Author Topic: NANY Folk, I can make your icon if you want... (Read 22541 times)

kunkel321 · « **on:** December 18, 2011, 02:16 PM »

I have a few days off for Winter Break, so I'll make (an) icon(s) for someone if they need. I always want to contribute to the NANYs, but I'm not a programmer.
Here is an example of some icons I made (to be used only with zabkat's xplorer2) http://i.imgur.com/qMzyv.png (If you're a frequenter there you might notice some faces

Also note that some of the images are based on existing icons )
I also make one for a fellow here last year... "NetLaunch" I think.
Not the greatest artwork in the world I know, but folks aren't obligated to use a graphic if it doesn't turn out the way they want.

kyrathaba · « **Reply #1 on:** December 18, 2011, 09:29 PM »

Some nice-looking work, there, kunkel...

mouser · « **Reply #2 on:** December 18, 2011, 10:02 PM »

A very generous offer!

Stoic Joker · « **Reply #3 on:** December 20, 2011, 01:41 PM »

Well, if there are no other takers...

The icon I'm currently using for Got Space? is insanely huge 264KB, and not really discriptive of what the program does. So... If you're willing...I'm interested.

Thank you,

Stoic Joker

kunkel321 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 20, 2011, 03:56 PM »

kyrathabo and mouser, Thanks for the kind words!

Stoic Joker, GotSpace? looks like a pretty cool utility! And BTW I've used T-Clock for years !!

Do you (or anyone) have any thoughts on what visual image corresponds to "ability to view drive space available?"
I imagine it would include a magnifying glass... Or a ruler(?)

Stoic Joker · « **Reply #5 on:** December 21, 2011, 09:14 AM »

Stoic Joker, GotSpace? looks like a pretty cool utility! And BTW I've used T-Clock for years !!
-kunkel321 (December 20, 2011, 03:56 PM)

Thanks, I'm hoping to get T-Clock back on the front burner after the new year.

Do you (or anyone) have any thoughts on what visual image corresponds to "ability to view drive space available?"
I imagine it would include a magnifying glass... Or a ruler(?)
-kunkel321 (December 20, 2011, 03:56 PM)

I'm guessing something along the lines of the default drive properties dialog's pie chart. But not the boaring flat 2 dimensional type that I would end up creating (for me, art skills = no). Actually I was hoping someone else had a better idea...

kunkel321 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 21, 2011, 01:16 PM »

Okie dokey... I'm off to a good start.
http://i.imgur.com/KXNJM.png
or at least somekind of start!
I kept the same goddaweful colors that Microsoft uses, because that's what makes it visually recognizable to our brains.

The idea of "monitoring" or "seeing" suggests a magnifying glass, reading glasses, a ruler, or some other measuring device. I think magnifying glasses are way over-used in app icons, so I found these examples of calipers on a Google Image search. Thought I'd replicate one of them and have it measuring the pie chart. Which do you prefer though? Plain old A, or fancier D? I sortof like D better, but the icon should be recognizable even at 16x16 pix... (of course I can always make a different image for low-rez/hi-rez).

Stoic Joker · « **Reply #7 on:** December 21, 2011, 02:30 PM »

Okie dokey... I'm off to a good start.
http://i.imgur.com/KXNJM.png
or at least somekind of start!
I kept the same goddaweful colors that Microsoft uses, because that's what makes it visually recognizable to our brains.
-kunkel321 (December 21, 2011, 01:16 PM)

Indeed, good call.

The idea of "monitoring" or "seeing" suggests a magnifying glass, reading glasses, a ruler, or some other measuring device. I think magnifying glasses are way over-used in app icons, so I found these examples of calipers on a Google Image search. Thought I'd replicate one of them and have it measuring the pie chart. Which do you prefer though? Plain old A, or fancier D? I sortof like D better, but the icon should be recognizable even at 16x16 pix... (of course I can always make a different image for low-rez/hi-rez).
-kunkel321 (December 21, 2011, 01:16 PM)

Yes, D tracks much better with the cartoon mad scientist measures monkey brain aesthetic which has best proven to please our target demographic.

kunkel321 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 21, 2011, 03:49 PM »

Yes, D tracks much better with the cartoon mad scientist measures monkey brain aesthetic...
-Stoic Joker (December 21, 2011, 02:30 PM)

It's good to see we're both on the same wavelength!

Stoic Joker · « **Reply #9 on:** December 22, 2011, 01:30 PM »

(no rush but) I have the rest of Got Space? ready for final release, so let me know where we're at with the icon.

kunkel321 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 22, 2011, 04:31 PM »

If I'm doing this right there should be a zipped folder attached...
Turned out kindof coolish I guess.

kunkel321 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 22, 2011, 04:37 PM »

I included a large PNG for whatever use. The ICO has an outline applied around it. I did that because the calipers looked kindof spindly and skeletony...
I might rework it so the caliper parts are all thicker and the dark grays on the calipers are darker. It doesn't seem to have much contrast next to the superdark pie chart (or should I lighten the pie chart?) At least the image is recognizable at 16x16, which is the important part. The ICO has all standard Windows icon sizes from 16x16 to 256x256. I noticed that when viewed at 256 the outline looks a bit jagged. I might try to get rid of that too.
Anyway, let me know what you think.

