THEME EXPLANATIONS & EXAMPLES
Below you will find a complete list of the themes with explanations and examples. Please note, the examples are not what your icon needs to EXACTLY be -- it is JUST A GUIDE to help -- which doesn't mean you need to copy them :)
If you have any further questions about a theme, please ask them HERE!
abstract - your subject and/or icon should be abstract instead of detailed. use of shadows, fading, cropping, etc is recommended
accessory - focus on an accesory (hat, watch, bracelet, headband, shoes, etc)
(needtakehave)
alphabet - open to interpretation
artist choice * - this theme should be from 1-5 icons total - these are free choice -- they can be anything you want of your subject
at odds - open to interpretation
autograph - make it as if your subject has autographed the picture
back - focus on the back of the subject
(needtakehave)
bad ass - your subject in a bad ass moment
barely there - basically the same as "negative space" but usually even less of the subject is shown
(needtakehave)
beautiful - open to interpretation
beginning - open to interpretation
behind the scenes - a behind-the-scenes shot. your subject(s) can be in costume, but must be candid (from bloopers, behind-the-scenes specials, etc)
best friends - open to interpretation
betrayal - open to interpretation
black & white - the icon is all black & white with NO color
(needtakehave)
black & white/color - there are usually two images within the icon, one that is all black & white and the other that is in color
(annaxbanana)
blending - blend two or more images together
(neonobility)
bling - focus on jewelry
bliss - open to interpretation
blood - open to interpretation
blur - blur some part of the icon
body parts * - this theme is 5 icons - focus on body parts such as the mouth, eyes, hands, feet, etc
(needtakehave)
bold - open to interpretation
book quote - add text to the icon of a book quote
border - add a border to the icon
(hallonpaj)
(no-delusion)
(anarya_snow)
bored - open to interpretation
bottom - make the bottom of the icon your focus
(sjlnechnaia)
(deternot)
break - open to interpretation
breakdown - open to interpretation
bright - your icon should be bright, whether using adjustments or bright colors
camera shy - your subject’s face should be partially (or totally) hidden
candid - candid shots of your subject
captivated - open to interpretation
center - make the center of the icon your focus
(setentpet)
(needtakehave)
circle - have circles on the icon or use a cicle mask, etc
(needtakehave)
city - open to interpretation
close crop - crop your subject close usually do the face or even closer to lips, eyes, etc
(setentpet)
(needtakehave)
close your eyes - your subject’s eyes should be closed
color splash - your icon should be all black & white with just a SMALL portion with color
(needtakehave)
contrast - use contrast in this icon (either a lot of contrast or a little)
conversation - open to interpretation
corner - the focus of your icon should be in a corner of the icon
costume - focus on some kind of costume, like your subject wearing a mask, etc
(needtakehave)
crying - your subject should be crying
cute - open to interpretation
cut off - part of your subject or icon should be abruptly cut off
dance - open to interpretation
danger - open to interpretation
dark - open to interpretation
death - open to interpretation
different crops * - this theme is 5 icons - each icon should be of a different crop (examples: rotate, close, very close, wide, etc)
dirty - open to interpretation (keep it PG-13!)
