In the digital image world, file formats matter greatly as they dictate the support, compatibility, size, structure, and quality of the photographic content on various platforms. Comparing HEIC vs. ICNS file types is imperative because of their limitless applications in many areas and their varying built-in features.
The article highlights and compares ICNS vs HEIC features such as compression techniques, structure, web performance, animation support, browser support, file size, image quality, transparency, and storage needs.
When is HEIC better than ICNS?
A HEIC image is smaller, high-quality, and requires minimum storage space because it supports the modern compression technique HEVC, while ICNS images are larger, support low bit depths, and require more storage space since they support lossless and PackBits compression. This makes them suitable for manipulating and storing online video clips or live photos due to their smaller, high-quality images that are easily transferred over low network bandwidths.
When is ICNS better than HEIC?
ICNS images are easy to edit and can be scaled repeatedly without losing high-resolution and quality levels, while HEIC images are not easily editable, non-scalable, or indistinct with upward or downward scaling.
The ICNS file type can be used to create sharp, visually impressive, and matchless photos, desktop shortcuts, and application icons. The advantages of the ICNS file format include support for transparency, easy editing, scalable to attain desired screen limits, and support for high-quality content such as computer icons.
ICNS versus HEIC Table Comparison
| Aspect/Factor | HEIC | ICNS |
| Transparency | Supports alpha channel transparency. | Supports alpha channel transparency |
| File Size | Smaller files compared to ICNS files. | Larger files compared to HEIC files. |
| Image Quality | Excellent image quality than ICNS images. | High-quality images. |
| Performance | Smaller and web-efficient than ICNS. | Larger and web-inefficient than HEIC. |
| Structure | Raster-based: Starts with comments and tags and ends with indicators. | Raster-based starts with the file headers and ends with the binary icon data. |
| Animation | Supports animations or image series. | Supports animations. |
| Storage | Less storage space demands than ICNS. | More storage space demands than HEIC. |
| Compression | Supports lossless and lossy compression methods. | Supports PackBits and lossless compression. |
| Browser Support | Limited browser support compared to ICNS. | Wider browser support compared to HEIC. |
Differences and similarities between HEIC and ICNS images
The HEIC versus ICNS comparison table above shows that the formats differ in storage, browser support, file size, image quality, structure, storages, and we performance. However, both formats support lossless compression, alpha channel transparency, and animations.
Transparency
HEIC and ICNS file extensions support alpha channel transparency. HEIC files adopts the PNG file's transparency support method. The format allows users to merge HEIC's prevalent transparent backgrounds seamlessly with different webpages, comprising various bit depths.
HIEC built-in features support open-source place transparency information or alpha mask. The format's extension supports both 64-bit and 32-bit using 10-bit and 8-bit modules or components. When HEIC's alphas are 0, 255 and 1-254, they represent transparent, opaque, and translucent pixels respectively.
File Size
HEIC and ICNS files store rich multilayer metadata and data in a single file. Multiple ICNS icon files, each with a file size between 4kb and 660kb can be larger when pooled together than the multilayered HEIC files. ICNS files also retain all file data using PackBits or lossless compression, which is similar to lossless HEIC.
However, HEIC uses modern and efficient HEVC compression, resulting in smaller files than ICNS files. While lossless HEIC and ICNS store all image details, lossy HEIC uses HEVC algorithms to delete certain data, significantly reducing its size to ICNS. Hence, choose HEIC over ICNS for smaller file sizes.
Image Quality
HEIC images have a competitive edge over ICNS images as regards image quality. The ICNS file supports 1-bit and 8-bit alpha channels, whereas HEIC supports 10-bit and 16-bit color modules and files packed as 48-bit per color channel by default.
ICNS files also support fewer color profiles, including IHDR, ARGB, and RGB color profiles. Conversely, HEIC supports advanced image features like High Dynamic Range (HDR) and Wide Color Range (WCR). Thus, HEIC's higher bit depths and high color profiles produce excellent image quality compared to ICNS images.
