
64x64-Win XP
72x72-Win XP
128x128-Win XP
As to your second question...... that's a can of worms I rather not stick my hands in.
TN Brat!
Reply #4 Tuesday, January 18, 2005 3:20 PM
Reply #4 Tuesday, January 18, 2005 3:20 PM
jebland ,Thanks for the imput and information, but I was wondering... You say you delete the formats you don't like? How do you do that? I mean, do you open them in Icon Developer or something like that and delete the other formats? Because that's never something I would think of doing...The only time I open a set of icons I donwload is when there isn't enough formats so I can add the ones I need, but I never thought to delete the ones I don't need....hmmmm 
BlueDev...lol thanks
Wizop Koasati, Ok, well that's 11 formats I need to remove...LOL But seriously, thank you for that!!
About the other "Can of Worms"...Gee, I didn't know it all was that. Have I opened something up that's been a "topic" of interesting conversations before? I don't know how I managed to do that, but it figures, I can't seem to not cause controversy...when I'm here...Sorry.
More or less though, I was just wondering what people "needed"? Ya know, like what they actually use? I thought I was being thoughtful...I think that I'll just upload the Pngs to OD and Icons to MI, and then when the whole set is finished I can upload them to IP...LOL Thanks for the format information, though!!
BlueDev...lol thanks
Wizop Koasati, Ok, well that's 11 formats I need to remove...LOL But seriously, thank you for that!!
About the other "Can of Worms"...Gee, I didn't know it all was that. Have I opened something up that's been a "topic" of interesting conversations before? I don't know how I managed to do that, but it figures, I can't seem to not cause controversy...when I'm here...Sorry.
More or less though, I was just wondering what people "needed"? Ya know, like what they actually use? I thought I was being thoughtful...I think that I'll just upload the Pngs to OD and Icons to MI, and then when the whole set is finished I can upload them to IP...LOL Thanks for the format information, though!!
Koasati
Reply #5 Tuesday, January 18, 2005 7:12 PM
Reply #5 Tuesday, January 18, 2005 7:12 PM
Please don't read too much in my can of worms comment....... I simply meant that area is confusing.
TN Brat!
Reply #6 Tuesday, January 18, 2005 9:23 PM
Reply #6 Tuesday, January 18, 2005 9:23 PM
Oh, ok, I'm with you! Thanks, though I still don't know what I should do...LOL
jebland
Reply #7 Wednesday, January 19, 2005 12:14 PM
Reply #7 Wednesday, January 19, 2005 12:14 PM
Madam TN Brat,
I use a free program called IconShop 1.20 available here: http://users.pandora.be/liontech/Downloads.htm Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be in development anymore. The last update was in 2002 but I use it on a regular basis. The only caveat is if the icl is over about 15mb, IconShop will corrupt it. It's a good idea to make a copy of the icl before working with it until you get used to the program. It also will translate Mac Icons to windows format after expanding the sit file.
It will open icls and gives you the option to view by format. You can then select the icons and right click and choose "delete image" and it will remove those formats from the icl. If you choose "delete" it will remove the icons, so be careful.
Then, if there are formats missing, I load the icl in Axailis IconWorkshop and add any formats that I require. I want all the large standard formats (128-96-72-64) because I use IconX and usually have my desktop icons set at 72x72 and expand to 96x96 upon mouseover.
I think that the IconExplorer that comes with IconPackager also allows you to remove formats in a similar manner, but I don't use it because I despise the way it steals the file associations.
Of course, this is just the way I do it. Your milage may vary.
I use a free program called IconShop 1.20 available here: http://users.pandora.be/liontech/Downloads.htm Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be in development anymore. The last update was in 2002 but I use it on a regular basis. The only caveat is if the icl is over about 15mb, IconShop will corrupt it. It's a good idea to make a copy of the icl before working with it until you get used to the program. It also will translate Mac Icons to windows format after expanding the sit file.
It will open icls and gives you the option to view by format. You can then select the icons and right click and choose "delete image" and it will remove those formats from the icl. If you choose "delete" it will remove the icons, so be careful.
Then, if there are formats missing, I load the icl in Axailis IconWorkshop and add any formats that I require. I want all the large standard formats (128-96-72-64) because I use IconX and usually have my desktop icons set at 72x72 and expand to 96x96 upon mouseover.
I think that the IconExplorer that comes with IconPackager also allows you to remove formats in a similar manner, but I don't use it because I despise the way it steals the file associations.
Of course, this is just the way I do it. Your milage may vary.
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Reply #1 Tuesday, January 18, 2005 10:34 AM
When I download an IP, I like to see XP icon sizes 128-96-72-64-48-32-24-16. If the extra icons for the older operating systems are included, there should be 256 color icon sizes 48-32-24-16.
16 color icons are hideous and almost nobody needs them anymore. (I delete them if included). I also delete true color icons because Windows can be lazy and show them instead of the XP icons. (You lose the shadows)