[BoulderDash]

Hey there,
I'm starting to get into using iChat 1.0.1. I'd like to make some icons for myself and some people - can anyone tell me what the guidelines are so that they can be seen the same on AIM (Mac/PC) as they are on iChat?

- Do they have to be .gifs/.jpgs?
- Are they restricted to any color amounts if .gifs?
- What are the dimensions?


Thanks in advance,
BD

[Adam Betts]

48x48

No animation

Any image format that is supported by Quicktime. Transparency is not supported.

That's it, I guess

[Sage]

Also, if you use a 48x48 pixel image, iChat will re-scale it (which can turn out some ugly results)... iChat's picture well is 32x32 pixels. Personally, what I do is make my buddy icons 32x32 pixels, and add a border around them so that they look fine for AIM users.

[BoulderDash]

So,
AIM (PC/Mac) supports 48x48 while iChat supports 32x32. Thus making a 32x32 and padding a border so that it'2 48x48 with white space is the way to go.

But, if iChat re-scales the 48x48 image (which has the white space padding lets say), doesn't it shrink the 32x32 icon contained within that 48x48 image by a lot (when it scales it all down to 32x32)? Or are you saying iChat will "clip" the extra pixels so that the 32x32 image remains intact?

Thanks!
BD

[Adam Betts]

No no, iChat actually does support 48x48 and use them. What you see in buddy window is shrunk automatically by iChat.

Try minimize any IM window with buddy icon to dock and you'll see its full icon size (48x48)

[OptimusG4]

Originally posted by Adam Betts:
No animation

That pisses me off. AIM for mac and windows support it.

[LeeG]

I assume iChat syncs with address book as far as icons - has anyone really 'filled up' their address book with pictures? Seems tediouis - there should be an easy way (maybe via services?) to select an on screen image (maybe in iPhoto?) and export to ichat/address book

Lee