Icon Design Guidelines

Icon design quickview

You can use several types of icons in an Android application.
Your icons should follow the specification in this document.
A set of standard icons is provided by the Android platform. Your application can use the standard icons by referencing them as resources.

Launcher icon

A launcher icon is the graphic that represents your application on an Android device’s Home screen. It is a simplified 3D icon with a fixed perspective. The required perspective is shown in Figure 1.

Structure

The base of a launcher icon can face either the top view or the front view.
The majority of a launcher icon’s surface should be created using the launcher icon color palette. To add emphasis, use one or more bright accent colors to highlight specific characteristics.
All launcher icons must be created with rounded corners to make them look friendly and simple—as shown in Figure 2.
All dimensions specified are based on a 250x250 pixel artboard size in a vector graphics editor like Adobe Illustrator, where the icon fits within the artboard boundaries.
Final art must be scaled down and exported as a transparent 48x48 px PNG file using a raster image editor such as Adobe Photoshop.
Templates for creating launcher icons in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop are available in the Icon Templates Pack.

Figure 1. Perspective angles for launcher icons (90° is vertical).

1.	92°
2.	92°
3.	173°
4.	171°
5.	49°
6.	171°
7.	64°
8.	97°
9.	75°
10.	93°
11.	169°

Figure 2. Rounded corners for launcher icons.

Light, effects, and shadows

Launcher icons are simplified 3D icons using light and shadows for definition. A light source is placed slightly to the left in front of the icon, and therefore the shadow expands to the right and back.

Figure 3. Light, effects, and shadows for launcher icons.

1.	Edge highlight:	white
2.	Icon shadow:	black \| 20px blur 50% opacity \| angle 67°
3.	Front part:	Use light gradient from color palette
4.	Detail shadow:	black \| 10px blur 75% opacity
5.	Side part:	Use medium gradient from color palette

Launcher icon color palette

	White r 0 \| g 0 \| b 0 Used for highlights on edges.
	Light gradient 1: r 0 \| g 0 \| b 0 2: r 217 \| g 217 \| b 217 Used on the front (lit) part of the icon.
	Medium gradient 1: r 190 \| g 190 \| b 190 2: r 115 \| g 115 \| b 115 Used on the side (shaded) part of the icon.
	Dark gradient 1: r 100 \| g 100 \| b 100 2: r 25 \| g 25 \| b 25 Used on details and parts in the shade of the icon.
	Black r 255 \| g 255 \| b 255 Used as base color in shadows.

Step by step

Create the basic shapes with a tool like Adobe Illustrator, using the angles described in Launcher icon: structure. The shapes and effects must fit within a 250x250 pixel artboard.
Add depth to shapes by extruding them and create the rounded corners as described for the launcher icon structure.
Add details and colors. Gradients should be treated as if there is a light source placed slightly to the left in front of the icon.
Create the shadows with the correct angle and blur effect.
Import the icon into a tool like Adobe Photoshop and scale to fit an image size of 48x48 px on a transparent background.
Export the icon at 48x48 as a PNG file with transparency enabled.

Menu icon

Menu icons are graphical elements placed in the pop-up menu shown to users when they press the Menu button. They are drawn in a flat-front perspective. Elements in a menu icon must not be visualized in 3D or perspective.

Structure

In order to maintain consistency, all menu icons must use the same primary palette and the same effects. For more information, see the menu icon color palette.
Menu icons should include rounded corners, but only when logically appropriate. For example, in Figure 3 the logical place for rounded corners is the roof and not the rest of the building.
All dimensions specified on this page are based on a 48x48 pixel artboard size with a 6 pixel safeframe.
The menu icon effect (the outer glow) described in Light, effects, and shadows can overlap the 6px safeframe, but only when necessary. The base shape must always stay inside the safeframe.
Final art must be exported as a transparent PNG file.
Templates for creating menu icons in Adobe Photoshop are available in the Icon Templates Pack.

Figure 4. Safeframe and corner-rounding for menu icons. Icon size is 48x48.

Light, effects, and shadows

Menu icons are flat and pictured face on. A slight deboss and some other effects, which are shown below, are used to create depth.

