| Risk | Mitigation | |------|-------------| | HMI runtime does not support SVG | Library retains device‑specific raster cache (no runtime conversion needed) | | Library becomes too large | Lazy loading + image pre‑linking only required symbols per project | | Licensing of contributed symbols | Only CC‑BY or commercially cleared assets; clear contribution agreement |
A high-quality image library is built on High-Performance HMI principles. It uses shapes and colors deliberately to indicate status without creating visual clutter. A standardized library ensures that every alarm indicator flashes at the same rate and every interlock state is represented identically, allowing operators to scan screens quickly and spot anomalies.
Custom-drawing assets for every project leads to scope creep. With a library, dragging a "VFD Motor with Tachometer" onto a screen takes 3 seconds instead of 45 minutes. hmi image library
Unless you have a dedicated graphic designer on your controls team, buying a library is cheaper than building one. Top commercial options include:
The International Society of Automation (ISA) provides the ISA-101 standard for building effective HMIs. A good library adheres to these guidelines, utilizing: | Risk | Mitigation | |------|-------------| | HMI
The cutting edge of the HMI image library is generative AI. Platforms like Stable Diffusion or DALL-E 3, when fine-tuned on industrial datasets, can generate a custom "high pressure sodium pump with fire-resistant casing" in 10 seconds.
However, caution is required:
For now, a hybrid approach works best: AI generates the static background style; engineers overlay dynamic symbols from a trusted library.