distant - open to interpretation
dorky - open to interpretation
down - open to interpretation
dramatic - open to interpretation
dressed down - your subject dressed more casual than usual
dressed up - your subject should be looking pretty whether in a tux, dress, really nice clothing, something
echo - usually this is an image repeated
elements - usually something on your icon has to do with water, fire, air or earth using color or a texture, etc
embrace - your subject should be hugging someone or something else
emotions * - this theme is 5 icons - each icon should showcase a different emotion
epic - open to interpretation
eyes - focus on the eyes of the subject
face - focus on the face of the subject
faceless - no part of the face should be seen
(needtakehave)
fade - your subject should be faded to some degree
fairy tale - open to interpretation
fake background - cut out the background of an image and put a different background in the background
(annaxbanana)
(marcia993)
family - open to interpretation
far away - your subject should look very far away in the image
favorite moments * - this theme is 5 icons - each icon should showcase a favorite moment
fight - open to interpretation
floral - open to interpretation
focus - mess with the focus on your subject (more or less focus)
forever - open to interpretation
friendship - open to interpretation
full body - focus on the full body of your subject
(setentpet)
group - your icon should include 4 or more people together
half & half - exactly half of your icon should be one picture, the other half should be a second picture
half - half your icon should be the focus and the other half a solid color, a texture, or something
(needtakehave)
hands - focus on the subject's hands
happy - open to interpretation
horror - open to interpretation
hurt/comfort - open to interpretation
hush (no text) - your icon should not have ANY text on it
illuminated - your subject should be illuminated/glowing
internet slang - include text with any internet slang like LOL, ROFL, BRB, DND, etc
in your eyes - open to interpretation
jealous - open to interpretation
jubilant - open to interpretation
kiss - your subject should be kissing someone
landscape - your icon should have NO people in it or the people should look VERY far away and small -- everything should be scenery, or a building, etc
(needtakehave)
large - your subject should look big in the icon
large text - your icon should have text that is large in size
(janie_tangerine)
(mediocrechick)
(lightthesparks)
leaving - open to interpretation
left - the focus of your icon should be on the left side
legs - the focus of the icon should be on legs
letters - open to interpretation
light & dark - your icon should feature the contrast of light and dark
light - your icon should be light, whether by adjustment or color scheme
lines - your icon should feature lines
lips - the focus of your icon should be on lips/mouth
LOL - open to interpretation
lonely - open to interpretation
look away - your subject should be looking away
(needtakehave)
looking down - your subject should be looking down
(needtakehave)
looking up - your subject should be looking up
(needtakehave)
loser - open to interpretation
love - open to interpretation
lust - open to interpretation
lyrics - your icon should feature song lyrics
magical - open to interpretation
magnifying glass * - this theme is 5 icons - your subject from icons 1 to 5 should go from small to big each the subject getting bigger and taking up more of the icon as you go until so that from left to right the subject is small to big
(annaxbanana)
man - open to interpretation
minimalist - your icon should have no extras like text, textures, brushes, very little (if any) coloring, etc. the icon should be very basic.
(needtakehave)
motion - your subject should be doing something; walking, talking, etc.
multi level - 4 square - your icon should show 4 different images or one image 4 times
(needtakehave)
multi level - double - your image should be doubled
(hermionesparkle)
(lemonpunch)
(exp0se)
multi level - first/last scene - this should be of two images; 1 with a image from the first scene of an episode and 1 from the last scene of the same episode
multi level - many - you should have many images, whether the same image duplicated multiple times or multiple different images
(darkpalace)
(calin_durus)
multiple - open to interpretation
multiple characters - your icon should include more than 1 character
mushy words - open to interpretation
my mood - open to interpretation
mysterious - open to interpretation
name - your icon should include your subject's name (or one of the subject's name)
natural - open to interpretation
naughty - open to interpretation
negative - open to interpretation
negative space - your subject should not be in the main focus of the icon but as a smaller portion of the icon
(setentpet)
(needtakehave)
night - open to interpretation
not 100x100 - your image should be smaller than 100x100 --- the icon is still 100x100 but the image itself should be smaller, either by resizing or using a mask, etc.
not square - your image should be something other than a square. icons are usually all square -- now you should use a mask or something to make it look like a different shape/size
numbers - open to interpretation
off center - your subject should be not in the center of the icon but more to the left some or to the right some
(needtakehave)
OMG / OMFG - open to interpretation
one - open to interpretation
one color - your icon should be all one color or use only one color
(annaxbanana)
opposite colors - your icon should have two colors -- both opposites of one another like black & white, a light color and a dark color, etc.
