Created 10.9 Finder Sidebar Color Icons

[3282868]

Since app's such as "XtraFinder" haven't been ported to 10.9 DP's, I researched and created color ICNS replacements. The /System/Library/CoreServices/CoreTypes.bundle/Contents/Resources/ folder contains the used grey ICNS in addition to [unused] 1024x1024 color ICNS files. Each ICNS files must support the following sizes:

- 16x16 72 DPI
- 18x18 72 DPI
- 32x32 144 and 72 DPI
- 36x36 144 DPI
- 64x64 144 DPI

Using various applications, I created color versions, backed up the grey sidebar icons and replaced them with their color counterparts. Rebooted, and voilà, 10.9 color Finder sidebar icons. If anyone is interested, it's easy and a fun way in learning how OS X operates. Attached a pic.

 

[Ddyracer]

Since app's such as "XtraFinder" haven't been ported to 10.9 DP's, I researched and created color ICNS replacements. The /System/Library/CoreServices/CoreTypes.bundle/Contents/Resources/ folder contains the used grey ICNS in addition to [unused] 1024x1024 color ICNS files. Each ICNS files must support the following sizes:

- 16x16 72 DPI
- 18x18 72 DPI
- 32x32 144 and 72 DPI
- 36x36 144 DPI
- 64x64 144 DPI

Using various applications, I created color versions, backed up the grey sidebar icons and replaced them with their color counterparts. Rebooted, and voilà, 10.9 color Finder sidebar icons. If anyone is interested, it's easy and a fun way in learning how OS X operates. Attached a pic.

ML has this too. Nice find but it should be in as default, i will play around with it.

 

[ssn637]

Hi Bedifferent

Would it be possible to upload the modified icons so we can replace the stock grey sidebar counterparts with your colorised versions?

Cheers

 

[Pinarek]

Verry Interessted

very interesting


Bedifferent... can you please write a little install-program for this change the Sidebar color icons ?

or a simply easy Method for this procedure ?

i not a Informaticer an not a enough Specialist for this change.

Excuse my bad english, i life in Germany.

Thank you !!!

 

[Dalton63841]

very interesting


Bedifferent... can you please write a little install-program for this change the Sidebar color icons ?

or a simply easy Method for this procedure ?

i not a Informaticer an not a enough Specialist for this change.

Excuse my bad english, i life in Germany.

Thank you !!!

No need to do this manually... This still works.
http://macmatrix.blogspot.hu/p/sideeffects.html

EDIT: It does not work for Tags showing in the sidebar. It just gives them a plain white icon.

 

[3282868]

Hi Bedifferent

Would it be possible to upload the modified icons so we can replace the stock grey sidebar counterparts with your colorised versions?

Cheers

Absolutely. I spent a bit modifying a few icons I didn't like, such as iCloud and updated the iPhone to an iPhone 5 (surprised Apple doesn't have it the 5).

Two things I need to mention:

- OS X Sidebar ICNS files include the following formats:
64x64 (144 DPI), 36x36 (144 DPI), 32x32 (72 and 144 DPI), 18x18 (72 DPI), 16x16 (72 DPI). 36x36 (144 DPI) and 18x18 (72 DPI) were trouble for me to format and include in as they aren't standard ICNS sizes. (possibly for varying Mac's with differing native resolution(s) and/or HiDPI). It hasn't negatively impacted system performance or UI in any way (running 10.9 on a 6-Core current get Mac Pro5,1 w/ ATI Radeon HD 5780).

- Highlighting a sidebar item creates a "ghost" sidebar icon. I attached a pic highlighting the "Applications" sidebar section, notice the "A" icon next to "Applications" is highlighted the same as the letters. There must be a way highlighting doesn't change the icon, need to figure that out.

Did this yesterday so it's a work in progress. Aside from the above, everything is perfect.

The icons are placed in the following location:

/Macintosh HD/System/Library/CoreServices/CoreTypes.bundle/Contents/Resources/

Download the zipped file of 41 sidebar icons, backup your Resources folder just in case, then copy the replacement icons into the folder. You'll be prompted for your system password. Log out or restart your system, done.

I'll update the icons as I work on them. I'm sure there are others more experienced than me, if you have any suggestions go for it.

