Best icon techniques?

[pthien]

I've had trouble w/ icons in the past, so I thought I'd ask before venturing too far and hopefully get it right.

What size/parameters should I use for icons I add to my PureBasic programs so that they appear nicely under different circumstances?

I know, for example, that Windows XP will show icons at different sizes on your desktop than under explorer sometimes. The one on my desktop may look great, the slightly larger one Explorer generates looks grainy, etc.

And the same program on a Vista machine's desktop looks grainy too, because it has been resized.

Am I making my icons too small? Is there an optimum size to use? What program are you guys using to create icons (hopefully something freeware)?

[netmaestro]

Best is to use an icon file with a large icon and a small icon in it, this way the OS isn't resizing very far if at all.

[criobot]

IcoFX - Freeware icon editor, supports all kind of icons (including Vista's)

[Rescator]

Another alternative is Greenfish Icon Editor Pro http://greenfish.xtreemhost.com/downloads.php
It's also free.

[Trond]

Am I making my icons too small?

You need one icon for each size. At least do these sizes:
16x16 pixels
32x32 pixels
48x48 pixels

[Edwin Knoppert]

>Best is to use an icon file with a large icon and a small icon in it, this way the OS isn't resizing very far if at all.

There is so much nonsense posted about icons already, please read msdn first ok..

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa511280.aspx

There is so much more to icons, Windows tries not to stretch icons as long your icon file has the correct formats.
Since Vista there is the png embedded format as well, it's still an icon entry but with PNG image data and your resourcecompiler may not like it.
The latest SDK's offer a new MS RC.exe to allow png image data in icon files to be included.

Follow the guidelines and your icon file is ok.

Also the nonsense setclasslong() i see on this board to set the window icon should be banned once and for all.
This is no help, a window usually requires two imagesizes, for the caption and the ALT+TAB dialog and such.
I believe under Windows 7 even 3 formats, not sure, do read.

You can rapidly test your application's icons by using the zoom option in Windows 7 (Vista?) by clicking the desktop and then scroll + helding the CTRL key.
This shows all formats in your icon unless it can not find the correct size.

If you want to know more about Windows and how you should setup things google for:
"Windows User Experience Interaction Guidelines"

This is a 40MB+ pdf:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/d ... laylang=en

[Trond]

Also the nonsense setclasslong() i see on this board to set the window icon should be banned once and for all.
This is no help, a window usually requires two imagesizes, for the caption and the ALT+TAB dialog and such.
I believe under Windows 7 even 3 formats, not sure, do read.

The small icon is set with SetClassLong_(id, #GCL_HICONSM, icon) and the large (for ALT+TAB) with #GCL_HICON. There's no other way to set the window icon as far as I know.

[Edwin Knoppert]

WM_SETICON

SetClassLong is for all forms using the same class, it ain't so bad if that is the intention but then it should be allowed to define this on forehand.
This api can only be used via an existing form and is contradicting the applications logic.
WM_SETICON is also for an existing form but intended to be used that way.

[Edwin Knoppert]

On my website under downloads you can download iconbrowser.
It has a few icons and even with PNG format, this tool can show you what ~ you could support for sizes and resolution.

[Vera]

Hi pthien,

have a look at these threads: Query on icons ~ Compiler not using icon for exe?

greetings ~ Vera

[netmaestro]

Well edwin, you'd know about nonsense.

[Edwin Knoppert]

Oh no, another who's right discussion..

[PureLeo]

Your answer was just kinda rude. Everyone here is just trying to help.

[Edwin Knoppert]

Doesn't matter anymore, Elvis has left the building.
If one needs to chat about this tool find me via my website.

Thanks,