Icons are illustrative representations of objects. They are designed for aesthetical visual identities of programs. These pictorial miniatures are symbolic representations that convey instant meanings to the users. An aesthetically
designed high quality icon can provide the user with a graceful experience and can facilitate user productiveness along with an overwhelming response. You can access the functionality behind an icon by clicking or double-clicking
it. Operating systems often allow you to customize visuals of various objects by applying your own custom icons.
A good icon will improve the visual communication of your program. It can change the overall impression of your program’s visual design. It can improve usability by quick identification of programs and objects.
Icons can be classified into different types according to their function some of the examples include Global Button Icons, Information Quantifier Icons, Inline Icons, emotion icons ,Functional Icons, Component Icons, Object Type Quantifier Icons, Diagram Icons, and Base Graphics, Multimedia icons.
All the above come under two general type called the flat icons and the three dimensional icons. Flat icons are commonly used for file icons and for objects like documents or papers. Three dimensional icons look elegant with shadows and special lightings. Each icon image features its own size and color depth. The most commonly used or standard sizes are 16 x 16, 32 x 32, 48 x 48, or even 128x128.
The beautiful icons that you see or use in your systems are the end results of hard work by experienced designers. Making an icon requires good amount of experience in illustrations using vector art or 3D programs. The job involves
from initial conception to mock up sketches and then the final product. The designer will be using subtle range of colors to get the desired outcome. Using shadows apart from beautifying the icon will provide depth for three
dimensional icons.
For an effective icon development the following steps should be adhered. Conceptualization: This is the first step in creation of icons. As a rule established concepts must be used as for as possible in order to ensure consistency
of meanings. Consideration of how the icon will suit the context is a must. Illustration: A vector tool such as Macromedia Free hand or Adobe Illustrator must be used to create the icon. First a free hand sketch should be done
then the final touch must be given in adobe illustrator. Finally creating the end product and evaluating it before use.
The two widely used application icons are the XP icons and the MAC icons. They have different file type extensions and cannot be exchanged until they are converted into the required format. The file type extension used in XP icons
is .ico extension, and .icns extension is used in the MAC. It is easy to convert MAC icons to be used in XP style applications and vice versa using various available softwares.
Tools used in the process of creating icons vary from the simple pencil and paper to Gif Movie Gear. Initial concepts must be listed and sketched in a paper using a pencil. 3D Studio Max is used to render 3D effects to the icon. Free hand sketch is don in Macromedia Freehand or in Adobe illustrator. Adobe Photoshop is used in finalizing the details. Either Gamani Gif Movie Gear or Axialis Icon Wrokshop is used to produce the .ico file with required compression.
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