Why iOS Designers Create Assets in 1x and Rescale to 2x and 3x

When it comes to iOS design, many designers opt to start their asset creation process at 1x resolution before scaling up to 2x and 3x. This approach is not only driven by technical necessity but also by a deep understanding of the underlying principles that ensure high-quality user interfaces. In this article, we delve into the reasons behind this process and explore how it benefits designers and ultimately, their users.

Original Quality and Detail

Original Quality: Designing assets at the 1x resolution allows designers to focus on the original quality and detail of the design. By starting small, designers can ensure that every element of their design is clear and well-defined. This prevents issues that might arise from scaling assets down, where clarity and detail can get lost. This meticulous approach ensures that the initial design elements are crisp and accurate before any scaling occurs.

Resource Management

Resource Management: Using 1x assets helps in managing storage space more efficiently. Smaller file sizes mean reduced load time and better performance on devices. This is particularly important in an environment where multiple assets need to be managed for different screen resolutions. By designing in 1x, designers can streamline their workflow and ensure that the overall resource footprint remains manageable.

Scale with Vector Graphics

Scale with Vector Graphics: Many design tools support vector graphics, which can be scaled infinitely without losing quality. For raster images, scaling down from a higher resolution, like 3x, can result in a loss of detail. By starting at a higher resolution, designers can ensure that the assets maintain their quality and sharpness, even when scaled down for different screen sizes. This is crucial for maintaining a consistently high-quality user experience across various devices.

Retina Displays

Retina Displays: iOS devices often feature high-resolution Retina displays, which require assets to be sharp and clear. By designing at 1x, designers can create a base version that is optimized for lower resolutions. This base version can then be scaled up to higher resolutions without losing clarity. This ensures that the assets look great on all devices, from older iPhones to the latest models with Retina displays.

Consistency Across Assets

Consistency: Starting with 1x assets helps maintain consistency across different design elements. It establishes a uniform baseline from which all other sizes can be derived. This ensures that proportions and details remain consistent when scaling, leading to a cohesive and seamless user interface. Consistency is key in providing a polished and professional design experience.

Ease of Export

Ease of Export: Many design tools, such as Sketch, provide features that facilitate exporting assets at multiple sizes from a single 1x asset. This streamlines the workflow and ensures that all necessary sizes are exported with minimal effort. Designers can focus on the initial design, confident that they can generate all required assets for different screen resolutions with ease.

Additional Considerations

While starting with 1x is the most common approach, there are alternative methods that designers might consider. Let’s explore a few variants:

Start Small, Increase Raster Images: Designing small assets can work, but there’s a risk that images will become pixelated or have visible artifacts if they are scaled up. This approach might be sub-optimal for high-resolution displays. Start Small, Increase Vector Images: Starting with small vector images is optimal because these can be scaled up without losing quality. Designs might require additional details in higher resolutions, but the base vector images ensure a solid foundation. Start Large, Decrease Raster/Vector: Starting with large assets and then scaling down can result in information overload, especially for raster images. Fine details might get lost in the scaling process, leading to a subpar final design.

These variants only apply to the initial design stage. For further versions, designers should create refined and customized icons for each size, almost individually, to ensure optimal performance and user experience.

Conclusion

In summary, creating assets in 1x and then rescaling them to 2x and 3x offers several benefits, including maintaining quality, managing resources effectively, and ensuring consistency across various display types. The approach leverages the strengths of vector graphics and compensates for the limitations of raster images, resulting in a more robust and polished user interface. By following this methodology, iOS designers can meet the challenges of a diverse and evolving market, delivering high-quality designs that perform well on all devices.