Figure 5. Light, effects, and shadows for launcher icons.

1.	Front part:	Use fill gradient from primary color palette
2.	Inner shadow:	black \| 20 % opacity angle 90° \| distance 2px size 2px
3.	Outer glow:	white \| 55% opacity spread 10% \| size 3px
5.	Inner bevel:	depth 1% \| direction down size 0px angle 90° \| altitude 10° highlight white 70% opacity shadow black 25% opacity

Color palette

	White r 0 \| g 0 \| b 0 Used for outer glow and bevel highlight.
	Fill gradient 1: r 163 \| g 163 \| b 163 2: r 120 \| g 120 \| b 120 Used as color fill.
	Black r 255 \| g 255 \| b 255 Used for inner shadow and bevel shadow.

Step by step

Create the basic shapes using a tool like Adobe Illustrator.
Import the shape into a tool like Adobe Photoshop and scale to fit an image of 48x48 px on a transparent background. Mind the safeframe.
Add the effects seen as described in Figure 5.
Export the icon at 48x48 as a PNG file with transparency enabled.

Status bar icon

Status bar icons are used to represent notifications from your application in the status bar. Graphically, they are very similar to menu icons, but are smaller and higher in contrast.

Structure

Rounded corners must always be applied to the base shape and to the details of a status bar icon shown Figure 7.
All dimensions specified are based on a 25x25 pixel artboard size with a 2 pixel safeframe.
Status bar icons can overlap the safeframe to the left and right when necessary, but must not overlap the safeframe at the top and bottom.
Final art must be exported as a transparent PNG file.
Templates for creating status bar icons using Adobe Photoshop are available in the Icon Templates Pack.

Figure 6. Safeframe and corner-rounding for status bar icons. Icon size is 25x25.

Light, effects, and shadows

Status bar icons are slightly debossed, high in contrast, and pictured face-on to enhance clarity at small sizes.

Figure 7. Light, effects, and shadows for launcher icons.

1.	Front part:	Use fill gradient from primary color palette
2.	Inner bevel:	depth 100% \| direction down size 0px \| angle 90° \| altitude 30° highlight white 75% opacity shadow black 75% opacity
3.	Detail:	white
4.	Disabled detail:	grey gradient from palette + inner bevel: smooth \| depth 1% \| direction down \| size 0px \| angle 117° \| altitude 42° \| highlight white 70% \| no shadow

Color palette

Only status bar icons related to the phone function use full color; all other status bar icons should remain monochromatic.

	White r 0 \| g 0 \| b 0 Used for details within the icons and bevel highlight.
	Grey gradient 1: r 169 \| g 169 \| b 169 2: r 126 \| g 126 \| b 126 Used for disabled details within the icon.
	Fill gradient 1: 1 r 105 \| g 105 \| b 105 2: r 10 \| g 10 \| b 10 Used as color fill.
	Black r 255 \| g 255 \| b 255 Used for bevel shadow.

Step by step

In a tool like Adobe Photoshop, create the base shape within a 25x25 px image on a transparent background. Mind the safeframe, and keep the upper and lower 2 pixels free.
Add rounded corners as specified in Figure 6.
Add light, effects, and shadows as specified in Figure 7.
Export the icon at 25x25 as a PNG file with transparency enabled.

Tab icon

Tab icons are graphical elements used to represent individual tabs in a multi-tab interface. Each tab icon has two states: unselected and selected.

Structure

Unselected tab icons have the same fill gradient and effects as menu icons, but with no outer glow.
Selected tab icons look just like unselected tab icons, but with a fainter inner shadow, and have the same front part gradient as dialog icons.
Tab icons have a 1 px safeframe which should only be overlapped for the edge of the anti-alias of a round shape.
All dimensions specified on this page are based on a 32x32 px artboard size. Keep 1 px of padding around the bounding box inside the Photoshop template.
Final art must be exported as a 32x32 px transparent PNG file.
Templates for creating tab icons in Adobe Photoshop are available in the Icon Templates Pack.

	Figure 8. Safeframe and fill gradient for unselected tab icons. Icon size is 32x32.
	Figure 9. Safeframe and fill gradient for tab icons in selected state. Icon size is 32x32.

