ICO vs RAW
Ein detaillierter Vergleich von ICO Icon und Generic RAW Image — Dateigröße, Qualität, Kompatibilität und welches je nach Workflow zu wählen ist.
ICO Icon
Raster & Vector ImagesICO is the icon file format used for favicons and Windows application icons. A single ICO file can contain multiple image sizes and color depths for different display contexts.
Über ICO-DateienGeneric RAW Image
Raster & Vector ImagesRAW is a generic term for files containing minimally processed data from a camera image sensor. Various camera manufacturers use proprietary RAW variants, but the term broadly refers to any unprocessed sensor capture that retains maximum editing flexibility.
Über RAW-DateienVorteilsvergleich
ICO Vorteile
- Multi-resolution: one file, many sizes, OS picks the right one.
- Universal favicon support in every browser since IE5.
- Supports transparency (1-bit since 1985, full alpha since XP).
- Tiny file size — an entire favicon pack typically fits in under 15 KB.
- No licensing or patent concerns — fully in the public domain spec-wise.
RAW Vorteile
- Every bit of sensor data preserved for post-processing latitude.
- Higher bit depth (12-16 bits) than JPEG (8-bit) — smoother gradients.
- Non-destructive editing in raw processors.
- Rich metadata (EXIF, makernotes, camera settings).
Einschränkungen
ICO Einschränkungen
- Cannot compress continuous-tone images efficiently — use PNG or WebP for photos.
- Format is essentially frozen in 1999 — no HDR, no wide gamut, no modern features.
- Maximum image dimension is 256×256 px (inside an ICO container).
- Editing requires specialized tools — most image editors treat it as a curiosity.
RAW Einschränkungen
- Proprietary per brand — Canon CR2 will not open in a pure-Canon-free processor.
- Huge files compared to JPEG.
- Requires dedicated software (Lightroom, Capture One, Darktable, etc.).
- No universal standard — DNG aims to solve this but adoption is partial.
Technische Spezifikationen
| Spezifikation | ICO | RAW |
|---|---|---|
| MIME type | image/vnd.microsoft.icon | — |
| Max resolutions per file | 65 535 images | — |
| Max single image size | 256×256 px | — |
| Color depths | 1, 4, 8, 24, 32 bits per pixel | — |
| Compression | Uncompressed bitmap or embedded PNG (Vista+) | — |
| MIME types | — | image/x-* (varies by vendor) |
| Common extensions | — | .cr2, .cr3, .nef, .nrw, .arw, .raf, .orf, .rw2, .dng, .pef, .x3f, .raw |
| Bit depth | — | 12-16 bits per pixel |
| Typical containers | — | TIFF/EP variants with vendor makernotes |
| Universal exchange format | — | DNG (Adobe) |
Typische Dateigrößen
ICO
- Classic favicon (16×16 only) < 2 KB
- Multi-size favicon pack (16/32/48/256) 5-15 KB
- Full Windows app icon set 20-100 KB
RAW
- 24 MP raw (APS-C/FF, 14-bit) 25-50 MB
- 45 MP raw (high-end FF) 50-90 MB
- 100 MP medium-format raw 120-200 MB
Bereit zum Umwandeln?
Wandle zwischen ICO und RAW online um, kostenlos und ohne Installation. Verschlüsselter Upload, automatische Löschung in 60 Minuten.
Müssen Sie Gigabyte-Archive oder ganze Ordner konvertieren?
KaijuConverter bietet blitzschnelle In-Memory-Konvertierungen für den Alltag. Für tausende RAW-Dateien ohne Browser-Upload empfehlen wir lokale Workstation-Tools.
Einmalzahlung ohne Abo für Dateien bis 1 GB und 50er-Batches für volle 24 Stunden.
Konvertieren Sie große Videos, PDFs und Audiodateien direkt im Browser ohne Werbung mit Prioritäts-Warteschlange.
Hochgeschwindigkeits-Cloud-Engine für Dateien bis 1.024 MB, 24h Speicherung und Prioritäts-Support.
Konvertiert tausende Kamera-RAW-Dateien (CR3, NEF, ARW) lokal in WebP, AVIF oder JPG.
GPU-beschleunigte RAW-Entwicklung mit durchgängigem 16-Bit-ICC-Farbmanagement.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
ICO (Icon) is Microsoft's 1985 multi-resolution icon format, originally shipped with Windows 1.0. A single .ico file holds multiple sizes (16×16, 32×32, 48×48, 256×256) so the OS can pick the best one for the current display context. Since 1999, every website uses a favicon.ico to show its icon in browser tabs.
On Windows, ICO files open natively in File Explorer and Photos. On macOS, Preview handles basic display. For editing, use GIMP (free), Photoshop with a plugin, or dedicated icon editors like IcoFX.
Use the PNG-to-ICO converter on KaijuConverter — upload a PNG (ideally square, at least 256×256) and download a multi-resolution ICO with all standard favicon sizes embedded.
A complete favicon pack includes 16×16, 32×32, 48×48, and 256×256 px variants all in one ICO file. The total file size is typically 5-15 KB. Browsers automatically pick the right size for tabs, bookmarks, and desktop shortcuts.
ICO for /favicon.ico (every browser requests this URL automatically). PNG for everywhere else — social media profile images, in-page icons, app logos. Modern favicon best practice includes both an .ico at the root and multiple .png sizes referenced via <link> tags in HTML.
Yes. Every browser still requests /favicon.ico on every domain as its first icon fallback. Modern sites typically provide both favicon.ico and higher-quality SVG or PNG icons via <link rel="icon"> tags — browsers pick the best match.