out of the box - open to interpretation
outside - open to interpretation
overlay - open to interpretation
panorama * - this theme is 5 icons - your icons should be one image cut into five icons so that when they are lined up together in order from left to right they look like they are one image just cut up
(needtakehave)
(christinaa88)
party - open to interpretation
plus one - your icon should include your subject + 1 (characters = char + 1, ships = ship + 1, groups = group + 1, etc)
pose - your subject should be posing somehow, like if they were posing for the camera
pretty - open to interpretation
profile - your icon should show your subject with a side profile
(needtakehave)
promo pic - your icon should show your subject in a promo pic (here is a great place to find promo pics)
(needtakehave)
provided texture - you must use one of the provided textures in your icon
quote - your icon should include some kind of quote with your subject
reading - your subject should be reading
reflection - open to interpretation
right - your icon should show your subject to the right of your icon
romance - open to interpretation
rotate - your icon should show your subject rotated somehow from it's original position in the original picture
sad - open to interpretation
same cap* - this theme is 5 icons - your icons should be the same image, just iconned with different variations (like the image is of one character and the image is split up among the 5 focusing say; the lips, entire face, eyes, full body, hands, etc)
(revivingophelia)
same scene * - this theme is 5 icons - your icons should all be from the same scene and from left to right be like if you were watching a scene in your fandom
(needtakehave)
saturation - open to interpretation
scared - open to interpretation
seasons - open to interpretation
secret - open to interpretation
seeing double - open to interpretation
sepia - your icon should have a "antique" coloring, like if it was from and old movie -- if you can't figure out how to do that, then you can do black & white
(needtakehave)
seven deadly sins * - this theme is 5 icons - your icons should showcase 5 of the 7 deadly sins
sexy - open to interpretation
shadow - open to interpretation
ship - open to interpretation
sidekick - open to interpretation
sitting - your subject should be sitting down
sleepy - open to interpretation
small - your subject should be somewhat small in the icon
(needtakehave)
smile - your subject should be smiling
soft color - your icon should have soft color(s) or pale colors
soft focus - your icon should have a "soft" look
(needtakehave)
song title - your icon should have a song title on it along with your subject
squares - open to interpretation
star - open to interpretation
surprise - open to interpretation
symbol - open to interpretation
symmetry - open to interpretation
texture - your icon should use some kind of texture
tiny text - your icon should have tiny text on it
(needtakehave)
top - open to interpretation
toy - open to interpretation
tv tropes * - this theme is 5 icons - your icons should be interpetations of tv tropes -- to find out more about them, check this site out
two-toned - your icon should use two different colors
(darlingbones)
(wild-sibyl)
unf! - open to interpretation
up - open to interpretation
upside-down - open to interpretation
vibrant - your icon should use bold, vibrant colors
vintage - open to interpretation
warm colors - your icon should use warm colors
white background - your icon should have some sort of white background
wide crop - your subject should be cropped in a wide crop
(needtakehave)
woman - open to interpretation
zoom - you should use the same image twice, once big and the other small
(talli_approved)
If you have any further questions about a theme, please ask them HERE!
abstract - your subject and/or icon should be abstract instead of detailed. use of shadows, fading, cropping, etc is recommended
accessory - focus on an accesory (hat, watch, bracelet, headband, shoes, etc)
(needtakehave)
alphabet - open to interpretation
artist choice * - this theme should be from 1-5 icons total - these are free choice -- they can be anything you want of your subject
at odds - open to interpretation
autograph - make it as if your subject has autographed the picture
back - focus on the back of the subject
(needtakehave)
bad ass - your subject in a bad ass moment
barely there - basically the same as "negative space" but usually even less of the subject is shown
(needtakehave)
beautiful - open to interpretation
beginning - open to interpretation
behind the scenes - a behind-the-scenes shot. your subject(s) can be in costume, but must be candid (from bloopers, behind-the-scenes specials, etc)
best friends - open to interpretation
betrayal - open to interpretation
black & white - the icon is all black & white with NO color
(needtakehave)
black & white/color - there are usually two images within the icon, one that is all black & white and the other that is in color
(annaxbanana)
blending - blend two or more images together
(neonobility)
bling - focus on jewelry
bliss - open to interpretation
blood - open to interpretation
blur - blur some part of the icon
body parts * - this theme is 5 icons - focus on body parts such as the mouth, eyes, hands, feet, etc
(needtakehave)
bold - open to interpretation
book quote - add text to the icon of a book quote
border - add a border to the icon
(hallonpaj)
(no-delusion)
(anarya_snow)
bored - open to interpretation
bottom - make the bottom of the icon your focus
(sjlnechnaia)
(deternot)
break - open to interpretation
breakdown - open to interpretation
bright - your icon should be bright, whether using adjustments or bright colors
camera shy - your subject’s face should be partially (or totally) hidden
candid - candid shots of your subject
captivated - open to interpretation
center - make the center of the icon your focus
(setentpet)
(needtakehave)
circle - have circles on the icon or use a cicle mask, etc
(needtakehave)
city - open to interpretation
close crop - crop your subject close usually do the face or even closer to lips, eyes, etc
(setentpet)
(needtakehave)
close your eyes - your subject’s eyes should be closed
color splash - your icon should be all black & white with just a SMALL portion with color
(needtakehave)
contrast - use contrast in this icon (either a lot of contrast or a little)
conversation - open to interpretation
corner - the focus of your icon should be in a corner of the icon
costume - focus on some kind of costume, like your subject wearing a mask, etc
(needtakehave)
crying - your subject should be crying
cute - open to interpretation
cut off - part of your subject or icon should be abruptly cut off
dance - open to interpretation
danger - open to interpretation
dark - open to interpretation
death - open to interpretation
different crops * - this theme is 5 icons - each icon should be of a different crop (examples: rotate, close, very close, wide, etc)
dirty - open to interpretation (keep it PG-13!)