Note: Most icons are based on given OS X stock icons aside from a few HDD icons from GianlucaDivisi on DeviantArt, credit goes to him.

EDIT: ssn637 confirmed sizes 18x18 (72 DPI) and 36x36 (144 DPI) are needed for retina (HiDPI) Mac's. My Mac Pro5,1, '12 MacBook Air & HTPC MacMini's, and '11 27" iMac don't have/support full retina HiDPI, couldn't test HiDPI without running 10.9 at a maximum 1280x720 (2560x1440 native) on my dual 27" LED Cinema Displays which wouldn't have helped much. It works 100% on non-retina setups, working on a fix in Xcode and Adobe today. 'Course this could have been avoided if OS X supported "Resolution Independence" instead of "HiDPI", oh well

 

[3282868]

No need to do this manually... This still works.
http://macmatrix.blogspot.hu/p/sideeffects.html

EDIT: It does not work for Tags showing in the sidebar. It just gives them a plain white icon.

Forgot about "SideEffects", thanks. I used it but experienced the SIMBL issues that plagued OS X since ~10.7 (tried the beta SIMBLE plugin as well). I'll try it again, if it works, that's great. If not or you don't want to use it, download and replace the ICNS files I spit out. I also used a few custom icons, some OS X icons seem a bit cheesy to me. I definitely learned a few new things about 10.9, will come in handy for OS X app development.

 

[kensic]

/Macintosh HD/System/Library/CoreServices/CoreTypes.bundle/Contents/Resources/

so i followed up to "core types.bundle" and it just opens terminal. the icon for this is a white lego cube, NOT a folder.

help please

 

[3282868]

/Macintosh HD/System/Library/CoreServices/CoreTypes.bundle/Contents/Resources/

so i followed up to "core types.bundle" and it just opens terminal. the icon for this is a white lego cube, NOT a folder.

help please

Right click (or option click) on the icon, and select "Show Package Contents". This will open the package directory as though it were a folder, then open the "Contents" then "Resources" folder. Sorry, should have explained, I forget that it's not an obvious step.

 

[ssn637]

Hey bedifferent

You're not going to be different if we're all stealing your icons!

Well, it looks like the 36x36 and 18x18 icon sizes are needed for the Retina MacBook Pros since my sidebar is now displaying bland grey icons without detail.

I suppose I could create the other sizes with Photoshop, but how do you add the individual images to the .icns package once they're modified?

 

[kensic]

Right click (or option click) on the icon, and select "Show Package Contents". This will open the package directory as though it were a folder, then open the "Contents" then "Resources" folder. Sorry, should have explained, I forget that it's not an obvious step.

thanks, got it to work.

can you make a set of these, for mountain lion? do you think it will work for ML with the same icons u posted?

 

[3282868]

thanks, got it to work.

can you make a set of these, for mountain lion? do you think it will work for ML with the same icons u posted?

Try "XtraFinder", it's a free app online that does this and a lot more, such as tabbed Finder windows and full/better implementation of cut/copy/paste to name a few. It doesn't work in 10.9, which is why I became interested in finding out why and learning about the changes in 10.9.

Hey bedifferent

You're not going to be different if we're all stealing your icons!

Well, it looks like the 36x36 and 18x18 icon sizes are needed for the Retina MacBook Pros since my sidebar is now displaying bland grey icons without detail.

I suppose I could create the other sizes with Photoshop, but how do you add the individual images to the .icns package once they're modified?

Arrgh, I knew there was a reason for them, and HiDPI is it. It's odd as ICNS doesn't support those sizes natively, 36x36 @2x (144 DPI) and 18x18 (72 DPI). I'll likely use Photoshop or Illustrator (for vector) and throw them into each sidebar ICNS file. Not running 10.9 on an HiDPI system, so thanks for the heads up. I'll edit my initial post and get to work in Adobe Illustrator. Thanks for the heads up!

I haven't yet tried the "SideEffects" 1.8.7 beta Dalton63841 suggested; the required SIMBL plugin at the time was a bit unstable, I used "XtraFinder" in 10.7/8. Dalton63841 said it works in 10.9, if you're feeling adventurous give it a shot, but backup the "Resources" folder just in case (although I believe it has an uninstaller).

