Question

I’m an experienced developer but a relative newbie with Cocoa. The Cocoa documentation says that toolbar items (NSToolbarItem) are 32×32 in regular size and 24×24 in small size. It goes on to say that you can (and should) include an image that includes both sizes and that a multi-page TIFF or an ICNS file can be used. This is where I am confused. I have tried several different programs that create ICNS files but all of them create files including 16×16, 32×32, and bigger. Is the assumption that the 24×24 toolbar icon uses a 16×16 image or is there a way to create a ICNS file with a 24×24 image? Or are people using an application to create multi-page TIFF files?

Answer 1

Use Icon Composer.app and supply the 16 and 32 sizes. The system will automatically up- or down-scale between them as needed and usually does a very good job of it.