When saving icon files, you must use the appropriate file-name suffix. There are two suffixes appended to the base name of the icon, one for size and one for format. Many icon names are in these general forms:
basename.size.format basename.format
The basename is the image name used to reference the image.
size is a single letter indicating the standard size of the icon: l for large (48x48 pixels), m for medium (32x32), s for small (24x24), or t for tiny (16x16). (Icon Size Conventions) If your icon is not a standard size, you can omit this letter.
format is pm for X pixmaps (the color icon format) or bm for X bitmaps (the monochrome icon format).
If you save an icon in XBM format that has transparent color in it, an icon mask file is also saved. The icon mask file is named basename.size_m.format. If you move the icon you saved to another folder, you must also move the mask file.
For example, suppose you specify an icon named mail for a file type you've written. If you have a color display and have set the File Manager preferences to use tiny icons, the assumed icon name is mail.t.pm. If it had transparent color and you saved it in XBM format, two files would be created: mail.t.bm and mail.t_m.bm.
Table 15–3 lists the recommended sizes—in pixels, width x height—for creating new icons for use in CDE. Icons can be up to 256x256.
Table 15–3 Icon Size Recommendations
Usage |
High |
Medium |
Low |
---|---|---|---|
File Manager (Large) |
32x32 |
32x32 |
32x32 |
File Manager (Small) |
16x16 |
16x16 |
16x16 |
Application Manager (Large) |
32x32 |
32x32 |
32x32 |
Application Manager (Small) |
16x16 |
16x16 |
16x16 |
Front Panel |
48x48 |
48x48 |
32x32 |
Front Panel subpanels |
32x32 |
32x32 |
16x16 |
Minimized windows |
48x48 |
48x48 |
32x32 |
Workspace |
32x32 |
32x32 |
32x32 |
Choose an output format from the Options menu:
XBM for two-color X bitmap format
XPM for multicolor X pixmap format (the default)
Choose Save from the File menu.
If the icon is unnamed or you choose Save As, Icon Editor prompts you for a file name. Type the name and then click Save.
If you save an icon in XBM format that has transparent color in it, an icon mask file is also saved. The icon mask file is named basename.size_m.format. If you move the icon you saved to another folder, you must also move the mask file.