What is ICO format and why convert TGA to ICO?

ICO is the native Windows icon and favicon format used by browsers for tab icons, bookmarks, and desktop shortcuts. TGA files are used in game development and 3D pipelines but are not usable directly as favicons. Converting a cropped TGA region to ICO lets you extract a sprite or logo from a TGA asset and use it directly as a website favicon or Windows application icon.

What sizes does the output ICO support?

The tool encodes the cropped region at up to four standard icon sizes — 256×256, 128×128, 64×64, and 32×32 pixels — all embedded in a single ICO file. If the crop is smaller than a given size, that size tier is skipped automatically. All sizes are generated from the full-resolution crop, not scaled from a thumbnail.

Can I crop the TGA image before converting to ICO?

Yes — the tool provides an interactive crop overlay on the source image. Drag the corner and edge handles to define exactly which portion of the TGA you want in the output ICO. Click Preview Crop to see the result before downloading.

Does my image get uploaded to a server?

No. All processing — loading, decoding, cropping, scaling, and ICO encoding — happens entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your image never leaves your device.

Does ICO support transparency from my TGA source?

Yes. The tool encodes each size tier as a 32-bit PNG-in-ICO (the modern ICO format used by Windows Vista and later and all major browsers), which supports a full alpha channel. Transparent areas from 32-bit TGA sources are preserved.

How do I use the ICO file as a favicon?

Place the downloaded .ico file in your website root as favicon.ico and add a link tag in your HTML head: . All major browsers will automatically use the best available size from the multi-size ICO container.

TGA to ICO Crop Converter

Load a TGA file, drag the crop handles to isolate the icon area you need, preview the result, then download a multi-size ICO file ready for use as a favicon or Windows icon. Everything runs in your browser — your image never leaves your device.

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Drop a TGA here

or Browse Files · TGA supported

What This Tool Does

This tool loads a TGA (Truevision TGA) image directly in your browser, presents an interactive crop overlay with draggable handles, and packages the selected region into a multi-size ICO file. No server upload is required. TGA files are decoded with a built-in parser handling uncompressed and RLE-compressed variants at 8, 16, 24, and 32 bits per pixel. The ICO encoder generates up to four size tiers (256, 128, 64, and 32 px) by downscaling the cropped region using a high-quality canvas scaling pass. Each tier is stored as a 32-bit PNG-in-ICO, the modern format supported by Windows Vista and later and all major browsers. The result is a single .ico file usable as a favicon, Windows application icon, or desktop shortcut icon.

Who This Is For

Web developers who need a favicon.ico from a game asset or sprite stored in TGA format
Game developers creating Windows application icons from TGA texture sheets or logos
Designers converting a TGA logo or icon asset to the ICO format for desktop deployment
Anyone who needs to extract and convert a TGA region to ICO without installing Photoshop or GIMP

TGA vs ICO: Format Comparison

Property	TGA	ICO
Primary use	Game assets, 3D renders, textures	Favicons, Windows app icons, shortcuts
Multi-size container	No — single image per file	Yes — multiple sizes in one .ico file
Browser support	Not natively supported	Universal favicon support in all browsers
Transparency	Full alpha (32-bit)	Full alpha (32-bit PNG-in-ICO)
Max size	Unlimited	256×256 per tier (PNG-in-ICO)
Compression	None or RLE	PNG compression per tier
Best for	Real-time rendering, pipelines	Icons, favicons, OS integration

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I crop a square area for the best icon result?▼

Yes. ICO files scale each tier to the exact target dimensions, so non-square crops will appear stretched in square icon contexts. Crop a square region to ensure the icon looks correct at all sizes in browsers and on Windows desktops.

Which size tiers are included in the ICO?▼

The tool targets 256×256, 128×128, 64×64, and 32×32. Any tier whose target size exceeds the actual crop dimensions is skipped, so if your crop is 50×50 pixels, only the 32×32 tier is generated. All tiers are derived from the full-resolution crop, not from each other.

Is the alpha channel from my TGA preserved in the ICO?▼

Yes. Each size tier is encoded as a 32-bit PNG-in-ICO, which supports a full alpha channel. Transparency from 32-bit TGA sources is preserved in all tiers.

How do I use this ICO as a favicon?▼

Place the downloaded favicon.ico in your website root and add this to your HTML head: <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico" sizes="any">. Browsers will automatically select the best size from the multi-tier container.

What browsers are supported for generating the ICO?▼

All modern browsers — Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari (desktop and mobile). The ICO encoder is pure JavaScript and relies only on standard Canvas and Blob APIs available since 2015.

Is there a file size limit?▼

No server-imposed limit exists because no upload occurs. The practical limit is your browser's available RAM. TGA files used as icon sources are rarely large enough to pose a memory concern.

TGA to ICO Crop Converter

What This Tool Does

Who This Is For

TGA vs ICO: Format Comparison

Frequently Asked Questions

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