Nice play on my username btw, made me chuckle

 

[ssn637]

Didn't mean to give you all that work, bedifferent. But of course we're grateful for being able to delegate this to a Macaholic.

I've tried SIMBL but don't like the grey tags or the plugin. Much easier to simply replace the default icons with your colorised (and improved) versions.

Thanks for your help

 

[kensic]

Try "XtraFinder", it's a free app online that does this and a lot more, such as tabbed Finder windows and full/better implementation of cut/copy/paste to name a few. It doesn't work in 10.9, which is why I became interested in finding out why and learning about the changes in 10.9.


Arrgh, I knew there was a reason for them, and HiDPI is it. It's odd as ICNS doesn't support those sizes natively, 36x36 @2x (144 DPI) and 18x18 (72 DPI). I'll likely use Photoshop or Illustrator (for vector) and throw them into each sidebar ICNS file. Not running 10.9 on an HiDPI system, so thanks for the heads up. I'll edit my initial post and get to work in Adobe Illustrator. Thanks for the heads up!

I haven't yet tried the "SideEffects" 1.8.7 beta Dalton63841 suggested; the required SIMBL plugin at the time was a bit unstable, I used "XtraFinder" in 10.7/8. Dalton63841 said it works in 10.9, if you're feeling adventurous give it a shot, but backup the "Resources" folder just in case (although I believe it has an uninstaller).

Nice play on my username btw, made me chuckle

well i guess i shouldn't worry about things for ML anymore, why invest into ML when i know I'm going to use Marvericks when it comes out.

i'm one of those minimalist people, i hate having all these apps controlling stuff, junking up my computer. Therefore, i love your method of changing the colors of the icons. This is what you call minimalist and one with the system.

thanks again, hope you'll able to find a way to fix the "ghosting" change when selected

 

[JazzyGB1]

Shame On Apple

It is ridiculous that Apple won't let you have coloured icons in the finder sidebar, absolutely ridiculous.
The sidebar is for navigating the OS and navigation is easier when you can quickly tell the difference between items - colour makes finding your way around MUCH easier.
Its why you have different coloured signs on roads and different coloured icons on your iPhone.
I'm all for Apple trying to streamline the interface, but this is just plain stubbornness on their part, the like of which I haven't seen since the one button mouse!
They've relented and brought the colour back to the sidebar in iTunes for heavens sake, so why not do the same for the Finder?
Madness.
All it would take is a little checkbox with an option in system preferences to choose between grey or colour.
Instead people have to resort to these kind of solutions, which just goes to show how important it is.
I was really hoping Mavericks would address this obvious short coming, but alas it would appear not.
Shame on you Apple, shame on you!

 

[Cougarcat]

Yeah, I thought with the iTunes change this would be definitely changing. Next year, perhaps...

 

[DHKaplan]

Thanks for the great work be different.

I'm having a problem on a Macbook Pro Retina display with the icons being just solid grey shapes, with no detail. I have just copied the files from your zip into the resources, and rebooted.

If I replace the Resources with all the files from the backup it is fine again (or at least as fine as the grey icons are).

Any ideas?

Thanks...

 

[S G]

Has anyone figured out how to replace the gray sidebar icons on Yosemite? I tried to replace the default ones in CoreServices with the nice color icons from this thread but they only show up in a filled dark gray mess. It seems Apple is bent on not allowing colors in various sidebars, while blinding us with fluorescent folders.

PS: I also know about XtraFinder to replace the sidebar icons with color, but it does not look as good as it used to: download is now a folder, iCloud Drive is a blank document, etc...

 

[davidlv]

Has anyone figured out how to replace the gray sidebar icons on Yosemite? I tried to replace the default ones in CoreServices with the nice color icons from this thread but they only show up in a filled dark gray mess. It seems Apple is bent on not allowing colors in various sidebars, while blinding us with fluorescent folders.

