XYplorer Beta Club

admin wrote:And here comes the mysterious last submission of today:

If the X was a bit diff in color from the Y so that it would be easier to distinguish/follow, this could have some possibilities...
I might also then interweave the X and Y crossovers so that one X leg is over the Y but the other X leg would be under the Y...

And/or could the X "sit" in the V part of the Y? That would make the X a bit smaller but also easier to see...though I think diff colors would be better if combined with interweave..

I don't want to be critical but I'm trying my best to think of this from a newbie POV and as to how easily they could tell it's XY.

I used GIMP for the distortion, and it was an xcf while I did it, not a png. (I copied you image and used New->From Clipboard) Not sure if that makes any difference though.

I like the current icon, but you're right it could use more contrast, maybe use a border on the X and Y? I also like the Heavy Metal one. Don't like the shield or alien head shaped ones...

You lost me when it quit being square.

After that the only one that I felt could even serve as a new starting point was the guitar plectrum, but it still needed some work (moving the X up so the Y could be a bit taller and cutting off the pieces of the Y that were extending beyond the X).

TheQwerty wrote:You lost me when it quit being square.

After that the only one that I felt could even serve as a new starting point was the guitar plectrum, but it still needed some work (moving the X up so the Y could be a bit taller and cutting off the pieces of the Y that were extending beyond the X).

What you describe here is one of the first drafts I had done on paper. I tried it but it came out a little to blurred in 16x16.

Generally: Thanks for all the critique! It's inspiring.

I know that most of you will rather have new features or bugs fixed than a new icon. But I have to care for the commercial side as well because only if the app sells there will be new features or bugs fixed in the long run...

j_c_hallgren wrote:

admin wrote:And here comes the mysterious last submission of today:

If the X was a bit diff in color from the Y so that it would be easier to distinguish/follow, this could have some possibilities...
I might also then interweave the X and Y crossovers so that one X leg is over the Y but the other X leg would be under the Y...

And/or could the X "sit" in the V part of the Y? That would make the X a bit smaller but also easier to see...though I think diff colors would be better if combined with interweave.

Yes, this interweaving was also in my first draft on paper that I just mentioned to TheQwerty. I will make one and show it here in a moment... ADD: Nope, tried it but it does not shrink well -- looks like spaghetti.

This morning I created a form that looks like a pretty strong logo to me. And it nicely fits into the plectrum shape. And it shrinks well. My current favorite!

admin wrote:This morning I created a form that looks like a pretty strong logo to me. And it nicely fits into the plectrum shape. And it shrinks well.

Looking much better! But for me, I'd prefer having just a hairline divider between the X and Y...like exists between the font color choices at right when you post here..or the lines here between user id and post, etc...it would still blend together I think but give a better clue to the letters.

TheQwerty wrote:You lost me when it quit being square.

Bingo! When it comes to icons of 16x16, icons usually try to efficient occupy as large an area as possible. And plectrum/shield is probably kryptonite to that approach

admin wrote:This morning I created a form that looks like a pretty strong logo to me. And it nicely fits into the plectrum shape. And it shrinks well. My current favorite!

While I do like the arrangement of X and Y, I am uncertain about the shape and colour scheme. I didn't think of it as a plectrum until that term was mentioned I also don't like that grungy green colour, it looks "dirty". Maybe it is worth experimenting with a lighter colour selection? In addition, perhaps a glass reflection at the top would give it a cooler look? For that I normally use an elliptical tool in Photoshop on a new layer and apply a fill of white at about 40% opacity.

zer0 wrote:

TheQwerty wrote:You lost me when it quit being square.

Bingo! When it comes to icons of 16x16, icons usually try to efficient occupy as large an area as possible. And plectrum/shield is probably kryptonite to that approach

admin wrote:This morning I created a form that looks like a pretty strong logo to me. And it nicely fits into the plectrum shape. And it shrinks well. My current favorite!

While I do like the arrangement of X and Y, I am uncertain about the shape and colour scheme. I didn't think of it as a plectrum until that term was mentioned I also don't like that grungy green colour, it looks "dirty". Maybe it is worth experimenting with a lighter colour selection? In addition, perhaps a glass reflection at the top would give it a cooler look? For that I normally use an elliptical tool in Photoshop on a new layer and apply a fill of white at about 40% opacity.

Agreed about the grungeness. I added a little sugar:

j_c_hallgren wrote:

admin wrote:This morning I created a form that looks like a pretty strong logo to me. And it nicely fits into the plectrum shape. And it shrinks well.

Looking much better! But for me, I'd prefer having just a hairline divider between the X and Y...like exists between the font color choices at right when you post here..or the lines here between user id and post, etc...it would still blend together I think but give a better clue to the letters.

For me the complete blending of the letters is part of the appeal of the design.

Using Wakoopa for a little icon cat walk:

admin wrote:Using Wakoopa for a little icon cat walk:

icon-catwalk.png

Without any creative ability whatsoever, I do like how the two colours delineate the two initials. Form follows function or something...

nas8e9 wrote:

admin wrote:Using Wakoopa for a little icon cat walk:

icon-catwalk.png

Without any creative ability whatsoever, I do like how the two colours delineate the two initials. Form follows function or something...

Which two colors do you mean? The blue-to-green gradient, or the beach vs blue-green background.

admin wrote:Which two colors do you mean? The blue-to-green gradient, or the beach vs blue-green background.

To my (again, unskilled) eye, the X-half has a subtly different background to the Y-half. I guess you mean with gradient the transition rather than sharp delineation of the two (not miles-apart) colours?