Icon Style Guide


Starting with version 1.2, KDE supports the following categories of
icons:
* Low-color normal (32x32) and mini (16x16) icons - which make use


icons:
* Low-color normal (32x32) and mini (16x16) icons - which make use
of the 40-color KDE palette presented below


of the 40-color KDE palette presented below
* High-color large (48x48) and normal (32x32) icons - unlimited
color palette.


color palette.
* Toolbar icons (22x22)


The high-color icons are the default (preferred) format. The low-color
icons are provided for compatibility with very old video hardware


The high-color icons are the default (preferred) format. The low-color
icons are provided for compatibility with very old video hardware
which puts limitations on the number of the colors the desktop can use


The user must be able to choose at run time the type of icons that
(s)he will use. Therefore, it is recommended that icons be provided


The user must be able to choose at run time the type of icons that
(s)he will use. Therefore, it is recommended that icons be provided
for all the 4 types that KDE supports. Nevertheless, KDE desktop


for all the 4 types that KDE supports. Nevertheless, KDE desktop
intelligently handles icons, using the available ones and scaling them
to the necessary size.


The following list of guidelines is laid down to help you draw icons
that fit in with the K Desktop Environment.


that fit in with the K Desktop Environment.
* For low-color icons, it is mandatory to use the 40 colour KDE icon


* For low-color icons, it is mandatory to use the 40 colour KDE icon
palette presented below.


palette presented below.
* Draw application and filetype icons in hicolor 48x48 and 32x32
sizes as well as low-color 32x32 and 16x16 sizes. Toolbar icons


* Draw application and filetype icons in hicolor 48x48 and 32x32
sizes as well as low-color 32x32 and 16x16 sizes. Toolbar icons
should be size 22x22.


should be size 22x22.
* Outline the major shapes in the icon in black. Give every shape a
clean, hard edge.


* Use the corresponding filetype templates as a base for new
filetype icons.
* Make the background of the icons transparent.


filetype icons.
* Make the background of the icons transparent.
* Look over the supplied KDE icons to get an idea of the style used.


* Make the background of the icons transparent.
* Look over the supplied KDE icons to get an idea of the style used.


For the hicolor icons, Torsten Rahn and the KDE artists team also
recommend the following rules to be respected:


recommend the following rules to be respected:
* Large icons have to measure 48x48 pixel, have 256 color and are
saved as XPM´s. The total size of the objects on these icons


* Large icons have to measure 48x48 pixel, have 256 color and are
saved as XPM´s. The total size of the objects on these icons
should measure 44 pixels in width or/and 44 pixels in height! So


should measure 44 pixels in width or/and 44 pixels in height! So
there´s a transparent 2-pixel-border around the icon.
* We don´t want to confuse/irritate the user, so:


* We don´t want to confuse/irritate the user, so:
All icons in 44x44 should be enlarged versions of the
32x32-pixel-icons in KDE 1.1 but using enhanced quality. That


All icons in 44x44 should be enlarged versions of the
32x32-pixel-icons in KDE 1.1 but using enhanced quality. That
means that all objects that are displayed on the icon have almost


32x32-pixel-icons in KDE 1.1 but using enhanced quality. That
means that all objects that are displayed on the icon have almost
the same perspective and colors as those with 32x32 and 16x16. You


may add further details to the picture but someone who knows the
icon for kppp 16x16 or 32x32 well should also be able to recognize
the 44x44 version as being ´the same icon but just in much Much


icon for kppp 16x16 or 32x32 well should also be able to recognize
the 44x44 version as being ´the same icon but just in much Much
MUCH better quality with much more details.´ e.g.


MUCH better quality with much more details.´ e.g.
If you want to create a completely different icon for any app, you
have to make new versions in 16x16 and 32x32 pixels first.


have to make new versions in 16x16 and 32x32 pixels first.
* Every new icon should match the drawing style of the icons that


* Every new icon should match the drawing style of the icons that
already exist


already exist
* Icons should have "near-photo-quality".
* Icons from other projects (Windowmaker, Gnome, Windows...) are not


* Icons should have "near-photo-quality".
* Icons from other projects (Windowmaker, Gnome, Windows...) are not
allowed


allowed
* If you use photos to create the icons remember: don´t take any
pictures from the web for that (copyright-issues and uniqueness)


Drawings saved in GIF file format can be turned into icons by the KDE
drawing team.


You can view:
* the standard low-color desktop icons.
* the standard high-color desktop icons


* the standard low-color desktop icons.
* the standard high-color desktop icons


Icon set
Standard File Source code Executable Compressed Folder


Low-color Icon Palette