I have an app that has buttons with background images that I specify in the layout. For mdpi and up it works fine and you can see the images. But I recently started tested on a small device and saw the backgrounds only show black. I then checked the screen size (small) which I cater for and also checked the density, which I saw in this case is ldpi. So I rescaled the mdpi images to 36x36 and created a mipmap-ldpi folder. Android studio sees it in design time but for some reason it is not picked up at runtime. So I Googled around and saw that I might have to add them manually via Android Studio. So I created a New Resource Directory where I specified the density as ldpi as below :
I then for each Icon added a new file with the same name and selected the ldpi folder as below :
And select ldpi directory :
I then entered the same name as it is with all the other densities for each icon / image.
After all this I still get black background so I thought let me try and assign the background programmatically. That then works. Can anyone help me with why it will not work when specifying it in the layout file. I have a layout file specifically for small screens. Must I specify density as well ?
Apologies for the images. I see I cannot embed yet because my reputation is too low.
Update 1 :
Moved all the icons to Drawables as recommended and it was still doing it.
Read other articles where LDPI is not really supported anymore and then answered the question as to make the problem go away by not supporting devices with LDPI density.
But the next day then picked the same problem up on a old S2 with HPDI density. So it is possibly not a LDPI problem anymore until proven otherwise. Hopefully we will find the problem and get it fixed.
The mipmap directories are used to store the launcher icons. They are not used inside the app, but at the home screen and the app listing.
The reason is, when a resource from drawable-directory is requested, a bitmap is chosen from the folder that matches the current density. But, when you use the mipmap drawable, the launcher may choose an icon from a different folder (usually a size-up). That's why you're not seeing the ldpi icon.
Some launchers actually display the icons larger than they were intended. Therefore, using the mipmap for launchers helps in this.
Also check this link out.
SUMMARY: use drawables for icons used inside the app and mipmap for the launcher icon of the app.
Apologies. I asked my question incorrectly. I assumed it was the icons but I neglected to mention I call the icons from Layer-List drawables. Turns out Layer-List draws black on some devices that runs Android 4.0 and 4.1 if you do not explicitly mention transparent as a color. I can now see all icons from ldpi up.
Thanks for your assistance. Reference link : Android xml layer-list not displayed correctly on some devices
Google has released a set of icons for Material design. However each folder like drawable-xhdpi in this has 4 different sizes of each icon. If some one wants to use them in his/her android application which one to use for each density type
drawable-hdpi
drawable-xhdpi
drawable-xxhdpi
drawable-xxxhdpi
Can anybody help me which icons to use here?
Thanks
This is determined by the type of icon you need. The developers guide says about iconography that for example notification icons should be 24dp, action bar icons 32dp, small icons 16dp and so on.
So I am having a weird problem. I was redecorating my app for devices that fall under the screen density of extra extra extra high dots per inch (xxx-hdpi). I created a new folder namely drawable-xxxhdpi and put my launcher icon ic_launcher.pngwith the size of 192 x 192 px. But, when I compiled the app and ran it in my Nexus 5, the app would pick icon resource from drawable-xxhdpi folder. (I know that because all the other app icons are bigger and I checked their compiled .apk file to confirm their presence in the respective drawable folders.
It gets weirder: when I removed the launcher icon from drawable-xxhdpi and put the drawable-xxxhdpi icon in former folder, Android WOULD pick that icon up and show it as the launcher icon.
And apparently, I'm not the only one having this problem.
So, what to do about it?
Edit: On second thought, Nexus 5 ought to fall under the category of xx-hdpi devices (480dpi) but why do all the other apps have bigger icons (the ones used in xxx-hdpi)?
I've created a menu icon and included a 36x36, 48x48 and 72x72 in the ldpi, mdpi and hdpi drawable folders. It looks fine on all devices except honeycomb tablets, where it seems like the padding around the Android icons are bigger than on my custom icon. I've included a screenshot (see how much bigger my 'Resume Reading' icon is than the android 'Back' and 'My Library' icons are). How do I make my icon look like this?