distant - open to interpretation
dorky - open to interpretation
down - open to interpretation
dramatic - open to interpretation
dressed down - your subject dressed more casual than usual
dressed up - your subject should be looking pretty whether in a tux, dress, really nice clothing, something
echo - usually this is an image repeated
elements - usually something on your icon has to do with water, fire, air or earth using color or a texture, etc
embrace - your subject should be hugging someone or something else
emotions * - this theme is 5 icons - each icon should showcase a different emotion
epic - open to interpretation
eyes - focus on the eyes of the subject
face - focus on the face of the subject
faceless - no part of the face should be seen
(needtakehave)
fade - your subject should be faded to some degree
fairy tale - open to interpretation
fake background - cut out the background of an image and put a different background in the background
(annaxbanana)
(marcia993)
family - open to interpretation
far away - your subject should look very far away in the image
favorite moments * - this theme is 5 icons - each icon should showcase a favorite moment
fight - open to interpretation
floral - open to interpretation
focus - mess with the focus on your subject (more or less focus)
forever - open to interpretation
friendship - open to interpretation
full body - focus on the full body of your subject
(setentpet)
group - your icon should include 4 or more people together
half & half - exactly half of your icon should be one picture, the other half should be a second picture
half - half your icon should be the focus and the other half a solid color, a texture, or something
(needtakehave)
hands - focus on the subject's hands
happy - open to interpretation
horror - open to interpretation
hurt/comfort - open to interpretation
hush (no text) - your icon should not have ANY text on it
illuminated - your subject should be illuminated/glowing
internet slang - include text with any internet slang like LOL, ROFL, BRB, DND, etc
in your eyes - open to interpretation
jealous - open to interpretation
jubilant - open to interpretation
kiss - your subject should be kissing someone
landscape - your icon should have NO people in it or the people should look VERY far away and small -- everything should be scenery, or a building, etc
(needtakehave)
large - your subject should look big in the icon
large text - your icon should have text that is large in size
(janie_tangerine)
(mediocrechick)
(lightthesparks)
leaving - open to interpretation
left - the focus of your icon should be on the left side
legs - the focus of the icon should be on legs
letters - open to interpretation
light & dark - your icon should feature the contrast of light and dark
light - your icon should be light, whether by adjustment or color scheme
lines - your icon should feature lines
lips - the focus of your icon should be on lips/mouth
LOL - open to interpretation
lonely - open to interpretation
look away - your subject should be looking away
(needtakehave)
looking down - your subject should be looking down
(needtakehave)
looking up - your subject should be looking up
(needtakehave)
loser - open to interpretation
love - open to interpretation
lust - open to interpretation
lyrics - your icon should feature song lyrics
magical - open to interpretation
magnifying glass * - this theme is 5 icons - your subject from icons 1 to 5 should go from small to big each the subject getting bigger and taking up more of the icon as you go until so that from left to right the subject is small to big
(annaxbanana)
man - open to interpretation
minimalist - your icon should have no extras like text, textures, brushes, very little (if any) coloring, etc. the icon should be very basic.
