The default image is the image that loads while the application starts up.  

Launch images for all devices must include the status bar region. Create launch images in the following sizes: If the status bar is shown 20 pixels will be covered from the relevant axis (40 pixels for the retina screen versions).

The naming below is no longer required – you can use your own naming scheme if you prefer.  

Adding To Your Project

In Images.xcassets right click and select 'New Launch Image'.  Drag individual image files out of finder onto each of the LaunchImage locations.  To see what resolution is expected for a selected image location select the 'Attributes Selector' tab of the right panel.

For iPhone

pre iPhone5

Default.png (320x480px) – "iPhone Portrait iOS5,6 – 1x"

[email protected] (640x960px) – "iPhone Portrait iOS5,6 – 2x" and  "iPhone Portrait iOS7,8 – 2x"

iPhone5

[email protected] (640x1136px) – "iPhone Portrait iOS5,6 – Retina 4" and "iPhone Portrait iOS7,8 – Retina 4"

iPhone 6

Default-iPhone6.png (750 x 1334) – "iPhone Portrait iOS8 – Retina HD 4.7"

iPhone 6 Plus

Default-iPhone6Plus.png (1242 x 2208) – "iPhone Portrait iOS8 – Retina HD 5.5" and "iPhone Landscape iOS8 – Retina HD 5.5"

Landscape images are not supported for earlier iPhone versions.

For iPad

Default-Portrait~ipad.png (768x1024px)

Default-Landscape~ipad.png (1024x768px)

Default-Portrait@2x~ipad.png (1536x2048px)

Default-Landscape@2x~ipad.png (2048x1536px)

Possible Other iPad Images

Default-PortraitUpsideDown.png

Default-LandscapeLeft.png

Default-LandscapeRight.png

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

 

Full details of the naming scheme and options can be found here.