Introduce Icon Policy Documentation

src/qt/res/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+# Icon policy
+This document provides guidelines for contributing icons to Bitcoin Core.
+
+## Preparing Icons
+Both an icon source file, in Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) format,
+and an optimized production file, in Portable Network Graphics (PNG) format,
+are required for each icon.
+
+#### SVG Source File
+SVGs are used as source files because they can scale while retaining image quality.
+They are not used in production due to limited application support.
+If different-sized production (PNG) icons are required,
+they can be generated from the associated SVG source file in any vector-based tool.
+
+#### PNG Production File
+PNGs are used in production due to wide application support, transparency support,
+and better image quality compared to competing file types such as JPEG.
+
+### Optimizing Production Files (PNG):
+Production (PNG) files must be processed by the [optimize-png.py](https://github.com/bitcoin-core/bitcoin-maintainer-tools/blob/master/optimise-pngs.py) script before their inclusion in Bitcoin Core.
+PNG optimization removes various unnecessary color profiles, ancillary (alla),
+and text chunks, resulting in a lossless reduction of the file's size.
+
+## Contributing
+Bitcoin Core primarily uses icons from the [Bitcoin Icon set](https://github.com/BitcoinDesign/Bitcoin-Icons),
+an open source icon set made for Bitcoin applications.
+If a proposed feature requires an icon to be designed,
+an issue should be opened in the [Bitcoin Icons repo](https://github.com/BitcoinDesign/Bitcoin-Icons/issues)
+with the request.
+
+Icons are not to be added to Bitcoin Core prior to a production use case.
+If an icon is not being used, it should be removed.
+
+SVGs are to be included under the `src/qt/res/src` directory.
+Optimized PNGs are to be included under the `src/qt/res/icons` directory.
+
+## Attribution
+Icon additions must include appropriate attribution to the author, license information, and any comments relevant to the icon documented under the
+[contrib/debian/copyright](https://github.com/bitcoin-core/gui/blob/master/contrib/debian/copyright) file.