# Missing .icns sizes? **URL:** \ **Category:** macOS\ **Created:** [December 8, 2014, 6:29pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/missing-icns-sizes/20731 "2014-12-08T18:29:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Richard\_Summers](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/richard_summers/32/477_2.png) [@Richard\_Summers](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Richard_Summers)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 6:29pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/missing-icns-sizes/20731/1 "2014-12-08T18:29:11Z")
Does anyone know definitively if 48x48 and 64x64 standard and retina versions are required for a .icns file? Some people say yes they are needed, but others say no - just 16x16, 32x32, 128x128, 256x256, and 512x512 (and the @2x versions). I cannot seem to get a straight answer on this ☹ Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_Jones](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/tim_jones/32/8627_2.png) [@Tim\_Jones](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Tim_Jones)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/missing-icns-sizes/20731/2 "2014-12-08T18:37:10Z")
I use the command line iconutil tool and these sizes: `icon_128x128.png icon_128x128@2x.png icon_16x16.png icon_16x16@2x.png icon_256x256.png icon_256x256@2x.png icon_32x32.png icon_32x32@2x.png icon_512x512.png icon_512x512@2x.png ` The resulting icns file scales from the lowest to the highest sizes very cleanly. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Summers](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/richard_summers/32/477_2.png) [@Richard\_Summers](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Richard_Summers)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 6:42pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/missing-icns-sizes/20731/3 "2014-12-08T18:42:33Z")
That is also what I use, but lots of people also say that 48x48 and 64x64 should be included? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_Jones](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/tim_jones/32/8627_2.png) [@Tim\_Jones](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Tim_Jones)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 6:52pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/missing-icns-sizes/20731/4 "2014-12-08T18:52:32Z")
Not according to the HIG. Those go back to the days of hardcoded icon sizes. From [High Resolution Guidelines for OS X](https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/GraphicsAnimation/Conceptual/HighResolutionOSX/Optimizing/Optimizing.html) [quote]Create a Set of Icons That Includes High-Resolution Versions You should create a set of icons that consist of pairs of icons (standard and high resolution) for each icon size—16x16, 32x32, 128x128, 256x256, 512x512. The naming convention is: icon\_x[@].png where is the size of the icon in points, and is @2x for the high-resolution version. (Don’t add a scale for standard resolution.) Additionally, the filename must use the icon\_ prefix. The images must be square and have the dimensions that match the name of the file. Ideally, you would supply a complete set of icons. However, it is not a requirement to have a complete set; the system will choose the best representation for sizes and resolutions that you don’t supply. Each icon in the set is a hint to the system as to the best representation to use. A complete set consists of the following: icon\_16x16.png icon\_16x16@2x.png icon\_32x32.png icon\_32x32@2x.png icon\_128x128.png icon\_128x128@2x.png icon\_256x256.png icon\_256x256@2x.png icon\_512x512.png icon\_512x512@2x.png[/quote] ---
**Author:** ![Michel\_Bujardet](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/michel_bujardet/32/252_2.png) [@Michel\_Bujardet](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Michel_Bujardet)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 6:53pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/missing-icns-sizes/20731/5 "2014-12-08T18:53:41Z")
> [@149375:@Richard Summers](#): > > That is also what I use, but lots of people also say that 48x48 and 64x64 should be included? 48 is 16x16@3x. Actually, 3x is used for the iPhone, but could come to Mac OSX one of these days. ---
**Author:** ![DaveS](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@DaveS](https://forum.xojo.com/u/DaveS)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 7:05pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/missing-icns-sizes/20731/6 "2014-12-08T19:05:23Z")
@3x is used for iPhone but I believe only for iOS8, and only if supporting iPhone6. ---
**Author:** ![Michel\_Bujardet](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/michel_bujardet/32/252_2.png) [@Michel\_Bujardet](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Michel_Bujardet)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 7:28pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/missing-icns-sizes/20731/7 "2014-12-08T19:28:31Z")
> [@149388:@Dave S](#): > > @3x is used for iPhone but I believe only for iOS8, and only if supporting iPhone6. indeed. But knowing Apple never stops innovating, one of these days we may have a Retina 3x laptop. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_Parnell](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/tim_parnell/32/161_2.png) [@Tim\_Parnell](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Tim_Parnell)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 8:40pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/missing-icns-sizes/20731/8 "2014-12-08T20:40:34Z")