Unselected tab icon

Light, effects, and shadows

Unselected tab icons look just like the selected tab icons, but with a fainter inner shadow, and the same front part gradient as the dialog icons.

Figure 10. Light, effects, and shadows for unselected tab icons.

1.	Front part:	gradient overlay \| angle 90° bottom color: r 223 \| g 223 \| b 223 top color: r 249 \| g 249 \| b 249 bottom color location: 0% top color location: 75%
2.	Inner shadow:	black \| 10 % opacity \| angle 90° distance 2px \| size 2px
3.	Inner bevel:	depth 1% \| direction down \| size 0px \| angle 90° \| altitude 10° highlight white 70% opacity shadow black 25% opacity

Step by step

Create the basic shapes using a tool like Adobe Illustrator.
Import the shape to a tool like Adobe Photoshop and scale to fit an image of 32x32 px on a transparent background.
Add the effects seen in Figure 10 for the unselected state filter.
Export the icon at 32x32 as a PNG file with transparency enabled.

Selected tab icon

The selected tab icons have the same fill gradient and effects as the menu icon, but with no outer glow.

Figure 11. Light, effects, and shadows for selected tab icons.

1.	Front part:	Use fill gradient from color palette.
2.	Inner shadow:	black \| 20% opacity \| angle 90° \| distance 2px \| size 2px
3.	Inner bevel:	depth 1% \| direction down \| size 0px \| angle 90° \| altitude 10° highlight white 70% opacity shadow black 25% opacity

Color palette

Fill gradient
1: r 163 | g 163 | b 163
2: r 120 | g 120 | b 120
Used as color fill on unselected tab icons.

Step by step

Create the basic shape using a tool like Adobe Illustrator.
Import the shape into a tool like Adobe Photoshop and scale to fit a 32x32 px artboard with a transparent background.
Add the effects seen in Figure 11 for the selected state filter.
Export the icon at 32x32 as a PNG file with transparency enabled.

Dialog icon

Dialog icons are shown in pop-up dialog boxes that prompt the user for interaction. They use a light gradient and inner shadow in order to stand out against a dark background.

Structure

Dialog icons have a 1 pixel safeframe. The base shape must fit within the safeframe, but the anti-alias of a round shape can overlap the safeframe.
All dimensions specified on this page are based on a 32x32 pixel artboard size in Adobe Photoshop. Keep 1 pixel of padding around the bounding box inside the Photoshop template.
Final art must be exported as a transparent PNG file.
Templates for creating dialog icons in Adobe Photoshop are available in the Icon Templates Pack.

Figure 12. Safeframe and fill gradient for dialog icons. Icon size is 32x32.

Light, effects, and shadows

Dialog icons are flat and pictured face-on. In order to stand out against a dark background, they are built up using a light gradient and inner shadow.

Figure 13. Light, effects, and shadows for dialog icons.

1.	Front part:	gradient overlay \| angle 90° bottom: r 223 \| g 223 \| b 223 top: r 249 \| g 249 \| b 249 bottom color location: 0% top color location: 75%
2.	Inner shadow:	black \| 25% opacity \| angle -90° \| distance 1px \| size 0px

Step by step

Create the basic shapes using a tool like Adobe Illustrator.
Import the shape into a tool like Adobe Photoshop and scale to fit an image of 32x32 px on a transparent background.
Add the effects seen in Figure 13 for the proper filter.
Export the icon at 32x32 as a PNG file with transparency enabled.

List view icon

List view icons look a lot like dialog icons, but they use an inner shadow effect where the light source is above the object. They are also designed to be used only in a list view. Examples include the Android Market application home screen and the driving directions screen in the Maps application.

Structure

A list view icon normally has a 1 px safeframe, but it is OK to use the safeframe area for the edge of the anti-alias of a round shape.
All dimensions specified are based on a 32x32 pixel artboard size in Photoshop. Keep 1 pixel of padding around the bounding box inside the template.
Final art must be exported as a transparent PNG file.
Templates for creating list view icons in Adobe Photoshop are available in the Icon Templates Pack.

