Small Icons, Big Problems

People tend to think an icon is a single drawing.

One thing I think people miss (or at least some do) is that an icon isn't really one icon at all.

The KRecorder microphone above exists as several different versions depending on size. In total that's 16×16, 22×22, 32×32, 48×48, 64×64, 128×128 and 256×256 PNGs, plus a number of SVG versions (6 six more files ). And don't always stop at 128×128 for the vectors either. Sometimes I end up making much larger vector versions simply because I want the extra detail to be there. (I have issues )

Talking about "issues"...

I couldn't resist rendering a version at almost 1024×1024 just to see how far I could push it. Look at the metallic reflections in the bottom half of the microphone. I spent a completely unreasonable amount of time tweaking those and honestly... I regret nothing

Which does make me wonder...

Should we ship those absurdly detailed versions too?

Probably not.

...but then again, if somebody wants to inspect an icon at 1024 pixels wide, who am I to stop them?

...but maybe.