Developing an HMI from scratch often forces a choice between functional programming and aesthetic quality. Free graphics libraries bridge this gap by offering immediate access to standardized visual elements.
Siemens offers free library downloads for WinCC and Comfort Panels. These packages feature clean, modernized layouts, pre-made navigation blocks, and minimalist device icons designed for High-Performance HMI layouts.
Free means available under licenses such as MIT, GPL (with care), Apache 2.0, Creative Commons (CC BY), or free tiers of commercial libraries.
Whenever possible, download graphics. They allow you to dynamically change property colors (e.g., changing a fill color from gray to yellow via a PLC tag) directly within modern HMI software. How to Import and Integrate Free Libraries
Free HMI graphics libraries are suitable for a wide range of applications, including: free hmi graphics library
This paper surveys free (open-source and permissively licensed) Human–Machine Interface (HMI) graphics libraries used in embedded, desktop, and web-based systems. It compares features, performance, ease of integration, tooling, and community support, and presents benchmarks, case studies, and recommended best practices for selecting and using a free HMI graphics library across common application domains.
Modern industrial design rejects the bright, 3D, neon-colored screens of the 1990s.
For users of Ignition by Inductive Automation, the Ignition Exchange is a goldmine of free resources.
Siemens offers the "HMI Template Suite" for WinCC and TIA Portal completely free. It includes modern, clean, minimalist SVG vectors designed around the ISA-101 standard. Developing an HMI from scratch often forces a
Opto 22 offers a comprehensive collection of Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) specifically for their groov interfaces, but they are usable in any HMI that supports SVG.
HMI software platforms accept various graphic file formats. Choosing the right format ensures optimal screen performance and scaling. Scalability Performance Best Used For Infinite scaling without pixelation. Excellent; rendered mathematically by the CPU. Valves, pumps, gauges, dynamic symbols, and web-based HMIs. PNG (Portable Network Graphics) Limited; pixelates if enlarged significantly. Good; supports transparency for clean layering.
: Offers a Free Community Edition that includes a graphics builder and a library for deploying dynamic visualization displays.
Professionally built assets have small file sizes that load quickly on industrial hardware. They allow you to dynamically change property colors (e
When selecting a free HMI graphics library, consider the following factors:
Generally, libraries like LVGL are hardware-independent and can run on any 16, 32, or 64-bit MCU/MPU with a display driver. However, proprietary ones like the Microchip Graphics Suite are optimized for specific vendor hardware (Microchip MCUs).
If there is a gold standard in the open-source embedded GUI space, it is LVGL. This free, open-source graphics library has become the go-to choice for developers working with microcontrollers (MCUs) and microprocessors (MPUs). Its popularity is so immense that it is supported by major vendors like Arm, STM32, NXP, and Espressif.
Human-Machine Interface (HMI) design directly impacts industrial operational efficiency. High-quality visual assets clarify complex processes, reduce operator fatigue, and speed up training. However, building custom graphics from scratch requires significant time and specialized design skills.