How to optimize the smaller icons appearance?

Hi

I'm working with circular icons (Globes or Bubbles). I develop it at Fireworks MX then I save it as PNG and finally I import these files from Incondeveloper that converts my 256x256px designs to 128px and smaller sizes. The output (.ico) for big sizes looks great, but the appearance for small sizes (48x48px an smallers) looks ugly, because the outline is corrupted. I guess that this behavior is not only for circular icons but also for any shape. I don’t know if I need a more powerful software for the .png to .ico converting process (other than Icondeveloper) or what is happening.

What shall I do? Regards .... Dave.

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werewolf

Join Date 04/2001

+28

my guess would be to have a smaller MX image for the smaller icons. Mormegil is the master at this, maybe he'll pop in and give you some better advice

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by Citizen EvadWarren - 4/4/2004 3:45:18 AM

Hi, I'm working with circle icons (Globes) when I finished my designs and saved it using PNG (128pxX128px) It looked great. Then I converted it to icons using mainly Icon Developer(also other sofwares) and the output for 128/96/72/64 px looks great, but for the lower sizes it looks ugly because the outline is corrupted. I have seen that many designers of circular icons have this problems, but many don't. What do you advise me to solve this?Regards...Dave.

#1 by Wizop Koasati - 4/4/2004 3:54:07 AM

Persoanlly I would create a 64x64 version of each icon. Use the 128 for the larger icons, and the 64 for the smaller.

#2 by Citizen EvadWarren - 4/4/2004 4:39:31 AM

You don't answer to my question. Please could someone help me?

#3 by Essencay - 4/4/2004 7:51:17 AM

Well ah...Koasati did answer your question. You have to design a second set of icons for the smaller sizes. Going from 128x128 (16,384 pixels) to 16x16 (256 pixels) which is only a fraction of the orginal size means that the program reducing the icon has to decide which one of 64 surrounding pixels is the right one to use. By designing a 64x64 (4096 pixels) icon and resizing it, it reduces the number of surrounding pixels to 16. I think the only way around this is to use vector images and resize them before saving them as raster images...PNG/ICO (someone who works with a lot of icon images can confirm/dispute that for me please )

I think that werewolf, Koasati and I are all trying to tell you that you have to make two sets of icons. One for the larger sizes and on for the smaller sizes.

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...or if your using vector images resize them before you save them as raster images which is what PNG/ICO/BMP files are

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Koasati

Join Date 07/2001

+21

This is your third thread on this subject,........ (the one in the skinning section is the proper place for it)....... but no matter how many times you ask the question, the answer will remain the same......

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