How to design an splash screen

How to design an splash screen

When users first launch your app, the splash screen is often the first visual they encounter. This makes it a crucial aspect of your app’s user experience. A well-designed splash image not only enhances brand recognition but also gives users a sense of smoothness and professionalism while the app is loading. To ensure your splash screen is optimized for both Android and iOS, follow these technical guidelines for design, sizing, and implementation.

1. What is a Splash Screen?

A splash screen is the initial screen that appears when your app is launching, typically displaying your app’s logo, name, or other branding elements. While splash screens don’t affect the app’s core functionality, they are important for providing a seamless user experience during the loading time.

2. General Guidelines for Splash Images

  • File Format: Always use PNG or JPG for splash images to balance quality and file size. PNG is generally preferred because it supports transparency, but for splash screens, transparency may not always be required.
  • Aspect Ratio: Maintain the correct aspect ratio to avoid distortion or stretching. Usually, a 16:9 aspect ratio works best for most devices, but you’ll need different sizes for different screen resolutions.

3. Splash Screen Sizes and Resolutions

Splash images must be tailored to different screen sizes for both Android and iOS platforms. Below are the recommended sizes for various devices.

Android Splash Screen Sizes

Android devices come in a wide variety of screen sizes and densities, so it’s important to provide splash images for different resolutions.

  • mdpi (160 dpi): 320x480 px
  • hdpi (240 dpi): 480x800 px
  • xhdpi (320 dpi): 720x1280 px
  • xxhdpi (480 dpi): 960x1600 px
  • xxxhdpi (640 dpi): 1280x1920 px

For modern devices, you should provide splash images in the following aspect ratios:

  • Portrait Mode: 9:16 (vertical)
  • Landscape Mode: 16:9 (horizontal)

Use vector graphics (SVG) wherever possible to make your splash screen scalable and sharp across all screen sizes, especially if you have a simple design like a logo and solid background.

iOS Splash Screen Sizes

For iOS, Apple requires splash images (also known as Launch Images or Launch Storyboards) in specific dimensions for different devices.

  • iPhone 6/7/8 (Plus): 750x1334 px (1080x1920 px for Plus)
  • iPhone X/XS/11 Pro: 1125x2436 px
  • iPhone 12/13/14 (Pro): 1170x2532 px
  • iPhone 12/13 Pro Max: 1284x2778 px
  • iPad (Non-Retina): 768x1024 px
  • iPad Retina: 1536x2048 px
  • iPad Pro (3rd Gen): 2048x2732 px

For iOS, Apple recommends using Launch Storyboards over static images, as they adapt better to various screen sizes and orientations. This is discussed in detail below.

4. Design Guidelines for Splash Screens

  • Branding Focus: Use your splash screen to reinforce your app’s branding by featuring your logo, tagline, or main color palette.
  • Simplicity is Key: Splash screens should be minimal. Too many details can distract or confuse users. A simple logo on a branded background works best.
  • Avoid Text: Try to minimize the amount of text on the splash screen. Text can become unreadable on different screen sizes.
  • Use of Animation: If your splash screen involves animation, ensure it is subtle and quick. Long animations can cause frustration, especially if users think the app is slow to load.

5. Performance Considerations

  • Fast Loading: Keep your splash screen simple and lightweight to reduce loading times. Splash screens that take too long to load negatively impact the user experience.
  • Optimized Assets: Ensure your splash images are optimized for mobile use, meaning they are properly compressed to avoid long load times but still maintain visual quality.

6. Testing on Devices

Testing your splash screen across different devices and orientations is crucial to ensure it looks good everywhere:

  • Android: Test on both low-resolution and high-resolution screens, as well as different aspect ratios (e.g., 18:9, 21:9) to ensure the splash screen scales correctly.
  • iOS: Test on both iPhones and iPads, ensuring it looks good on standard, Retina, and Super Retina displays.

Conclusion

A splash screen may only appear for a few seconds, but it plays a vital role in creating a smooth and professional app experience. By following these guidelines and ensuring that your splash images are properly designed and implemented for both Android and iOS, you can create a seamless first impression that strengthens your app’s brand and enhances user experience.

Focus on design, optimization, and proper implementation to ensure your splash screen transitions smoothly and looks great on every device!

By adhering to these practices, you’ll ensure that your splash screens are not only visually appealing but technically optimized for all platforms.