The 48 size I believe comes from icon designers who create each size; 48x48 is a standard for Windows so professional icon designers will create that size. I’m not sure it was ever preferred on a Mac, but the Dock will use it if available. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Summers](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/richard_summers/32/477_2.png) [@Richard\_Summers](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Richard_Summers)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 10:21pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/missing-icns-sizes/20731/9 "2014-12-08T22:21:31Z")
Ok - this is weird. I have a folder full of images - f2 refers to the path. I have the code below which converts all of the images in the folder in to a .icns file: However - when I view the .icns file - there are only 9 images and not the expected 10??? It only has 1 image sized 512 (as opposed to the expected 2). Does anyone have any ideas? [code]// ---------------------------------------- CREATE PROPER FOLDER TO HOLD THE PNGS FOR CONVERSION s.Execute(“mkdir “+f2.shellpath+”/mypng.iconset”) s.Execute(“touch “+f2.shellpath+”/myicon.icns”) Dim iconSetFolder as FolderItem = F2.Child(“mypng.iconset”) Dim iconICNSFile as FolderItem = F2.Child(“myicon.icns”) // COPY ALL PNG FILES TO THE NEW iconSetFolder FOLDER S.Execute("cp “+f2.ShellPath+”/\*.png "+iconSetFolder.ShellPath) // CONVERT s.Execute("iconutil -c icns “+iconSetFolder.ShellPath+” -o "+iconICNSFile.ShellPath)[/code] Alternatively, does anyone have a better way of converting all images inside a folder (f2) to a .icns file? P.S - I want to do this inside of Xojo - (not via a 3rd party app). Thank you all in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Cotrone](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/mike_cotrone/32/19940_2.png) [@Mike\_Cotrone](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Mike_Cotrone)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 12:06am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/missing-icns-sizes/20731/10 "2014-12-09T00:06:16Z")
[quote=149435:@Richard Summers]Ok - this is weird. I have a folder full of images - f2 refers to the path. I have the code below which converts all of the images in the folder in to a .icns file: However - when I view the .icns file - there are only 9 images and not the expected 10??? It only has 1 image sized 512 (as opposed to the expected 2). Does anyone have any ideas? [code]// ---------------------------------------- CREATE PROPER FOLDER TO HOLD THE PNGS FOR CONVERSION s.Execute(“mkdir “+f2.shellpath+”/mypng.iconset”) s.Execute(“touch “+f2.shellpath+”/myicon.icns”) Dim iconSetFolder as FolderItem = F2.Child(“mypng.iconset”) Dim iconICNSFile as FolderItem = F2.Child(“myicon.icns”) // COPY ALL PNG FILES TO THE NEW iconSetFolder FOLDER S.Execute("cp “+f2.ShellPath+”/\*.png "+iconSetFolder.ShellPath) // CONVERT s.Execute("iconutil -c icns “+iconSetFolder.ShellPath+” -o "+iconICNSFile.ShellPath)[/code] Alternatively, does anyone have a better way of converting all images inside a folder (f2) to a .icns file? P.S - I want to do this inside of Xojo - (not via a 3rd party app). Thank you all in advance.[/quote] Is your mac possessed? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Summers](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/richard_summers/32/477_2.png) [@Richard\_Summers](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Richard_Summers)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 12:07am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/missing-icns-sizes/20731/11 "2014-12-09T00:07:07Z")
The gloves are coming off ! ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Summers](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/richard_summers/32/477_2.png) [@Richard\_Summers](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Richard_Summers)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 12:40am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/missing-icns-sizes/20731/12 "2014-12-09T00:40:10Z")
Even Iconutil via the terminal only inserts 8 of the 10 images into the .icns??? I even just tried this: I opened terminal and typed in this: iconutil -c icns I then pressed the spacebar, and then dropped a folder of 10 images onto the terminal window. The .icns file was created on the desktop BUT it contained 9 of the 10 images??? ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Summers](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/richard_summers/32/477_2.png) [@Richard\_Summers](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Richard_Summers)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 2:28am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/missing-icns-sizes/20731/13 "2014-12-09T02:28:14Z")