PS: I also know about XtraFinder to replace the sidebar icons with color, but it does not look as good as it used to: download is now a folder, iCloud Drive is a blank document, etc...

cDock v606 has an option to use colored sidebar icons.
I cannot use that option, it as it causes an error in Powermail, a cranky app indeed, but I am locked in to it for work. Otherwis, cDock works very well, and I especially like the transparent dock on the left.
You can find cDock on Macupdate com

 

[S G]

Thanks davidlv for the tip. I tried cDock but it is the same as XtraFinder: you do get some colors in the sidebar but the replacement icons are off or wrong. For example, Downloads is a blank document instead of the down arrow in a green circle, so is iCloud Drive, and the rest are just blue folders instead of a colored version of the original icons (Applications, etc.). I need both the shape and color to help me quickly distinguish where things are in the sidebar, and it seems that these icons can no longer be costumized by the user...

 

[fenkoff]

Each ICNS files must support the following sizes:

- 16x16 72 DPI
- 18x18 72 DPI
- 32x32 144 and 72 DPI
- 36x36 144 DPI
- 64x64 144 DPI
^ one .icns per size?

Are you saying I have to upload a different .icns per every size you listed PER item? so I would have 5 SidebarApplicationsFolder.icns's in the Resources folder? What do you mean when you say "each .icns must support the following sizes"? would one 1024x1024 .icns do it? it's is 1.2mb, but aside from that.
thanks

[doublepost=1549690032][/doublepost]I ask because Ive gotten that far and still havent found a change. I read maybe refreshing the iconservices cache or something might be it, but I dont know. I'm on Yosemite.
[doublepost=1549691370][/doublepost]

[doublepost=1549690032][/doublepost]
I've successfully changed a sidebar item in yosemite to one of the colored icons I put in the coretypes.bundle resources folder, but it's not showing color in the sidebar--- the icon has changed though, the showing icon has the same shape as the colored icon I want, but it's as if the sidebar has a bluish gray film over all of it. the shapes of the colored application icon is different from the yosemite b&w icon. dont know what to do from here... this picture shows what i mean. look at the paintbrush shape. if someone knows a trick on yosemite thatd be nice.

 

[fenkoff]

[doublepost=1549690032][/doublepost]
I ask because Ive gotten that far and still havent found a change. I read maybe refreshing the iconservices cache or something might be it, but I dont know. I'm on Yosemite.
[doublepost=1549691370][/doublepost]

I think my next step is through iconutil in terminal to resize the icons to those sizes. i see the default sidebar icons are those sizes you listed. if anyone could tell me the terminal commands id need thatd be great.

 

[fenkoff]

- OS X Sidebar ICNS files include the following formats:
64x64 (144 DPI), 36x36 (144 DPI), 32x32 (72 and 144 DPI), 18x18 (72 DPI), 16x16 (72 DPI). 36x36 (144 DPI) and 18x18 (72 DPI) were trouble for me to format and include in as they aren't standard ICNS sizes. (possibly for varying Mac's with differing native resolution(s) and/or HiDPI). It hasn't negatively impacted system performance or UI in any way (running 10.9 on a 6-Core current get Mac Pro5,1 w/ ATI Radeon HD 5780).

The sizes in the zip you posted are not what you list above though. Maybe that's creating your problem?
Default sidebar icons are at 64x2, 36x2, 32x2, 32, 18, & 16, like you said.
Your zipped icons are at 64x2, 32x2, 32, 16.

in the middle of this page it lays out an easy way of converting to these sizes with terminal from one 1024 png.

 

[fenkoff]

Since app's such as "XtraFinder" haven't been ported to 10.9 DP's, I researched and created color ICNS replacements. The /System/Library/CoreServices/CoreTypes.bundle/Contents/Resources/ folder contains the used grey ICNS in addition to [unused] 1024x1024 color ICNS files. Each ICNS files must support the following sizes:

- 16x16 72 DPI
- 18x18 72 DPI
- 32x32 144 and 72 DPI
- 36x36 144 DPI
- 64x64 144 DPI

Using various applications, I created color versions, backed up the grey sidebar icons and replaced them with their color counterparts. Rebooted, and voilà, 10.9 color Finder sidebar icons. If anyone is interested, it's easy and a fun way in learning how OS X operates. Attached a pic.

How do i do this in yosemite? Ive tried pretty hard- but cant create an icns file with an 18x18. please help if you know how to get an 18x18. i can convert every other png into an icns of the right dimensions but the 18 doesnt transfer, only 5 of the 6. an icns file with 5 pics not 6.