Iconed

Product Introduction

1. Iconed is a macOS/iOS utility that converts any image into fully functional app and folder icons with Retina display optimization. It supports automated generation of 1x, 2x (Retina), and 3x resolution variants to ensure crisp rendering across all Apple devices. The tool also enables GIF cropping for animated icons and format conversion between PNG, JPEG, and TIFF.
2. The core value lies in streamlining icon customization for Apple ecosystems, eliminating manual resizing and format adjustments. It empowers users to personalize their devices while maintaining technical compliance with Apple’s icon standards.

Main Features

1. The tool automatically generates complete icon sets (1x, 2x, 3x) for macOS and iOS apps, ensuring compatibility with Retina displays, Ultra HD monitors, and legacy devices. This includes proper metadata embedding for Dock previews and system recognition.
2. Users can crop animated GIFs into square icons while preserving animation frames, enabling dynamic folder or app icons. The process retains transparency layers and optimizes file size for smooth playback.
3. Folder icon customization allows applying custom designs with one-click replacement, including batch processing for multiple folders. The tool ensures proper alignment with macOS folder mask templates to avoid cropping artifacts.

Problems Solved

1. It eliminates the need for manual icon resizing across multiple resolutions, which often causes blurry edges or incorrect scaling on high-density displays. The automated workflow reduces preparation time from hours to seconds.
2. The product targets macOS/iOS power users, app developers, and designers requiring pixel-perfect icons without using professional software like Photoshop or Sketch.
3. Typical scenarios include converting vacation photos into app icons, turning memes into animated folder markers, or preparing developer-ready icon sets for Xcode projects.

Unique Advantages

1. Unlike basic image editors, Iconed specializes in Apple’s icon specifications, including undocumented requirements like metadata tags for folder icon recognition. Competitors often lack 3x resolution support or GIF optimization.
2. The GIF-to-icon converter is unique in preserving animation while applying square masks, a feature absent in most icon tools. The batch export function supports simultaneous format conversion (e.g., PNG to JPEG) during icon creation.
3. Competitive strengths include zero data collection, offline functionality, and one-time purchase pricing versus subscription models. The tool’s 1.5MB size ensures minimal system resource usage compared to bloated alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Does Iconed support iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia? Yes, all generated icons comply with the latest Apple OS requirements, including dark mode adaptability and Home Screen widget specifications.
2. Can I use transparent PNGs for folder icons? Absolutely—the tool preserves alpha channels and automatically applies macOS’s folder shadow effect during replacement.
3. How does the Retina optimization work? The algorithm uses Lanczos resampling to upscale base images without quality loss, then exports three separate files with @1x, @2x, and @3x suffixes for direct Xcode integration.