Categorizing Application Graphics

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Categorizing Application Graphics

Categorizing Application Graphics

Application graphics that you design fall into three broad categories:

Icons, which represent objects that users can select, open, or drag
Button graphics, which identify actions, settings, and tools (modes of the application)
Symbols, which are used for general identification and labeling (for instance, as indicators of conditions or states)

**Table 5** Examples of Application Graphics
Graphic Type	Examples	Flush 3D Style	Pre-Dithered (With Added Gradients)
Icons
Button graphics
Symbols

Use the GIF file format for application graphics. It usually results in a smaller file size than the JPEG format and uses lossless compression.

To facilitate localization, place all application graphics in resource bundles.

Where possible, use globally understood icons, button graphics, and symbols. Where none exist, create them with input from international sources. If you can't create a single symbol that works in all cultures, define appropriate graphics for different locales (but try to minimize this task).