Icon/Cursor Compatibility Issues

The Windows Icon format, which also doubles as the basis for the Windows Cursor format, was one of the original graphic formats introduced when Windows 1.0 debuted back in the mid-1980s. While it was later expanded with additional features, this format has become obsolete for everyday use. But, they have their specialized uses, and since Mike's Sprite Editor was already well-suited to handle small graphics like these, it was given the ability to edit or create new icons and cursors.

However, there are some issues with this format that users may need to know about.

Lack of Library Support

Icons and Cursor files may contain multiple images (usually copies of the same image at increasingly higher resolutions). Files with multiple images like this are often called "image libraries". Unfortunately, this feature of the icon format is not currently supported by Mike's Sprite Editor. This is being worked on, so eventually these files will be supported.

Limited PNG Support

If you have configured the editor to ask you how to save your icons or cursors, you might notice that one of the options is to embed a Portable Network Graphic (PNG) into the file. This is a feature that was added to the icon format with Windows Vista, and while icons with embedded PNGs are generally usable for most things, some programs may not be able to use these icons. Very old programs, such as software created prior to Windows Vista's release, aren't going to be able to handle this type of icon at all.

Generally speaking, it's okay to use this feature for newer software. But if you're unsure, use the older, more reliable style for your icons and cursors. By default, Mike's Sprite Editor saves icons and cursors using the original, non-PNG format, so you won't run into this issue unless you're interested in taking that risk.