everything about icons in 3ds max

where are icons be used at

  • ui in rollout (all version)
  • toolbar buttons (all version)
  • menu items (2019+)

kinds of icons

old icons are using bmp format:

format: {iconname}_{size}a.bpm (for alpha) and {iconname}_{size}i.bpm (for color)
location:

  • c:\users\%username%\appdata\local\autodesk\3dsmax{max_version} - 64bit\enu\usericons
  • C:\program files\autodesk\3ds max {max_version}\ui_ln\icons

usage:
rollout

rollout icon_rl "icon" (
button icon_btn "" images:#("UVWUnwrapTools2_16i.bmp","UVWUnwrapTools2_16a.bmp",32, 1, 1, 1, 0, true)
)
createdialog icon_rl

macroscript

macroScript toolname
icon:#("UVWUnwrapView",10) 
(
    ...
)

new icon are using png format:

  • format: {iconname}_{size}.png

  • location:
    2020+

    c:\users\%username%\appdata\local\autodesk\3dsmax{max_version} - 64bit\enu\usericons\light
    c:\users\%username%\appdata\local\autodesk\3dsmax{max_version} - 64bit\enu\usericons\dark

    2018+

    c:\program files\autodesk\3ds max {max_version}\ui_ln\icons\light
    c:\program files\autodesk\3ds max {max_version}\ui_ln\icons\dark

  • usage:
    rollout

    rollout icon_rl "icon" (
button icon1_btn "" iconName:"SnapsControls\KeyboardOverrideToggle" across:2
button icon2_btn "" iconName:"CommandPanel\Hierarchy"
)
createdialog icon_rl

    macroscript

    macroScript toolname
iconname:"CommandPanel\Hierarchy"
(
...
)

useful links

3ds max compiled icon resource guide
customize icons

show icon path in script listener

enable: customcontrolsoptions.printiconpaths=true
disable: customcontrolsoptions.printiconpaths=false

tool to view all icon inside 3ds max

icon viewer ui
so i create a tool to view all icons,to make it easier to use icons in max, get it here: https://github.com/knsii/3ds_max_icon_viewer