(needtakehave)
motion - your subject should be doing something; walking, talking, etc.
multi level - 4 square - your icon should show 4 different images or one image 4 times
(needtakehave)
multi level - double - your image should be doubled
(hermionesparkle)
(lemonpunch)
(exp0se)
multi level - first/last scene - this should be of two images; 1 with a image from the first scene of an episode and 1 from the last scene of the same episode
multi level - many - you should have many images, whether the same image duplicated multiple times or multiple different images
(darkpalace)
(calin_durus)
multiple - open to interpretation
multiple characters - your icon should include more than 1 character
mushy words - open to interpretation
my mood - open to interpretation
mysterious - open to interpretation
name - your icon should include your subject's name (or one of the subject's name)
natural - open to interpretation
naughty - open to interpretation
negative - open to interpretation
negative space - your subject should not be in the main focus of the icon but as a smaller portion of the icon
(setentpet)
(needtakehave)
night - open to interpretation
not 100x100 - your image should be smaller than 100x100 --- the icon is still 100x100 but the image itself should be smaller, either by resizing or using a mask, etc.
not square - your image should be something other than a square. icons are usually all square -- now you should use a mask or something to make it look like a different shape/size
numbers - open to interpretation
off center - your subject should be not in the center of the icon but more to the left some or to the right some
(needtakehave)
OMG / OMFG - open to interpretation
one - open to interpretation
one color - your icon should be all one color or use only one color
(annaxbanana)
opposite colors - your icon should have two colors -- both opposites of one another like black & white, a light color and a dark color, etc.
out of the box - open to interpretation
outside - open to interpretation
overlay - open to interpretation
panorama * - this theme is 5 icons - your icons should be one image cut into five icons so that when they are lined up together in order from left to right they look like they are one image just cut up
(needtakehave)
(christinaa88)
party - open to interpretation
plus one - your icon should include your subject + 1 (characters = char + 1, ships = ship + 1, groups = group + 1, etc)
pose - your subject should be posing somehow, like if they were posing for the camera
pretty - open to interpretation
profile - your icon should show your subject with a side profile
(needtakehave)
promo pic - your icon should show your subject in a promo pic (here is a great place to find promo pics)
(needtakehave)
provided texture - you must use one of the provided textures in your icon
quote - your icon should include some kind of quote with your subject
reading - your subject should be reading
reflection - open to interpretation
right - your icon should show your subject to the right of your icon
romance - open to interpretation
rotate - your icon should show your subject rotated somehow from it's original position in the original picture
sad - open to interpretation
same cap* - this theme is 5 icons - your icons should be the same image, just iconned with different variations (like the image is of one character and the image is split up among the 5 focusing say; the lips, entire face, eyes, full body, hands, etc)
(revivingophelia)
same scene * - this theme is 5 icons - your icons should all be from the same scene and from left to right be like if you were watching a scene in your fandom
(needtakehave)
saturation - open to interpretation
scared - open to interpretation
seasons - open to interpretation
secret - open to interpretation
seeing double - open to interpretation
sepia - your icon should have a "antique" coloring, like if it was from and old movie -- if you can't figure out how to do that, then you can do black & white
(needtakehave)
seven deadly sins * - this theme is 5 icons - your icons should showcase 5 of the 7 deadly sins
sexy - open to interpretation
shadow - open to interpretation
ship - open to interpretation
sidekick - open to interpretation
sitting - your subject should be sitting down
sleepy - open to interpretation
small - your subject should be somewhat small in the icon
(needtakehave)
smile - your subject should be smiling
soft color - your icon should have soft color(s) or pale colors
soft focus - your icon should have a "soft" look
(needtakehave)
song title - your icon should have a song title on it along with your subject
squares - open to interpretation
star - open to interpretation
surprise - open to interpretation
symbol - open to interpretation
symmetry - open to interpretation
texture - your icon should use some kind of texture
tiny text - your icon should have tiny text on it
(needtakehave)
top - open to interpretation
toy - open to interpretation
tv tropes * - this theme is 5 icons - your icons should be interpetations of tv tropes -- to find out more about them, check this site out
two-toned - your icon should use two different colors
(darlingbones)
(wild-sibyl)
unf! - open to interpretation
up - open to interpretation
upside-down - open to interpretation
vibrant - your icon should use bold, vibrant colors
vintage - open to interpretation
warm colors - your icon should use warm colors
white background - your icon should have some sort of white background
wide crop - your subject should be cropped in a wide crop
(needtakehave)
woman - open to interpretation
zoom - you should use the same image twice, once big and the other small
(talli_approved)