Comments on: New Icons http://blog.fireim.org/2006/02/20/new-icons/ Blog about Fire Development Sat, 17 May 2008 22:30:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Jess http://blog.fireim.org/2006/02/20/new-icons/#comment-302 Jess Sun, 25 Jun 2006 18:26:10 +0000 http://blog.fireim.org/2006/02/20/new-icons/#comment-302 I agree with Mark Rowe. Gel icons is not good. May be try to make photorealistic icons ? I agree with Mark Rowe. Gel icons is not good. May be try to make photorealistic icons ?

]]> By: guifa http://blog.fireim.org/2006/02/20/new-icons/#comment-22 guifa Tue, 28 Mar 2006 22:45:13 +0000 http://blog.fireim.org/2006/02/20/new-icons/#comment-22 UberFu, I noticed you commented here long after the alternative set (that we're thus far actually looking at using) was posted in the post "New Icons (Outra vez)". We're no longer looking at this set, except for perhaps the emoticons, whose style might only change slightly. What is your opinion of the newer set? UberFu, I noticed you commented here long after the alternative set (that we’re thus far actually looking at using) was posted in the post “New Icons (Outra vez)”. We’re no longer looking at this set, except for perhaps the emoticons, whose style might only change slightly. What is your opinion of the newer set?

]]> By: UberFu http://blog.fireim.org/2006/02/20/new-icons/#comment-21 UberFu Tue, 28 Mar 2006 22:37:00 +0000 http://blog.fireim.org/2006/02/20/new-icons/#comment-21 Honestly - I use Fire for several reasons [primarily it rocks and I have yet to find anything PC or Mac that is comprable_ That being said - as a designer I am very visual and as I do like the current icon set they are not sooo cool that I am eternally attached to them_ However given the the option of the current set or the new alternative posted on this page - I would have to stay with the current set_ One reason for this is this "new look" being proposed is very reminiscent of almost any other IM client's default look [especially on the PC side of things]_ I do think Windows Graphics when I look at this set_ You mention following Apple's model up updating the look on occasion [as they tend to with new OS releases] - a thought would be to at least study the look of the icons throughout the OS_ Granted they are leaning towrd more realistic icon sets from one OS to the next but aside from "simple" as a driving force behind anything Apple does - they also make things clean_ You touched on the simple aspect just fine - but it's simple via microsoft/windows_ Maybe at least you'll retain the Web View options for something like "Smooth Operator" and so on_ Or perhaps an option to add our own icons [if you haven't already added that option]_ All in all - 2 thumbs down for the set on this page_ regards_ Honestly - I use Fire for several reasons [primarily it rocks and I have yet to find anything PC or Mac that is comprable_

That being said - as a designer I am very visual and as I do like the current icon set they are not sooo cool that I am eternally attached to them_ However given the the option of the current set or the new alternative posted on this page - I would have to stay with the current set_

One reason for this is this "new look" being proposed is very reminiscent of almost any other IM client's default look [especially on the PC side of things]_ I do think Windows Graphics when I look at this set_

You mention following Apple’s model up updating the look on occasion [as they tend to with new OS releases] - a thought would be to at least study the look of the icons throughout the OS_ Granted they are leaning towrd more realistic icon sets from one OS to the next but aside from “simple” as a driving force behind anything Apple does - they also make things clean_

You touched on the simple aspect just fine - but it’s simple via microsoft/windows_ Maybe at least you’ll retain the Web View options for something like “Smooth Operator” and so on_ Or perhaps an option to add our own icons [if you haven't already added that option]_

