Favicon Pixel Art Checklist (16x16 Readability First)
A practical checklist to validate favicon clarity at 16x16 and 32x32, including contrast tests and fast fix actions.
The 5-point favicon test
Score your icon quickly before shipping. Anything below 4/5 should be revised.
- Silhouette legible at 16x16
- No hairline details that disappear at 16x16
- Works on light and dark browser tabs
- Color count controlled (typically <= 8)
- Still recognizable in pinned tabs/bookmarks
If your icon fails the test
Use these targeted fixes instead of rebuilding from scratch.
- Unreadable shape: increase pixel size +2 and remove inner details
- Low contrast: darken outline or switch to monochrome
- Too noisy: lower maxColors from 16 to 6-8
Export and implementation notes
PNG is usually enough for modern stacks. If your framework needs .ico, convert from the tested PNG instead of the original logo.
- Export 32x32 and 48x48 PNG variants
- Use identical design across sizes to keep brand consistency
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