/app-icon-generator

Apple Human Interface Guidelines — App Icons

Reference for generating HIG-compliant app icons.

Universal Principles

Simplicity

• Embrace simplicity. Find a single element that captures the essence of your app.
• Express that element in a unique shape or combination of shapes.
• Add detail carefully — too much makes the icon muddy at small sizes.

Recognizability

• People should be able to identify your icon at a glance.
• Avoid replicas of Apple hardware or system icons.
• Use a unique silhouette — if you squint, can you tell it apart from other icons?

Consistency

• Use a single, centered, front-facing perspective.
• No dramatic tilts, 3D rotations, or extreme angles.
• The icon should feel like it belongs on the platform.

No Text

• Don't include words in your app icon.
• Text is unreadable at small sizes and doesn't localize.
• Exception: Single letters can work if they ARE the brand (like "A" for App Store).

Platform-Specific Guidelines

macOS Icons

• Shape: Square canvas, system applies rounded rect mask with ~18.75% corner radius
• Size range: 16x16 to 512x512@2x (1024x1024)
• Detail level: Can be more detailed than iOS — icons display larger in Finder, Dock
• Visual weight: Centered in canvas, fill ~80% of the space
• Background: Must fill the entire canvas (no transparency — the system mask handles the shape)

Required sizes:

iOS Icons

• Shape: Square canvas, system applies continuous rounded rect (squircle) mask
• Size: Single 1024x1024 PNG, system auto-generates all sizes
• Detail level: Keep simpler than macOS — icons are smaller on screen
• Background: Must fill canvas, no transparency, no rounded corners (system does this)
• No alpha channel: iOS icons must be opaque

watchOS Icons

• Shape: Circular mask applied by system
• Size: 1024x1024 master, system generates circular variants
• Detail level: Very simple — icons are tiny on Watch

Design Techniques

Backgrounds

Linear Gradient (most common):

• Top-to-bottom or diagonal
• Use 2 colors maximum
• Darker at bottom, lighter at top (natural lighting)
• Don't use pure black (#000000) — use very dark colors instead

Radial Gradient (for depth):

• Center glow behind the primary element
• Very subtle (10-20% opacity)
• Same hue family as the primary accent

Solid Color:

• Works for bold, simple icons
• Use a slightly lighter center for subtle depth

Primary Elements

Best practices for the focal shape:

• Occupy 50-70% of the canvas
• Centered or very slightly above center
• Use filled shapes, not outlines (outlines disappear at small sizes)
• Consistent stroke weights if using lines (minimum 2% of canvas = ~20px at 1024)

Shape rendering at small sizes:

• Test at 16x16 and 32x32 — if the shape is unrecognizable, simplify
• Thick strokes (3%+ of canvas) survive downscaling
• Thin details (<1% of canvas) vanish at small sizes
• Round shapes scale better than sharp corners

Color

Color count: 2-4 colors maximum (background gradient + 1-2 accent colors)

Contrast ratio: Focal element should have at least 3:1 contrast against background

System colors (Apple's palette, good defaults):

Depth and Polish

Specular highlight (shine):

• Subtle elliptical highlight on the top half of the focal element
• White at 15-25% opacity, fading to transparent
• Suggests a physical, tactile surface

Drop shadow:

• Very subtle (5-10% opacity)
• Small offset (1-2% of canvas)
• Only if the element is "floating" above the background

Outer ring/border:

• Thin ring around the primary element (1-2% of canvas width)
• White at 15-25% opacity
• Adds definition and structure

Glow:

• Radial gradient behind the primary element
• Same hue as the element, 10-20% opacity
• Radius ~2x the element's radius
• Creates a "lit from within" effect

Anti-Patterns (What NOT to Do)

1. No photos or screenshots — they become unrecognizable blobs at small sizes
2. No text or words — unreadable at 16x16
3. No Apple hardware — violates guidelines and trademark
4. No transparency (iOS) — must be fully opaque
5. No manual rounded corners — the system applies the mask
6. No borders that follow the icon shape — the system mask clips them unevenly
7. No overly detailed illustrations — test at 32x32, if it's muddy, simplify
8. No pure white backgrounds — blends with light mode UI, use off-white or a color
9. No pure black backgrounds — blends with dark mode UI, use very dark color (e.g., #0f0c29)
10. No busy patterns or textures — compete with the focal element