# Install makeicns with Homebrew, MacPorts Create icns files from the command-line. Version 1.4.10a via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-19. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:makeicns ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install makeicns ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install makeicns ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: graphics/makeicns/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:makeicns - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.4.10a - **Source summary:** Create icns files from the command-line - **Homepage:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** MIT - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-06-19T12:32:39-07:00 - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T18:08:21+00:00 ## Executables - makeicns (cli) - makeicns (alias) ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_big_sur, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.4.10a - Package-manager updated: 2026-06-19 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: http://www.amnoid.de/icns/makeicns.html - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage makeicns is a macOS command-line utility for converting images into Apple's .icns icon format. ### Project history The upstream page records an original release date of 20081122 and a v1.1 usage banner dated 20090413. It presents makeicns as a command-line answer to creating .icns files, especially when Leopard-era 512x512 icon variants were not handled by tiff2icns. The same page says the downloadable archive is a universal binary with source included, but it does not publish an official source-control repository. That is why the repository field is null even though the package remains buildable from the upstream download. ### Adoption history The upstream page does not document broad adoption history. Its adoption signal is narrower: it was packaged as a small CLI alternative to GUI icon tools and to tiff2icns limitations for users who wanted scriptable .icns generation. Because .icns files are Mac-specific, makeicns mainly matters in macOS packaging and app-bundle workflows rather than cross-platform graphics tooling. ### How it is used makeicns accepts key-value arguments naming input images for icon sizes such as 512, 256, 128, 32, and 16, plus 'in' for a shared input and 'out' for the output file. Examples on the upstream page show creating an .icns with selected image variants or overriding the output path. The page also points users to Preview.app or sips for converting back from .icns to PNG, and includes terminal recipes using Rez and SetFile for assigning custom icon resources to files or folders. ### Why package nerds care makeicns is a tiny, old-school Mac packaging helper: one focused binary, no daemon, no configuration, and a job that matters when building app bundles or file icons from scripts. Its significance is mostly historical and practical. It fills the gap between Apple's limited command-line tools of the time and GUI icon converters, especially for the larger icon sizes introduced in newer macOS releases. ### Timeline - 2008: Original release recorded by upstream as 20081122. - 2009: Version 1.1 usage banner and last-updated note recorded as 20090413. ### Related projects - tiff2icns is mentioned by upstream as a limited alternative. - img2icns is mentioned by upstream as a GUI program for the same purpose. - sips, Rez, and SetFile are mentioned by upstream for related icon conversion and resource workflows. ### Sources - ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** makeicns - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Requirements:** macos - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - MacPorts - makeicns: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: graphics/makeicns/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Media and graphics packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/media-graphics-tools/) - Matched media, image, audio, video, or graphics metadata. - [Web development packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/web-dev-tools/) - Matched web development metadata. - [gif2png](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gif2png/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, conversion, image, image-conversion, media. - [libicns](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libicns/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, icns, icons, image-conversion, macos. - [pdf2image](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pdf2image/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, conversion, image-conversion, media. - [catimg](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/catimg/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, image, media. - [convertlit](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/convertlit/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, conversion, media. - [fig2dev](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fig2dev/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, conversion, media. - [folderify](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/folderify/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, icons, macos, media. - [gifcap](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gifcap/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, image, media. - [icoutils](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/icoutils/) - Both packages work with overlapping file formats or content types. Shared terms: cli, conversion, create, icons, image. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/makeicns.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/makeicns.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph