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Should the icons be created in bitmap or vector format?
A bitmap image file (like GIF, PNG, TIFF, etc.) contains a pixel-based graphic information. Pixels (constriction for "picture element") are those smallest squares of light that your computer screen is made up of. A 24x24 pixel icon representing a red square is actually comprised of 576 separate pixels, each represented by small bits of numeric data in a graphic file. A bigger image will contain even more pixels, leading to more numeric information, and a larger file size as a resilt. A vector image file (like EPS, SVG, etc.) consists of geometric information. A vector file containing a red square sized to 24x24 pixels only contains numeric datd regarding the geometrical location of the square's four corners, information about the color of the square, and information defining the size of the square as 24x24 pixels on the monitor. That means our red square in vector format only needs about six tiny bits of data as opposed to our 576 bits of data required for our bitmap red square. In reality, the explanation is a bit more complicated than this, but you see the idea: Modifying the size of a vector graphic file from 24x24 to 48x48 only requires the alteration of one bit of data (the size). The math does the rest. However, changing the dimensions of a bitmap image file from 24x24 takes the addition of 1728 more pixels, causing the file size to increase dramatically. Therefor one vector file can represent it's image at multiple sizes, while a bitmap image may only clearly represent its single pre-set pixel size. So if a vector file format can be scaled to represent any size it needs, why would the graphic desigers use bitmap format for their creations? If you look at the same icon, drawn in both bitmap and vector formats, you will see that the bitmap one is clean and crisp, with all the lines sharply defined. On the other hand all the icons that had been scaled from the vector file appear blurry. This happens because, even though vector images can be scaled to every size, there is a weakness in them This weakness becomes more obvious at toolbar sizes. Especially resolutions of less then 48x48 pixels. The flaw is that computer monitors still consist of pixels, which means they ae bitmap-based. When you have a vector file, initially sized at 24x24 and scale it down to 16x16, the relative proportions change. There's no chance you can evenly distribute 24 pixels of data into 16 pixels of space because, there's no such thing as half a pixel. That's why the image blurs. There's also no way you can evenly resize 24 pixels of data upwards into 32 pixels of space. Again, the image blurs. Even more, if you have that same vector file, originally sized at 24x24 and size it up to 48x48, you're now doubling the proportions. Now you don't have sharp 1-pixel details. You have chunky 2-pixel lines. Scale it up larger (to 96x96, for instance) and the lines will end up even thicker. There are a few caveats: First, if you're creating larger icon sizes (for example, bigger then 48x48) you will not notice the difference as dramatically, and you may find the results acceptable. Second, your mileage will change as you design different styles of artwork. The less-detailed your linework is, the less you have to worry about vector rescaling.
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Standard Toolbar Icons
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ArtIcons Pro can find, extract, edit and create Windows icons in color depths up to 16 million colors. Import and export icon images, create and handle icon libraries. It supports the new icon format introduced in Windows XP (8-bit transparency). Download it |
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IconXP can edit and create Windows icons in color depths up to 32-bit True Color. It supports the new icon format introduced in Windows XP (8-bit transparency). You can customize desktop and folder icons. Download it |
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Any to Icon allows you to convert multiple BMP, JPEG, GIF, PNG, WBMP and WMF images to Windows icons in one action. It also breaks down entire icon libraries into individual icons. You can change color resolution and size to create customized icons. Download it |
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IconUtils is a complete icon and cursor solution. IconUtils package can edit icons and cursors, manage icon and cursor libraries, convert icons into images (in various graphic formats) and vice versa, customize Windows desktop and folder icons. Download it |
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Icon to Any allows you to convert Windows icons and cursors into BMP, JPG, PNG, GIF, ICO, CUR, WBMP and RC formats. It has a wizard interface. It's simple to process multiple files at once. You can find icons and make images for use on Web pages. Download it |
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ArtCursors allows you to edit Windows cursors in color depths up to 16 million colors. You also can search files and folders for cursors, import and export cursor images and create cursor libraries for better and more efficient storage. Download it |
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AhaView supports all popular graphic formats, including JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, ICO, CUR, ANI, WBMP. You can browse images in thumbnail mode, view pictures full screen with zooming features, convert images to JPEG, PNG, BMP formats and manage files. Download it |
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CustomIcons is an ultimate tool for customizing the icons on you desktop, in Windows Start menu and many other locations. Using CustomIcons you can easily replace default Windows icons with the ones to your choice. Download it |
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