16 bit icon vs. 32 bit

[:: Dazza ::]

Hi
The following shows the difference in icon quality depending on what my
PC's colour depth it:

http://tmp.dazzas.co.uk/pics/icons1632.jpg

As you can see, the 16 bit icon is jagged.

If I take a screenshot in 32 bit mode, and then view the image in 16 bit
mode, I can still see the excellent quality icon as if it were still 32 bit.
My question is, is there an icon cache on the internet that has made the 16
bit icons better because I hate the jagged look.

I cannot keep 32 bit colour depth enabled because my laptop then experiences
video playback problems.

Thanks
--�
http://www.darrenpowles.net \\ dazza's webcam & weblog
http://www.wirelesswales.net \\ broadband for rural wales
Turn on the light, see my delight ;o)

[David Hollway]

":: Dazza ::" <> wrote in message
...
> Hi
> The following shows the difference in icon quality depending on what
my
> PC's colour depth it:
>
> http://tmp.dazzas.co.uk/pics/icons1632.jpg
>
> As you can see, the 16 bit icon is jagged.
>
> If I take a screenshot in 32 bit mode, and then view the image in 16 bit
> mode, I can still see the excellent quality icon as if it were still 32
bit.
> My question is, is there an icon cache on the internet that has made the
16
> bit icons better because I hate the jagged look.

Hi,

This is because Windows XP uses alpha-blending for the edges of icons. Older
versions of Windows only allowed basic transparency - i.e, each pixel of the
icon was either a colour, or it was transparent. With alpha-blending, each
pixel can have a degree of transparency. This makes it easy to anti-alias
the edges of the icons, and remove the "jaggies" from the icon edges.
Unfortunately, as far as I know, alpha-blending is only available in 32-bit
colour mode. When you run in 16-bit screendepth, the icons will revert to
old-style transparency, and appear jagged, as you've seen.
A good source for information about XP icons, and some stunning samples, is
at:

http://www.foood.net/icons/index.htm

Hope this helps..

[:: Dazza ::]

In message:

"David Hollway" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> This is because Windows XP uses alpha-blending for the edges of
> icons. Older versions of Windows only allowed basic transparency -
> i.e, each pixel of the icon was either a colour, or it was
> transparent. With alpha-blending, each pixel can have a degree of
> transparency. This makes it easy to anti-alias the edges of the
> icons, and remove the "jaggies" from the icon edges. Unfortunately,
> as far as I know, alpha-blending is only available in 32-bit colour
> mode. When you run in 16-bit screendepth, the icons will revert to
> old-style transparency, and appear jagged, as you've seen.
> A good source for information about XP icons, and some stunning

Very well explained David, thank you.
--
http://www.darrenpowles.net \\ dazza's webcam & weblog
http://www.wirelesswales.net \\ broadband for rural wales
Turn on the light, see my delight ;o)