All in all - 2 thumbs down for the set on this page_

regards_

]]> By: Mark Rowe http://blog.fireim.org/2006/02/20/new-icons/#comment-8 Mark Rowe Tue, 21 Feb 2006 00:35:57 +0000 http://blog.fireim.org/2006/02/20/new-icons/#comment-8 Apple has plenty of applications using non-metal windows, and the icons used in each are of substantially different style to those you have proposed. Take a look at the Apple HIG section on <a href="http://developer.apple.com/documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/OSXHIGuidelines/XHIGIcons/chapter_14_section_2.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20000967-TPXREF102" rel="nofollow">toolbar icons</a>. The two non-metal examples they provide are Xcode and Preview, both of which have toolbar icons in a much more realistic style. The problem is deeper than a "dark-lite border". Yes, the icons are too blue. I cannot see any Apple icons that have colours as washed out as these icons. It's also worth noting that the icons don't really convey what action it is they perform. That is a big problem with the current icon set, and I'm not sure if these really improve upon it in that regards. I appreciate the effort you are putting in to this, but in my opinion you are exploring in the wrong direction. Apple has plenty of applications using non-metal windows, and the icons used in each are of substantially different style to those you have proposed. Take a look at the Apple HIG section on toolbar icons. The two non-metal examples they provide are Xcode and Preview, both of which have toolbar icons in a much more realistic style. The problem is deeper than a “dark-lite border”. Yes, the icons are too blue. I cannot see any Apple icons that have colours as washed out as these icons. It’s also worth noting that the icons don’t really convey what action it is they perform. That is a big problem with the current icon set, and I’m not sure if these really improve upon it in that regards.

I appreciate the effort you are putting in to this, but in my opinion you are exploring in the wrong direction.

]]> By: guifa http://blog.fireim.org/2006/02/20/new-icons/#comment-7 guifa Tue, 21 Feb 2006 00:23:01 +0000 http://blog.fireim.org/2006/02/20/new-icons/#comment-7 I was waiting for the "I don't like 'em" message since everyone giving me positive responses helps me improve them not at all. There are ways to improve, of course. Unfortunately, Apple has few applications using the non-metal windows these days which offers small point of comparison. However, looking at an application like Mail (classic), Pages or Keynote, Apple *does* use the same look, although on closer look I do see an area or two where I can improve the copying of their style. The key difference I've missed is a dark-lite border, hence followed by the glassy look for smaller icons. I had been looking at larger icons which don't follow this same standard. Another is the +/- badges, which Apple seems to prefer a coloured badge with a white +/-. I think one of the non-Mac-like concerns is that the colour is quite blue. Perhaps if I make them all the colour of the unsigned keys things will look a bit more "normal". Apple believe it or not uses washed out colours in most of their icons :-). I am looking into getting the icons a bit more yellowish although it's not the easiest given that there are only so many shades of yellow that appear yellow (eg, darkening red makes dark red, darken blue and you get dark blue. Even darken purple and you get dark purple. But darken yellow and you get brown. Lighten it and you get perceived whiteness). I'll lookin into that blend problem for the smilies. Remember these are only tests, and by no means final. I was waiting for the “I don’t like ‘em” message since everyone giving me positive responses helps me improve them not at all. There are ways to improve, of course.

Unfortunately, Apple has few applications using the non-metal windows these days which offers small point of comparison. However, looking at an application like Mail (classic), Pages or Keynote, Apple *does* use the same look, although on closer look I do see an area or two where I can improve the copying of their style. The key difference I’ve missed is a dark-lite border, hence followed by the glassy look for smaller icons. I had been looking at larger icons which don’t follow this same standard. Another is the +/- badges, which Apple seems to prefer a coloured badge with a white +/-.

I think one of the non-Mac-like concerns is that the colour is quite blue. Perhaps if I make them all the colour of the unsigned keys things will look a bit more “normal”. Apple believe it or not uses washed out colours in most of their icons :-). I am looking into getting the icons a bit more yellowish although it’s not the easiest given that there are only so many shades of yellow that appear yellow (eg, darkening red makes dark red, darken blue and you get dark blue. Even darken purple and you get dark purple. But darken yellow and you get brown. Lighten it and you get perceived whiteness).

I’ll lookin into that blend problem for the smilies.

Remember these are only tests, and by no means final.

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