Tutorial - Create Windows XP Icons - Axialis Software This article provides information on the following topics: Prerequisites Tryout or Corporate/Personal Edition In this topic, we'll see how to create formats must be included in such icons in order to be compatible with all screen configurations (see What is an Icon for more info). to read the original document. Introduction style in icon design (see image below). We recommend you to follow the guidelines described in this topic to create compliant icons. The best way to proceed is to start creating large scale versions of your images in an external vector or bitmap drawing program, icons. All these programs support the new Alpha Channel (a.k.a. beautiful icons with smooth edges. Top of Page This is not a new icon format at all. This is a new image format that you can find in new generation of icons. This called the opacity image (a.k.a. Alpha Channel). As a result, the image main advantage of this image format is that it permits to display a smooth transparency in icons. The resulting image is displayed with smooth contours on all backgrounds. It permits also to create dropped shadows behind icons. This interesting effect, which is recommended by Microsoft, is usually The following illustration shows the difference between a standard image format transparency (in Top of Page to respect the following characteristics: Angle and perspective provide a dynamic energy to the images. 3. Edges and corners of elements are soft and slightly rounded. 4. Light source is coming from the upper left-hand corner with additional ambient light illuminating other parts of the icon. 5. The use of gradients provides dimension and gives the icon a richer look. 6. A drop shadow provides contrast and dimension. 7. Outlines provide definition. 8. Everyday objects, such as computers and devices, have a more modern consumer look. Top of Page To be compatible with all display cases and screen configurations, you must consider creating icons containing various image formats based on the following rules: Image Sizes Displayed in taskbar, windows upper-left corner, detailed lists... menus (optional) Displayed in desktop, lists... and system lists... Image Colors screen is monochrome (rarely used, optional) if screen is True Color or more (recommended) Top of Page The following colors are generally used We have created a file containing these color swatches. directory. For your information, this file format is Top of Page Perspective and Grouping Objects in Icons This is the perspective objects are usually shown in a straight-on manner: Document icons Icons that are symbols (such as warning or information icons) Icons that are single objects (such as the magnifying glass) Create overlapping secondary objects at an angle unless it makes more sense, due to readability and integrity, that they are rendered straight on. Consider also how your icons may be viewed as a set to help determine how to group objects. Top of Page Drop Shadow definition and added dimension. Once the object is created, choose Draw/Adjustments the right and bottom side of the object before applying the shadow. Top of Page Outlines When illustrating XP-style icons, add an outline to the image to provide definition and ensure that the image works well on different background colors. Top of Page Layers and PNG with transparency. - or - A built-in Axialis file explorer window opens. Browse your disks, see the thumbnail preview and double-click the image file you wish to open. - or - In the Recently Used zone (in the main toolbar), type the full pathname of the image file you wish to open then hit Enter. 3. The image file opens in a document window. If the image contains layers, you see them on the left side of the document window. You can select one layer by clicking on it. Its contents appears automatically in the main area. Now you can create Top of Page make cursors Send us feedback about the site. Microsoft, Windows, Windows XP, Windows Vista are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation Adobe, Flash, Photoshop, Illustrator are registered trademarks of Adobe System Incorporated Apple, AppStore, Ipod, iPhone, iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc
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