I think I found the problem. When using the Android resource icon's on a tablet, I think it changes the padding in order for the icon to be used in the action bar. So when displaying them in a pop up menu at the bottom they are appearing much smaller than they should be. The solution is to copy the android resources into our own resource folder as it says to do here http://developer.android.com/guide/practices/ui_guidelines/icon_design_menu.html
Most of your Tablets are not hdpi, they are xhdpi. While the Icon Design Guidelines are useful, they don't give the whole story. Consider reading Supporting Multiple Screens. Here, they tell you further ratios and dimensions. To save you some time, resources should be 3ldpi:4mdpi:6hdpi:8xhdpi meaning that your xhdpi icon should be 96 x 96. Please, read the whole document, though. It is insanely useful.
How can I set an icon for my Android application?
If you intend on your application being available on a large range of devices, you should place your application icon into the different res/drawable... folders provided. In each of these folders, you should include a 48dp sized icon:
drawable-ldpi (120 dpi, Low density screen) - 36px x 36px
drawable-mdpi (160 dpi, Medium density screen) - 48px x 48px
drawable-hdpi (240 dpi, High density screen) - 72px x 72px
drawable-xhdpi (320 dpi, Extra-high density screen) - 96px x 96px
drawable-xxhdpi (480 dpi, Extra-extra-high density screen) - 144px x 144px
drawable-xxxhdpi (640 dpi, Extra-extra-extra-high density screen) - 192px x 192px
You may then define the icon in your AndroidManifest.xml file as such:
<application android:icon="#drawable/icon_name" android:label="#string/app_name" >
....
</application>
Add an application launcher icon with automatic sizing.
(Android studio)
Go to menu File* → New → Image Assets → select launcher icon → choose image file.
It will automatically re-size.
Done!
I found this tool the most useful.
Upload an image.
Download a zip.
Extract it into your project.
Done
https://romannurik.github.io/AndroidAssetStudio/
It's better to do this through Android Studio rather than the file browser as it updates all icon files with the correct resolution for each.
To do so go to menu File → New → Image Asset. This will open a new dialogue and then make sure Launcher Icons is selected (Which it is by default) and then browse to the directory of your icon (it doesn't have to be in the project resources) and then once selected make sure other settings are to your liking and hit done.
Now all resolutions are saved into their respective folders, and you don't have to worry about copying it yourself or using tools, etc.
Don't forget "Shape - none" for a transparent background.
Please don't edit my answer without asking.
Put your images in mipmap folder and set in manifest file...
like as
<application android:icon="#mipmap/icon" android:label="#string/app_name" >
....
</application>
App Folder Directory :
Icon Size & Format :
Place your images in drawables folder under either of the three and set it like this.
Code
<application android:icon="#drawable/your_icon" >
....
</application>
Right click your project, go to New > Other > Android > Android Icon Set
Then follow the instructions on the Wizard
1-Create Your icon in Photoshop Or Coreldraw by size 256*256
note that use PNG file format if you want to have a transparent icon
2-Upload Your icon in https://romannurik.github.io/AndroidAssetStudio/icons-launcher.html
3-Set your setting on this site
4-Download the zip file automatically created by the webpage by clicking on download button
5-Extract the zip file and copy res folder to you project library
note that res folder contain all size icon
6-finally you need to set the manifest to use icon
<application android:icon="#drawable/your_icon" >
....
</application>
You can simply install an Android studio Martial icons plugin its name is please check plugin URL Material Design Icon Generator and check this GIF for more details:
This is mainly for creating the icons with required sizes, and it will be located directly in its folders.
I found all these answers that used to be solid answers to be a bit dated now. I reckon this will be the fate of this answer someday.
Click on your main project, most people would have "app" as their main project name by default. I like to be specific since I have other projects as well.
[your project name|app]->"New"->"Image Asset"
Then you will get to pick an image. I chose once that wasn't the greatest fit. Notice the tool shows you the "safe zone".
You can sample the different resolutions. Change the name, etc. The default name is "ic_launcher". I prefer to be expressive with the name so there is no confusion later which ic_launcher this belongs too.
Choose "Next", make changes if you need to, and ultimately "Finish". I found the rest of the tool to be self explanatory. For more info I suggest reading the manual that describes all these settings in more detail: Android Studio Image Asset Tool Documentation
On "Finish" this will put the files into the respective folders under the expected "res" folder.