Figure 14. Safeframe and fill gradient for list view icons. Icon size is 32x32.

Light, effects, and shadows

List view icons are flat and pictured face-on with an inner shadow. Built up by a light gradient and inner shadow, they stand out well on a dark background.

Figure 15. Light, effects, and shadows for list view icons.

1.	Inner shadow:	black \| 57 % opacity \| angle 120° \| blend mode normal \| distance 1px \| size 1px
2.	Background:	black \| standard system color These icons are displayed in list views only.
Note: The list view icon sits on 32x32 px artboard in Photoshop, without a safeframe.

Step by step

Add the effects seen in Figure 15 for the proper filter.
Export the icon at 32x32 as a PNG file with transparency enabled.
Create the basic shapes using a tool like Adobe Illustrator.
Import the shape into a tool like Adobe Photoshop and scale to fit an image of 32x32 px on a transparent background.

General guidelines

Below are some "do and don't" guidelines to consider when creating icons for your application. By following the guidelines, you can ensure that your icons will work well with other parts of the Android platform UI and will meet the expectations of your application's users.

Do...

Use a normal perspective. The depth of an object should be realistic.
Keep it simple! By overdoing an icon, it loses it purpose and readability.
Use colors only when necessary. Mind that the base of a launcher icon should be grey and feel solid.
Use the correct angles for the specific icon types.

Don’t...

Use open elements like text alone as icons. Instead place those elements on a base shape.
Use colors for your status bar notifications. Those are reserved for specific phone-only functions.

Using the Android Icon Templates Pack

The Android Icon Templates Pack is a collection of template designs, filters, and settings that make it easier for you to create icons that conform to the general specifications given in this document. We recommend downloading the template pack archive before you get started with your icon design.

The icon templates are provided in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator file formats, which preserves the layers and design treatments we used when creating the standard icons for the Android platform. You can load the template files into any compatible image-editing program, although your ability to work directly with the layers and treatments may vary based on the program you are using.

You can obtain the Icon Templates Pack archive using the link below:

Download the Icon Templates Pack »

Icon appendix

Standard launcher icons

Shown below are examples of launcher icons used by Android applications. The icons are provided for your reference only — please do not reuse these icons in your applications..

Alarm Clock	Browser	Calculator	Calendar	Camcorder	Camera	Contacts
Dialer	Email	Gallery	Generic application	Gmail	Google Talk	IM
Maps	Market	Messaging	Music	Settings	Voice Dialer	Voice Search
YouTube

Standard menu icons

Shown below are standard menu icons that are included in the Android platform (as of Android 1.5). You can reference any of these icon resources from your application as needed, but make sure that the action you assign to the icon is consistent with that listed. Note that this is not a complete list of icons and that the actual appearance of standard icons may change across platform versions.

To reference one of the icons from your code, use android.R.drawable.<icon_resource_identifier>. For example, you can call a menu item's setIcon() method and pass the resource name:

.setIcon(android.R.drawable.ic_menu_more);.

You could reference the same icon from a layout file using android:icon="@android:drawable/ic_menu_more">.

To determine the resource ID for an icon listed below, hover over the icon or simply look at image filenames, which use the format "<icon_resource_identifier>.png".

Add	Call	Camera	Clear / Close / Cancel / Discard	Compass	Delete	Directions
Edit	Gallery	Help	Info / details	Map mode	My Location	More
Preferences	Rotate	Save	Send	Search	Share	Upload
View	Zoom

Standard status bar icons

Shown below are standard status bar icons included in the Android platform (as of Android 1.5). You can reference any of these icon resources from your application as needed, but make sure that the meaning of the icon is consistent with the standard meaning listed. Note that this is not a complete list of icons and that the actual appearance of standard icons may change across platform versions.

To reference one of the icons from your code, use android.R.drawable.<icon_resource_identifier>. For example, you can construct a simple notification that references one of the icons like this:

new Notification(R.drawable.stat_notify_calendar, "sample text", System.currentTimeMillis());

To determine the resource ID for an icon listed below, hover over the icon or simply look at the image filename, which use the format "<icon_resource_identifier>.png".