Elephicon is an open-source, minimalist graphical user interface (GUI) wrapper that allows you to instantly generate Apple ICNS and Microsoft ICO files from standard PNG images.
Whether you are a developer preparing an application for release or a designer building custom desktop themes, configuring application icons manually can be a tedious process. Elephicon automates this workflow by embedding cross-platform size variations into a single output file with a simple drag-and-drop mechanism. Step 1: Download and Install Elephicon
Elephicon is lightweight, requires no command-line interaction, and operates fully locally on your device.
Get the software: Navigate to the sprout2000/elephicon Releases Page on GitHub to pull the latest public build.
Choose your version: Download the .dmg file if you are working on macOS, or the setup file tailored for Windows.
Run the app: Open the application to find a clean, straightforward drop-zone window. Step 2: Prepare Your Source Image
To ensure your newly generated icons look crisp across high-resolution screens (like Apple Retina displays), prepare your source image according to the tool’s optimized specifications:
Format: Save your source graphic as a 24-bit PNG file with an explicit alpha channel to preserve background transparency. Dimensions: Use a square aspect ratio of 1024×1024 pixels.
Fallback size: If you are strictly outputting Windows .ico formats, a canvas size of 256×256 pixels is sufficient. Step 3: Configure Your Output Settings
Before converting your image, right-click anywhere inside the Elephicon application window to open the context menu. From here, you can toggle your preferences:
Choose whether you want to output .ico files, .icns files, or both simultaneously.
Select target folders or modify specific resolution scaling constraints. Step 4: Convert via Drag-and-Drop
Once your settings are saved, drag your prepared PNG file from your file manager and drop it directly onto the Elephicon window.
The app processes the asset instantaneously, automatically outputting a multi-resolution icon packet directly to your designated folder. For example, a single exported .icns file will silently embed scaled variants ranging from 16×16 pixels up to 512×512@2x high-density resolutions to meet standard OS requirements. If you want to optimize your desktop workflow, let me know: What operating system you are primarily building icons for.
Whether you are using a custom directory structure for your development projects.
I can provide specific automated saving tips or instructions for integrating these icons into your application code. sprout2000/elephicon: GUI wrapper for png2icons. – GitHub
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