The next thing you have to do is have to tell the project that's the icon you want to use. Inside the AndroidManifest.xml do something like the following (using your own name you chose to use above.)
<application
android:icon="#mipmap/pooflingers_ic_launcher">
That's pretty much it, as of today anyway... I am using Android Studio v4.2.1 Let me know when these steps become out of date.
You have to follow steps like:
You will see your default icons ic_launcher.png like:
You have to change all the images which are in mipmap-xxxx folders.
First of you have to create your own logo or pick up image that you want to place as icon of launcher and upload here Android Asset Studio - Icon Generator - Launcher icons, You will get all the set of mipmap-xxxx and web_icon also from that link.
Now you have to copy all the folders which are in side of res folder,
Now go to Android Studio Project -> Right click on res folder -> Paste. It will prompt you like File 'ic_launcher.png' already exists in directory, You can press Overwrite all. It will paste/replace images in respective folder.
Now you can run and see your application icon with new image.
Happy Coding :) :)
Choose icon picture copy this pic
Paste it into your project's res/drawable folder
Open manifest file and set
Run program
If you have an SVG icon, you can use this script to generate your android icon set.
In AndroidManifest change these :
android:icon="#drawable/icon_name"
android:roundIcon="#drawable/icon_name"
Define the icon for android application
<application android:icon="drawable resource">
....
</application>
https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/manifest/application-element.html
If your app available across large range of devices
You should create separate icons for all generalized screen densities,
including low-, medium-, high-, and extra-high-density screens. This
ensures that your icons will display properly across the range of
devices on which your application can be installed...
Size & Format
Launcher icons should be 32-bit PNGs with an alpha channel for
transparency. The finished launcher icon dimensions corresponding to a
given generalized screen density are shown in the table below.
Place icon in mipmap or drawable folder
android:icon="#drawable/icon_name" or android:icon="#mipmap/icon_name"
developer.android.com/guide says,
This attribute must be set as a reference to a drawable resource
containing the image (for example "#drawable/icon").
about launcher icons android-developers.googleblog.com says,
It’s best practice to place your app icons in mipmap- folders (not the
drawable- folders) because they are used at resolutions different from
the device’s current density. For example, an xxxhdpi app icon can be
used on the launcher for an xxhdpi device.
Dianne Hackborn from Google (Android Framework) says,
If you are building different versions of your app for different
densities, you should know about the "mipmap" resource directory.
This is exactly like "drawable" resources, except it does not
participate in density stripping when creating the different apk
targets.
For launcher icons, the AndroidManifest.xml file must reference the mipmap/ location
<application android:name="ApplicationTitle"
android:label="#string/app_label"
android:icon="#mipmap/ic_launcher" >
Little bit more quoting this
You want to load an image for your device density and you are going to use it "as is", without changing its actual size. In this case you should work with drawables and Android will give you the best fitting image.
You want to load an image for your device density, but this image is going to be scaled up or down. For instance this is needed when you want to show a bigger launcher icon, or you have an animation, which increases image's size. In such cases, to ensure best image quality, you should put your image into mipmap folder. What Android will do is, it will try to pick up the image from a higher density bucket instead of scaling it up. This will increase sharpness (quality) of the image.
Fore more you can read mipmap vs drawable folders
Tools to easily generate assets
Android Asset Studio by romannurik.github
Android Asset Studio by jgilfelt.github
Image Asset Studio(from Android Studio)
Material Icon Generator.bitdroid.de
Android Material Design Icon Generator Plugin by github.com/konifar
A script to generate android assets from a SVG file
Read more : https://developer.android.com/guide/practices/ui_guidelines/icon_design_launcher.html
A bit old, but for future use:
Open Android Studio -> app/src/main/res -> Right Click -> Image Asset
Goto File->new->ImageAsset.
From their you can create Image Assets for your icon.
After that we will get icon image in mipmap different formats like
hdpi,mdpi,xhdpi,xxhdpi,xxxhdpi.
Now goto AndroidManifest.xml
<application android:icon="#mipmap/your_Icon"> ....</application>