Stoic Joker · « **Reply #12 on:** December 22, 2011, 05:05 PM »

Hm... can you rotate the pie so that the calipers are measuring it? Currently they're both just kind of there without any interactive association.

Pie chart could stand to be a bit lighter, and maybe just blue/pink. Outline is definitely a good thing.

kunkel321 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 22, 2011, 05:35 PM »

Yea, I did have the calipers higher so that the tips were just touching the pie (i.e. measuring it). That made the overall image tall/narrower though.
By 'rotate' are you thinking so it looks like it's sitting flat on the table, or so that the calipers are actually measuring the pink wedge?

kunkel321 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 22, 2011, 05:54 PM »

Here's a quick fix...
http://i.imgur.com/1F3zI.png
The pink and blue seem washed out now... I guess I should make the calipers darker instead.
Also the calipers are more or less 2D. I'd have to rotate them fwd a bit for true 3D grooviness. I can probably do it, but it might take a while.

Stoic Joker · « **Reply #15 on:** December 22, 2011, 08:30 PM »

Hm... Okay, got an idea. The icon/image really has to end up square so I'm thinking the calipers ain't helping us any. Why not just go with the pie chart basically head on but tipped just enough to show it's 3D. Set the (free space) pink to only 20% (because it's pink...) with the rest blue (I like blue), and then overlay a question mark. Which will track with the program's name.

It's not quite as exciting ... but it should be easier to optimize so it can be both small and recognizable.

PhilB66 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 22, 2011, 09:07 PM »

@Stoic

Here's an idea for your icon...

http://cdn2.iconfind...ices/hdd_unmount.png

and place the pie chart in the middle.

kunkel321 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 23, 2011, 11:51 AM »

@Phil, That one is nice, but it lacks kunkely goodness.
@Sto, Yea, I have to agree about the calipers not really working... Though, strictly-speaking, the icon is square, it's just that the side borders each have a bit that is transparent.
Here are some new things I was tinkering with:
Edit: see below.
The left one is square, but I have to have the question mark overlap to achieve it. The middle one it flat (not tilted) but still has a 3Dish iconiness about it.
Note that I put the pink wedge back on the left, because that's were the Windows drive properties puts it. The question mark definitely goes well with the "Joker" element. I'm surprised I didn't think of it! What color do you want it to be? For some reason I keep imagining it green... Also, look on your computer and see if there's a font you might like better.

EDIT:
Actually, 3D question mark floating above with drop shadow is okayish, I guess.. (right)
12-23-2011 10-01-25 AM.jpg

Stoic Joker · « **Reply #18 on:** December 23, 2011, 01:23 PM »

Okay, pie on the right is perfect. Question mark with drop shadow is great also maybe make it just a touch smaller and/or lower so it fits within the pie (I have a odd "sense" of symmetry).

Green question mark was Batman's Joker ... But I'm ok with that (Keep the green).

Font. ROFL ...What a brilliant question! To sum up the essence of a thing with a single character ... One must indeed chose quite carefully. I believe this is an MS Office font, but I'm not completely sure:
Question Mark Font.jpg

@PhilB66 - Thanks, but I just hate to give up and grab something off-the-shelf, when we're on the verge of greatness (or the edge of a cliff *Shrug* However it turns out...)

kunkel321 · « **Reply #19 on:** December 23, 2011, 03:39 PM »

Okay, how about this?
12-23-2011 1-36-39 PM.jpg

Seems to be recognizable at the different sizes...
Note that, by moving the ? down, the viewable part of the image became shorter than it is wide.

EDIT: It occurs to me that the top part of the ? looks yellow... I can probably fix that if needed.

Stoic Joker · « **Reply #20 on:** December 23, 2011, 04:23 PM »

Maybe just a touch greener ... But that'll work.

kunkel321 · « **Reply #21 on:** December 23, 2011, 07:10 PM »

Behold the unveiling of [trumpets in background] ... GotSpace? Icon V3...
(see attached)

kyrathaba · « **Reply #22 on:** December 23, 2011, 07:13 PM »

Great work, Kunkel!

kunkel321 · « **Reply #23 on:** December 23, 2011, 07:27 PM »

Great work, Kunkel!
-kyrathaba (December 23, 2011, 07:13 PM)

Thanks Man!

Stoic Joker · « **Reply #24 on:** December 23, 2011, 08:19 PM »

Excellent, Thank You!