Hmi Image | Library

Guide: Building an HMI Image Library

Title: Building a Standardized HMI Image Library: Strategy, Structure, and Best Practices

7. Color Palettes (Global)

Define a fixed palette and stick to it.

| Role | Hex | RGB | Use | |------|-----|-----|-----| | Background | #2B3B4C | 43,59,76 | Screen base | | Process line | #7F8C8D | 127,140,141 | Pipe, conveyor | | Active | #27AE60 | 39,174,96 | Running, open | | Inactive | #95A5A6 | 149,165,166 | Stopped, closed | | Alarm | #E74C3C | 231,76,60 | Fault, error | | Warning | #F39C12 | 243,156,18 | Caution | | Text | #ECF0F1 | 236,240,241 | Labels |

Do not hardcode colors in images – use transparency and let HMI apply color via tags (if supported). hmi image library

1. The Standard Symbol Set

This includes process equipment such as:

Pumps, Fans, and Compressors: Vector-based shapes that scale without pixelation.
Valves: On/Off valves, control valves, and check valves with distinct visual states (Open/Closed/Faulted).
Piping and Tanks: Dynamic vessels that can show fill levels based on percentage tags.
Instrumentation: Indicators for temperature, pressure, and flow.

6. Dynamic State Management (Animation & Color)

Do not create separate images for "Pump_Running.png" and "Pump_Stopped.png." Instead, use a base image (grayscale) and apply runtime color fill. Guide: Building an HMI Image Library Title: Building

Implementation example (pseudocode):

IF Pump.Status == "Running" THEN
    Image.Fill = "Green"
    Image.Effect = "Rotate (Blades)"
ELSE IF Pump.Status == "Fault" THEN
    Image.Fill = "Red"
    Image.Effect = "Blink (500ms)"
ELSE
    Image.Fill = "Gray"

1. Executive Summary

A Human-Machine Interface (HMI) is only as effective as the visual assets that power it. An HMI Image Library is not merely a collection of icons and PNG files; it is the visual vocabulary of your automation system. This document outlines the requirements for a structured, scalable, and performance-optimized image library designed to reduce operator error, improve system-wide consistency, and decrease development time by up to 40%. Do not hardcode colors in images – use

8. Expected Benefits

| Metric | Before (no library) | After (with library) | |--------|---------------------|----------------------| | Time to add a new pump symbol to 10 HMI projects | 4 hours | 15 minutes (drag, auto‑scale) | | Visual inconsistency across screens | High (≥ 5 variations) | Low (1 canonical version) | | Reuse of state animations (e.g., flashing alarm) | Rare | Standardized library | | Onboarding new HMI engineer | 2 days (learn custom image conventions) | 2 hours |

Part 2: The Cost of a Poor Library (Why Engineers Suffer)

It is common for a junior controls engineer to spend 40 hours in a single project drawing a custom 3D rendering of a specific centrifugal pump using polyline tools. This is a waste of billable time.

Without a standardized HMI image library, facilities suffer from:

Step 1: Audit Your Existing Machines

Walk the plant floor. Photograph every asset: 5 different pump models, 3 conveyor types, 2 hopper styles. Create a spreadsheet mapping each physical asset to a required graphical symbol.