How to convert .icns files to .png files in OS X

This brief tutorial will show you how to quickly and easily convert Mac OS X Icon files (.icns) to .png files.

1. Start out by copying the icon file (.icns) that you want to convert to png to your Desktop.



2. Now open a Terminal by going to your Applications list, selecting Utilities and then double-clicking Terminal.

   From the command line, enter the following:

   cd Desktop

   and then hit the enter key.

   Now type:

   sips -s format png icon_file.icns --out png_file.png

   Where icon_file is the name of your icon file, and png_file is the name you want the resulting .png file to be.

   In my example (see screenshot below) I ran the command:

   sips -s format png iTunes.icns --out itunes.png

   My icon file – iTunes.icns will be converted to itunes.png.

   Hit enter.


click to enlarge

3. Some text will pop up in the Terminal window..


click to enlarge

4. .. and now you will have 2 files on your desktop – the icon file and the newly created .png file. Note: the PNG will be 512px by 512px.



5. That’s it!