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Objects idealization

Perhaps, the main difference between icons and illustrations is they idealization. But one of the most often problem of designers is to make icons real. Of cause, this aim is understandable. But you should remember, that icon is a general shape. For example if you want to draw a pencil you show draw not your favorite pencil or pencil front of you, but general shape of pencil — because its a general form. You can make it ideal and left just things to do it more understandable.

Why is it comfortable?

• If icons for different sizes, its reality and detalization in decreasing would be seen as damage and mud and it will mingle to see the object
• In some districts subjects modern so often, that your object could be (already or yet ) not understandable for user, that see this image at first
• Simple object usually easy to understand, than detailed and difficult
• In cases when similar icons should show the same meanings, you need to make icons more difficult. For example icon "save" as usual a symbol of discet and icon "save as" — discet with legend. So detalization could be perceived by user as a feature of action or just to make understanding more difficult.

Icon should reflect object, to be understandable for people of different nations, languages, in different partes of world. Of course its not always possible. That's why you should think about people — it can influence to style of icon.

Ideal colour

If you will look to idealization from the side of colours, as usual these are clear colours of objects in equal lightingtaking into account style of icon. For example colours and lightening in style Mac OS and Windows XP icons will make in different ways. In clear colours we think colours without shadows, reflex , blinks if you don't want to do it special.

When real pencil, covered by lacquer, lies on the table in subby weather, perhaps, it adds to it lightening of sun (with shades), reflections of other objects, it reflects a table (in cause of lacquer), and many other bliks and reflects. This object pulled out from reality would be seen grey and dirty. That's why to make object bright and attractive you should use clear colour, that you associate with this object, and in necessity to add bliks, reflect etc.

Ideal material

Material of object will help us to see the object in case of realistic icon and in case of idealized icon. If we want to imagine glass object, its important to show its transparency. And if its need to show not only realistic, but to show distortions of light, (because of coefficient of material distortions in these conditions). The same way to other materials: wood, metall, water, paper. Its rare to see in icons textured materials like wood, because its hard to imagine with vector without dirty (especially in small sizes of icons). Don't forget that material should help us to see the object and not to make it more difficult. But of course you should think about it in each apart case.

Ideal proportions

Ideal proportions and size of object are depend on style and size of icon. For example we could imagine standard pencil — round section or in 6 sides, with diameter 6-8 mm, in longer- approx. 18 cm. So it is a long thin object, but if you will make small icon (ex. 16x16 pixels) with the same proportions, it wouldn't be seen, or, in big size, it fail of pixels to make it beautiful and to show its bliks and apart sides.

The second problem — relativity of sizes in one icon. For example in one icon you should image monitor and pencil (or analogue Windows -> Start -> Control panel -> Display: monitor with brush) then in case of real proportions you should draw a pencil very small near the monitor and innoticeable. And you will need to make it smaller it will be hard to understand what is on image drawn. To solve this problem as usual you should take proportions, ideal for understanding of object and correct imagine (taking into account size and style) in icon. When you need to draw a few objects on icon it is comfortable to make the same size and approximate it in proportions. For example when you pencil become smaller it becomes fater and you should correct monitor in proportions and sizes too. So you get object are more toon.

But it is important if object will be used in different icons with other objects, so him proportions and looks should be constant (except the cases when we show modification of this object or some action with it). In other case user should uncorrect understand meaning of icon and don't see the object. For example pencil near to monitor and near to ruler should stay as they seen, identically.

www.icojoy.com | Zhebrakov Andrew (Andy-S)