Six easy steps to adapt your App icons for Apple's new Dynamic Tinting Feature

At the latest WWDC, Apple unveiled an exciting new feature: dynamic tinting for app icons. This update calls for developers to adjust their app icons to support this functionality, ensuring a more visually consistent experience across iOS. This change is significant for maintaining a seamless user interface, allowing app icons to adapt to various system-wide themes, including dark mode, and providing a cohesive look throughout the operating system.

What has changed?

New tinting feature

The tinting feature allows app icons to dynamically change their color to match the system's theme or user preferences. This ensures that icons remain visually consistent and aesthetically pleasing in different environments.

Compatibility requirements

Developers need to ensure their icons are compatible with this new feature by following Apple's updated Human Interface Guidelines. This may involve redesigning icons to ensure they look good when tinted and maintain their recognizability.

What are the benefits of supporting tinting?

Enhanced user experience

Tinting improves the visual coherence of the user interface, making the transition between different themes, such as light and dark mode, smoother and more visually appealing for users.

Adaptive design

By supporting tinting, app icons can adapt to various themes and modes, ensuring they remain clear and recognizable regardless of the user's chosen display settings. This adaptability enhances apps' overall usability.

Steps for Developers to Support Tinting

Step 1:Review your existing App icons:

1. Evaluate your current app icons to see how they interact with different tints.
2. Identify any elements that may need adjustment to maintain clarity and recognizability when tinted.

Step 2: Update your icon design:

1. Modify icon designs to ensure they work well with tinting. Focus on maintaining contrast and visibility.
2. Consider simplifying complex icons to ensure they remain effective when colors change.

Step 3: Use Xcode’s Asset Catalog:

1. Open your project in Xcode and navigate to the asset catalog.
2. Add your updated icons to the asset catalog, ensuring they are correctly configured for tinting.

Step 4: Configure Tinting in Xcode:

1. In Xcode, go to the icon set and enable the tinting option.
2. Test your icons with different tints within Xcode to ensure they display correctly.

Step 5: Testing and Validation:

1. Test your updated icons on various devices and screen sizes to ensure they look good across all platforms.
2. Validate the appearance of icons in both light and dark modes to ensure a consistent user experience.

Step 6: Submit Updated Icons:

1. Once testing is complete, prepare your app for submission.
2. Submit the updated app icons through App Store Connect, ensuring all icons meet Apple’s guidelines for tinting.

Conclusion

Developers are encouraged to embrace the new tinting feature to enhance the user experience. By updating their app icons, developers can ensure their apps remain visually consistent and appealing across different themes and modes. Embracing these changes early can set your app apart and provide a superior user experience.

For more detailed information, refer to the Apple Human Interface Guidelines.