These are a couple of mine, not really done yet, got prolly 10 more to do and then change some of the current as I'm not sure about them, but just to show something this is it atm:
This image has been resized, click here to view the full-sized image.
These are a couple of mine, not really done yet, got prolly 10 more to do and then change some of the current as I'm not sure about them, but just to show something this is it atm:
Not sure, but I think your icons might be too big? Between each icon vertically there's supposed to be a line and a gap on each side of the line.
I've gone through all entries so far, and I think that goes for all of you
These are a couple of mine, not really done yet, got prolly 10 more to do and then change some of the current as I'm not sure about them, but just to show something this is it atm:
Not sure, but I think your icons might be too big? Between each icon vertically there's supposed to be a line and a gap on each side of the line.
I've gone through all entries so far, and I think that goes for all of you
That's just firefox spazzing out. They're supposed to be flush.
From what I've seen so far, there's no icons that looks better then the originals (including my own work). So far, I like SmackSmash's work best. I don't really get why an nice update to the original icons (like d3vnull's work), isn't allowed tho. If we were allowed to change the original icons as well as making new ones (not borrowing/stealing), then i guess both parts would appreciate the change. Just something as changing the color of the original background from black to blue, makes it look good and also matches the site's theme.
Don't know if it's just me, but i found it very hard to come up with something decent when working with such a small image size and having to make absolutely everything from scratch. At least when it comes to creating an icon (not only text).
because Im a little lazy I didnt want to do two whole sets so I'm asking,
which one should I continue, the blue with black font or the dark blue with white font.
because Im a little lazy I didnt want to do two whole sets so I'm asking,
which one should I continue, the blue with black font or the dark blue with white font.
I'd say the blue with the black font. Good work
Looking forward to seeing the entries! We always get some really creative stuff coming through with competitions like these.
what do u think of this? I know it's only one icon The thought is to have the black as blue for high def tv and movies and alter the text icon and maybe color in the middle depending...
If there are going to be new icons I aim to make sure that they are more easily recognisible than the originals - seeing as this is their main purpose. I've divided the categories into groups and assigned each group a primary/secondary color as follows;
ORANGE - Anime
YELLOW - Apps
GREEN - Games
RED - Movies
PURPLE - Music
BLUE - TV
GREY - XXX
Packs and Non-scene will have a banner or something as you can see in the screenshot.
This makes it very easy to identify a particular category quickly. Once that is done, each format within a particular category is identified by the shade of the categories colour in which it appears. For example x264 would be a dark shade, and xvid would be a lighter shade. Look, it's easier to show you;
Also please note I'm only talking about color theory here, the actual design of the icons is subject to change.
i like this very much. I actually didnt even read your post before looking at the picture, and the shading of each colour stuck right out to me, and I instinctively knew extactly what it was. Thats a great idea and you should stick with it, and the even the look. Its clean, crisp, easy to read should I not know exactly what that colour is, I can very easily read what it is. And the banner for packs/non scene, I was JUST thinking about how I would do that, then I got to your post. Well played sir, I think I will probably be voting for you should you submit a pack similar to this.
And to add, I actually like zugulis as well. Very crisp and clean. Minimal, and easy to comprehend. That is one reason I dont actually like the icons TB uses now. I mean, its not a big deal, they really are a non issue, and i am very used to them, but I really like a lightweight minimalistic look. Thats just me though.
SmackSmash has the only good suggestion so far, im sorry but the rest of them confuse my brain. If anything I dont think the icons should be changed, but expanded to circum the rest of the categories, they are clean and simple.
the icons we already have are gorgeous. Nice simple 2d icons that goes well with the overall look of the site. Even if the site design has changed a bit.
To be frank, current icons are probably the part I love the most on TB. I absolutely adore them. I'm member of one or two other torrent sites similar to TB and even though sites are basically the same, TB is absolute winner on usability just because of these icons.
I try to explain why are current ones so great and why it's terrible idea to try and change them (from what I've seen so far):
By definition icon should be a small picture that represents object behind it. Icons are made so there doesn't have to be text. That's the basic and most important principle of an icon. Brain is scanning pictures faster than text because it can absorb whole picture at once. You see green floppy disc -> and BAM, you know it's Apps category. Red joystick -> BAM, it's a game. You don't have to read G-A-M-E-S.
Text saying "GAMES" on red background is not an icon. I'm sory but it just isn't. Not even if you put gradient behind it or glossy effect on top of it. Icons are little pictures. That's why they were made in the first place. To *replace* text.
That said, more complex pictures are harder to recognize which means it's harder/slower to scan quickly through lots of them. This is again why current icons are so great. They have SIMPLE SHAPES. Cartoony style is great because it's one of the simplest form how to draw something. And for the same reason it's the easiest form to recognize. If you try to make elaborate icons from photos or try to draw them "realistic" you are only adding clutter to the image that's already there. More information that brain has to go through before it recognizes object. Photo based and realistic icons do not have brutaly simple shapes with sharp cartoon edges with black ink border. Their shapes are obscured by reflections, shadows, color transitions. SIMPLE ALWAYS WINS. In icon design anyway.
If you browse torrents on TB you can just look at the page and immediately spot apps or games in the middle of all displayed torrents. It sounds like an easy task but it's usually insanely hard on any other torrent site I've ever been on. I believe this would be the case for new icons too (based on designs I've seen so far).
Because there is so many similar categories (Xvid, HD, X264, DVR, Movie packs, etc.) it's great that current icons have little text associated with them that can provide context if necesary. By default you recognize the shape of an icon and you know it's a movie for example. If you care and subtle color differences between icons are to subtle for you you can always read text on the side of an icon to pick the right format of your movie. I believe that sideways text on current icons is core part of what makes these icons great.
Because it's sideway you are not forced to read it by default. If the text was horizontal below or inside the icon (as it is on many other sites or in basically all new icon designs i've seen so far in this thread) your brain is forced to read the text. You can't help it - you see text and your brain starts reading it. And this what makes such icons hard to scan through quickly.
Please, do not change current icons. Change just for change is a faulty concept that many sites on internet are falling into. Simple don't-change-what-works rule applies here more than ever. And from what I've read there is no factual reason behind announced icon change. It's just "because we think they are getting old". New isn't always better.
If for some strange reason you really have to change them, let us have the options to keep the current style somewhere in settings. But please don't change current icons. Nostalgy aside, as I've tried to explain there are factual reasons why you shouldn't. You have spot on icons, they look great but most importantly they are absolutely amazing at doing their job which makes this site great.
(Power User) at 2011-05-17 18:21:23 (2 years ago) - [
(fake shemp) at 2011-05-17 22:03:56 (2 years ago) - [
(Sarcastic Admin) at 2011-05-17 22:05:31 (2 years ago) - [
(Ms.OneOneNine) at 2011-05-18 19:45:11 (2 years ago) - [
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