ICON creation > 16 x 16 > Suggestions/tips please

**jclements** · 09 February 2008, 05:33 PM

I have been asked to create some 16x16 icons which will appear in a dropdown menu for a custom software application (they will appear directly to the left of each menu option).

Aside from coming up with meaningful icon designs, the 16x16 format has been giving me headaches in producing something recognizable/distinct due to the size and antialiasing.

If anyone would like to share their tips, examples, special software, etc., it would be appreciated.

Regards, John

**Jon G** · 09 February 2008, 10:05 PM

Hello John,

I like minimalistic, clean and sharp icons so by tips are probably biased into that direction:

1. Keep the amount of hues low, 2 or 3 should be enough.
2. Use even pixel shapes and snapping whenever possible. Although Xara renders subpixel stuff nicely, non-snapped lines will be blurry when exported. Even pixel shapes stay razor sharp.
3. Learn the zoom key shortcuts, you'll need to zoom out 100% more often than is fun.
4. Xara's bevels look good in that size, but shadows are pretty useless.

Please find attached some icons from one of my interface projects.

Good luck!

.jon

**Soquili** · 09 February 2008, 10:06 PM

John for creating .ico files I use two programs:
Microangelo and Axialis Iconworkshop.

I create the graphics in Xara Xtreme. For the 16x16 pixel graphics I usually select a small portion of one of the larger icons. I try for an item that conveys the general idea for the program or menu item.

An ico file is not usually needed for menu item icons. A bmp file is usually used. The resource editor provided with the software development application allows for a colour to be selected to be the transparent area of the bitmap. Unless you already own Visual Studio, Delphi, or another software developent package it would be very expensive to buy simply to make icons.

**jclements** · 11 February 2008, 02:05 PM

Jon and Bill:

Thanks for both of your help!

Your examples helped ease the pain.

My colleage could only use BMP format so color options were very limited.

My 1st draft of the icon (10 icons) used blue, orange, black, and white.

The attached are some samples I came up with; they probably won't mean much to you guys, and although they are primative my collague felt they were recognizable symbols for menu optitons.

**Soquili** · 11 February 2008, 02:39 PM

John they look very good. Clear and easily distinquished. As you say I don't know what they represent but I am sure a user of your collague's application will know.

Thanks for showing your results.

**handrawn** · 11 February 2008, 02:41 PM

admiration for anyone who can work that small - they are distinctive and I think you've done a great job there

**Soquili** · 11 February 2008, 03:56 PM

John has your collague mentioned needing the icons in a single file?

Some developers prefer having the 16x16 icons in a single line of images in a single file as seen in the toolbar strip in the attached. Other developers prefer individual files as seen in the operating system icons in the attached.

The developers that prefer the single file can select a region within the strip and display them in any order they desire.

**jclements** · 12 February 2008, 01:44 AM

Bill, I believe their application is limit in how the user can built a custom extension/menu and the supporting icons

**raynerj1** · 12 February 2008, 05:06 AM

Steve... Zoom in and the little can get really big.

The hard part is drawing the really small stuff inside the really large stuff and have it look like what it is supposed to.

**handrawn** · 12 February 2008, 09:54 AM

yes John, sorry, I am not suggesting any one actually draws it that small

but you need to be able to get the detail right so it translates [reduces and maintains clarity] - and 16x16 is small - so it is not straight forward I would have thought

currently at the size I draw by hand, the reduction factor to print is about 28% - eg 21inches => 6.25inches [600pix on screen] - I find that bad enough