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