Icon making...

[rakshi]

... confuses me at times. I make a lot of icons, and I look at icon tutorials just to get a sense of what's out there and what creative folks are doing, and at times I have a hard time finding anything that I think of as really very creative

Comments

[primula_baggins]

It is fascinating to observe what people find interesting in icon design. One thing I've always thought odd, but a lot of people emulate it, is when they put print on an icon that's extremely small. We aren't even intended to read it. It's just for the design. I don't understand it, but it's still interesting to observe.

I like some lighting techniques and the various brushes people use to enliven their icons. I love how annwyn can animate her icons. I've done a few animated icons, but they take too much work for me! lol!

Sometimes changing the color can be a cool thing, but I don't really get the emphasis on that, either.

[rakshi]

Annwyn makes amazing icons. And they all have style. They're not just a face with different selective colors used. I think the color manipulation is fine as long as there's some kind of design used along with it. But too often, that's all there is. A face with some kind of coloring applied. Booooring!

I actually like the tiny text as a decoration at times. Not always, but at times it's attractive.

Love...

[slipperieslope]

Annwyn has a painterly eye. I don't think her level of artistry can be taught. I love icons and I think anyone can achieve a certain level of mastery with tutelage, but someone with a gift can turn that little 100x100 square into a miniature work of art. I keep on lobbying Annwyn to collect hers into a gallery but she is modest and resists. I would just love to be able to wander through them...

[rakshi]

Annwyn is an artist in everything she does. Her stories, too, are a thing of beauty. I've often compared them to a beautiful painting. She does amazing things with words... and with graphics.

*hugs you*

[addie71]

Ok. I'm being a nit-picky bitch. Right?

*thwaps self*
*giggles*

Actually it seems to me that you have just reached a point where you aspire to a new level and aren't sure how to go there. *hugs*

ION: I like your icons.

[rakshi]

Thanks, sweeetie. And you're probably right. But.. I'm being a nit-picky bitch too! ;)

*giggles*

Love..

[txvoodoo]

I've found myself moving more and more towards simplicity in icons - letting the photos tell the story. So I just try to make the image as clear as possible in bringing it down to size, sometimes blanking out the background to make it pop.

[rakshi]

I don't mind fancy.. as long as it's well designed. But your icons are always wonderful. They say something about YOU. I don't know if mine do or not. They may say something about what I LOVE.. but maybe not as much about 'me'.

Hmmmm...

Love.. and thank you for commenting.

[txvoodoo]

You hit on something there - I used to make them w/ tons of 'flourishes' - I still use those things, but I find I only use them now if they actually enhance the image/message - what's important to me.

Same w/ words on icons - they're such tiny things, that I find often words obscure, or are unnecessary. "Picture speaking 1000 words", etc...

That, and it's very difficult to get text to look *good* on icons, ya know? When I do use text now, I use the simplest possible font, and have moved away from using script/serif fonts, because of that.

I think it might be part of my 'aging' and going simple :D

[rakshi]

God, I hear THAT! I've gotten rid of more 'stuff' in the past year of my life than I ever have before.

Well.. they say that as we get older we begin to surrender things of the physical world so in the end... all that's left is spirit. If so... I'm on my way!!

Love you....

[semyaza]

I like things plain and simple. An icon may not be plain and simple but I want it to look as if it is. Why take a perfectly decent photograph and turn it into a refugee from the '50s? What's with all the funky yellow shades?

I know. I'm deeply uncool. *hangs head*

[rakshi]

I must be too!! I don't mind design elements. I like that and strive to use them effectively at times. But I do not GET all the crazy colors! And yeah. The funky.. or unfunky yellow leaves me cold.

Look at your icon. what could be more beautiful. I bet she resembles YOU. She's kind of what I think you'd be like.

I love the creative process that's part of making icons. I've been using photoshop for years and enjoy it. But just not a fan of the color thing.

Love...

[semyaza]

I agree about design elements but colour is an issue for me especially when the colours are monotonous. Part of the problem is that budding icon-makers are made to feel as if an icon isn't really an icon unless obvious changes have been made to it. Colour is damned obvious and easy to change. Since I don't have the time or skill to fiddle with icons, I focus on finding the best possible images and cropping them well.

No, she doesn't resemble me. I wish. :D

[rakshi]

She resembles what I think you're LIKE then! To me.. she reflects your spirit.

Love...