Easily Create Beautiful iOS App Icons with this DIY Retina Icon Kit

Mar 26, 2012 - 6 Comments

iOS Retina icon template 1

It’s rare that app developers and web developers double as graphic designers, leaving some apps and websites to include fairly hideous iOS icons. As we’ve said before, icons matter, however superficial they may be, so instead of shipping an app or site with an ugly icon do yourself a favor and download this do-it-yourself retina icon kit.

The DIY template from KillerIcons comes as a deeply layered and easily workable PSD file containing a 512×512 app icon, letting you easily create a very attractive icon just by switching on or off some layers, adding an element or two, and adjusting as necessary. PSD’s are best opened with Photoshop, but if you don’t have it go ahead and download CS6 beta for free and use it until the final version comes out, the template works fine.

These icon templates are useful website owners as well, use them to create an Apple touch icon PNG file to set as a custom bookmark icon for iOS home screens.

Shown below are the base template styles, but the possibilities are practically endless just by changing colors, borders, or hiding and showing certain layers.

Free iOS DIY Retina Icon Kit

You can see several sample retina icons I made quickly for OSXDaily below.

iOS Retina Icon template 2

iOS Retina Icon template 3

iOS Retina Icon template 4

There are also some more basic retina icon templates available if you are looking to start from scratch or just want something less fancy.

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Posted by: William Pearson in Development, iPad, iPhone, Mac OS, Tips & Tricks

6 Comments

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  1. David Lee says:

    Retina icons are 1024×1024.

  2. […] a template or design your own. I used the easy DIY retina icon kit mentioned in a previous post, it’s a PSD file that makes designing nice looking iOS icons as easy as a click or two. Paste […]

  3. Jaden says:

    Retina icons are 1024×1024.

  4. tbn says:

    I like the one shown in the top screenshot the most, current icon is a bit gaudy IMO.

  5. BH Caldwell says:

    Would it not need be 1024×1024 to be true retina, for the App Store view?

  6. Carlos says:

    Excellent! Here is another one I used recently, it is more basic in design but can represent a good starting place as well. http://appicontemplate.com/

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