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TechNote How to create an icon file .ico | Product: MioFactory |
Icon files (.ico) are small graphic files used for the shortcuts on the user's desktop, to represent exe files, or for the status icon.
An icon file can embed several image size and formats.
Icon file for shortcuts
Shortcuts are added when the user will install the application, on the destkop, start menu, or anywhere else depending on the installer settings.
The .ico files for the shortcuts should embed the following formats (for XP and Vista):
- 16*16 pixels, 256 or 65K color with alpha
- 32*32 pixels, 256 or 65K color with alpha
- 48*48 pixels, 256 or 65K color with alpha
- 128*128 pixels, 256 or 65K color with alpha (optional)
When you are using MioFactory, the name of this icon should be app.ico
Status icon
This icon is visible in the windows notification area. The resolution of this icon file is always 16*16 pixels, any colors.
Except if you want a different image, you can use the shortcut icon if this one embed a 16*16 pixels icon.
Application files (.exe)
The icon format for the application exe file must be 32*32 pixels, 16 colors. No other format must be embedded in the ico file.
The icon of the exe file is generally not seen by the end user as they will download and install the file from the web browser. The icon they will see is the shortcuts icon.
We highly recommend to use the standard, default icon provided for that purpose by MioFactory. You should not use the application logo to make sure the user will distinguish the installer and the shortcuts.
How to create an .ico file
A software is required to create ico file. A plugin for Photoshop also exists for that purpose.
We recommend Microangelo Studio as this is the one we are using after trying several other products.
www.microangelo.us
You can create basic icon files with MS Paint, installed with Windows, but with limited control of the format The icons will work for a shortcut icon or a status icon.
To run MS Paint: Start/Execute mspaint.exe
Then when saving an image file you can set the file extension to .ico
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