Can anyone please confirm this. Create a folder containing the 10 image files needed for a .icns file, and then use iconutil to create the file. I NEVER get ALL of the images from the folder inside the .icns file - there is always one missing? Thank you all in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Rowlands](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/sam_rowlands/32/265_2.png) [@Sam\_Rowlands](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Sam_Rowlands)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 4:15am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/missing-icns-sizes/20731/14 "2014-12-09T04:15:00Z")
which one? ---
**Author:** ![Emile\_Schwarz](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/90ced4/32.png) [@Emile\_Schwarz](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Emile_Schwarz)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 9:14am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/missing-icns-sizes/20731/15 "2014-12-09T09:14:25Z")
Hi all, Get info for one Apple application (say TextEdit), run Preview cmd-n cmd-i and watch carefully at what you get in the icns file. Warning: You will get all sizes up to 10214 x 1024 (Was 512 x 512 long time ago), WARNING: you will get some images at the same 1024 x 1024, but at 144 dpi. It may be a good idea to check before writing and sending answers. Oh, btw: the icon look was changed in Yosemite (but not the size as far as I saw before sending my MacBook Pro at repair a 12 days ago). ---
**Author:** ![Michel\_Bujardet](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/michel_bujardet/32/252_2.png) [@Michel\_Bujardet](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Michel_Bujardet)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 9:26am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/missing-icns-sizes/20731/16 "2014-12-09T09:26:25Z")
[quote=149497:@Richard Summers]Create a folder containing the 10 image files needed for a .icns file, and then use iconutil to create the file. I NEVER get ALL of the images from the folder inside the .icns file - there is always one missing? [/quote] I suspect iconedit is astute enough to recognize when 2x pictures are the same as a larger one. For instance, in Tim’s list above, there are several 2x pictures that are identical to larger ones : `icon_128x128.png icon_128x128@2x.png // Same as 256x256 icon_16x16.png icon_16x16@2x.png // same as 32x32 icon_256x256.png icon_256x256@2x.png // same as 512x512 icon_32x32.png icon_32x32@2x.png icon_512x512.png icon_512x512@2x.png` This list of 10 files will probably result in 7 pictures inside the icns, because some of them are redundant. ---
**Author:** ![Emile\_Schwarz](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/90ced4/32.png) [@Emile\_Schwarz](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Emile_Schwarz)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 10:20am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/missing-icns-sizes/20731/17 "2014-12-09T10:20:50Z")
Michel, as far as I know, icns files are OS X file and so have entries as large as 1024 x 1024. Read my previous answer. Redundant ? No, they are not. ---
**Author:** ![Michel\_Bujardet](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/michel_bujardet/32/252_2.png) [@Michel\_Bujardet](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Michel_Bujardet)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 10:25am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/missing-icns-sizes/20731/18 "2014-12-09T10:25:09Z")
[quote=149550:@Emile Schwarz]Michel, as far as I know, icns files are OS X file and so have entries as large as 1024 x 1024. Read my previous answer. Redundant ? No, they are not.[/quote] Think, Emile. `128x128@2x.png` is in fact a 256x256 picture. How is it different from 256x256.png ? Inside the icns, and unless I am mistaken, there is only one copy of each picture size… ---
**Author:** ![Emile\_Schwarz](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/90ced4/32.png) [@Emile\_Schwarz](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Emile_Schwarz)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 10:31am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/missing-icns-sizes/20731/19 "2014-12-09T10:31:48Z")
> 128x128@2x.png is in fact a 256x256 picture > So white is in fact a simple shade of grey (the last one whithout grey) ? > ;-🙂 > Oh, and what is 128x128@2x.png (in an icns file ?) Check more carefully. Hint: get an eye in the image dpi… Remember: I do not have an OS X machine handly, actually. ---
**Author:** ![Michel\_Bujardet](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/michel_bujardet/32/252_2.png) [@Michel\_Bujardet](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Michel_Bujardet)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2014, 10:49am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/missing-icns-sizes/20731/20 "2014-12-09T10:49:09Z")
[quote=149554:@Emile Schwarz]\>128x128@2x.png is in fact a 256x256 picture So white is in fact a simple shade of grey (the last one whithout grey) ? ;-🙂 Oh, and what is 128x128@2x.png (in an icns file ?) Check more carefully. Hint: get an eye in the image dpi… Remember: I do not have an OS X machine handly, actually.[/quote] Emile, yes, white is a shade of grey. For all intents and purposes, `128x128@2x.png` is a 256x256 pixels picture. If you do not understand that 144 dpi = 2 x 72 dpi this is your problem here. And I do not need your professoral and confused hint, thank you. You have a way of complexifying simple things that never ceases to amaze me… [Next page](https://forum.xojo.com/t/missing-icns-sizes/20731.md?page=2)