Performance
HEIC files are relatively smaller compared to ICNS files. While both formats store multiple files, the compression techniques differ. HEIC format supports Highly Efficient Video Coding (HEVC) compression algorithms, resulting into significantly smaller files than PackBits or lossless ICNS files.
The smaller HEIC files consume fewer bytes, load faster on websites than ICNS files, and easily transferred over low network bandwidths. As a result, choose HEIC instead of ICNS for a better online user experience, optimized search engines, and high web-responsiveness.
Structure
ICNS and HEIC are raster-based formats, but their structures differ and are challenging to compare. HEIC file specifies specific images, image series, and metadata stored in a container file compliant with the ISO Base Media File Format. It has Exif metadata with all the tags and comments supported by EXIF and TIFF.
The embedded TIFF files in HEIC file hardly have image data, rather, they store individual image files and mark them as "items," with each file having a designated number of items. The HEIC format also allows image sequences called "tracks" to be saved and stored in EXIF/TIF files.
HEIC uses an indicator to display whether the HEIC viewer must display the files as galleries or animations later. In contrast, an ICNS file has a file header and binary icon data. Its file extension header comprises 8 bytes of data, with four for the magic literal and four for the file length.
Just like the HEIC file extension, the ICNS icon specifies the file size and type stored in the icon data section followed by the binary image data. The file size describes the size of the binary section.
Animation
HEIC and ICNS formats inherently support animations, live photos, and animated image content. ICNS has icon features allowing computer apps and website icons to be customized and support multiple resolutions levels and color depths. Both formats are ideal for creating animations or lively content.
Animated ICNS uses 1- and 8-bit alpha channels, ideal for visually sharp and presentable animations. In contrast, HEIC stores multiple images and metadata in a single file, allowing the creation of short animations. It stores image series that can be played back as slideshows, memes, or short animations.
Storage
HEIC files are significantly smaller than ICNS files because its uses However, the advanced HEVC compression than lossless PackBits. HEIC needs less storage space on storage mediums like Base64 Encoding, Content Delivery Networks, ISO Base Media Files, EXIF/TIF files, Hard Drives, and Cloud.
UCNS and HEIC compressed files can last endlessly or indefinitely with proper handling, under good storage conditions, and using the best storage medium. As such, users like web developers and graphic designers prefer HEIC format to ICNS formats because of their efficient storage requirements.
Compression
HEIC files support lossy and lossless compression methods, while ICNS extension supports lossless and PackBits compression. The ICNS's PACKBITS algorithms use run-length encoding (RLE), where the redundant ICNS file information existing as repeated data is represented concisely.
The PACKBITS algorithm encodes the redundant ICNS data by storing a series of identical pixel colors. Conversely, lossy and lossless HEIC's HEVC is efficient, significantly minimizes file sizes, retains higher image quality, and boosts storage space on storage mediums than the inefficient ICNS using RLE algorithms.
Browser Support
HEIC is a new file format, while ICNS is a legacy file type. However, both formats encounter compatibility issues in web browsers, platforms, software, and devices. HEIC is compatible and supported by Apple Safari, Google Workspace, and Google Marketplace, while ICNS is only supported by Firefox and Chrome.
HEIC files and images are unsupported by Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Edge, Vivaldi, Internet Explorer, Discord, and Brave, while ICNS files are incompatible with Brave, Vivaldi, Opera, IE, Discord, and Samsung Internet. However, you can convert ICNS files to PNG for high browser compatibility.
Convert HEIC to ICNS or ICNS to HEICs
Use Convertjack to convert HEIC to ICNS files. ICNS files are detailed, editable, scalable, and high-resolution. They can be displayed optimally on varying screen sizes without losing image quality.
Convertjack is the leading ICNS to HEIC converter. HEIC formats support HEVC algorithms that significantly reduce file size, resulting in smaller, high-quality images with minimum storage space demands, comprehensive image metadata, enhanced online user experience, and high web responsiveness.