First Try at Various Icons

[Athena]

I'm just learning how to do this. I was waiting to get through Pixel Academy to start any of this, but that seems to be going quite a bit slower than I had anticipated. So...here's my first try at icons. They're not meant to fit with any other set/template. This is just practice. Any and all feedback is appreciated.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r209 ... _icons.png[/IMG]

And what it looks like closer up:

Spoiler

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r209/kathy_webposts/large_icons.png[/IMG]

Thanks,
Athena

 

[PINEDAXP]

For a first try, they are pretty good, I remember my first try.. it sucked so bad, and since then I got better, but I don?t like that part of drawing.. icons...

 

[Dawne]

I like them^_^


But.. you posted this is resource requests
this should be posted in resource analysis

 

[Axerax]

Very good first attempt, though I would suggest maybe even a darker border edge. It takes away from the color of most of the grapes... Just a suggestion though

 

[Athena]

pinedaxp: Thanks for the encouragement.

Dawne: Yeah, thanks. I noticed it was in the wrong section as soon as I posted and reported it. I'm glad you like them. :blushanim01:

Axerax: Thanks for the suggestion. I'll try playing around with the border color.

 

[Venetia]

I think they're fantastic, if that lighter color around the edges is removed! Do icons have transparent shadows? I can't recall. If so, it would make a decent transparent shadow color.

I think maybe they use a few too many colors, but if you kept that up in all the icons it would still work. The orbs up close look quite excellent, but the little grape-jewels I think are better suited for being an accoutrement to something, like a gold pendant or on a sign (in a tileset).

A lot of people seem to trip out about color minimalism in pixel art but I think that using a large palette can be quite beautiful if used correctly, and you seem to be demonstrating that well in the orbs and potions there.

Nice work :yes:

 

[Axerax]

One of the best ways of dropping a nice edge, is using black, but lighten it so it is a bit more of a dark gray, transitioning into the actual sprite colors.

I agree with Venetia, the color pallet is very dependent upon how you use the colors, if you are searching for a gradient style of light to dark, or light one color transitioning into a darker 2nd color, then your pallet could be rather big.

 

[Athena]

Venetia & Axerax: Thanks a bunch for the input. I don't know if it's the norm, but a transparent border can be set for icons. I thought the light border might make them stand out, but did consider using it as a transparency. I think it depends on which Windowskin is used.

I tried darkening the border around the grapes as you suggested Axerax and I liked it well enough to try it with all the icons. I think it does work better.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r209 ... border.png[/IMG]

Why is it considered bad to have a larger palette? I've seen some of the cell-shading and I really don't care for it at all. It looks 'unfinished' to me. Gradient shading is OK, but I have a hard time keeping the consistency because for some items it seems to work great and for others it seems a little lacking. So, I decided to do it closer to free-hand painting.

 

[Axerax]

That works much better. Cellshading is supposed to be more cartoonish and anime than a more realistic approach to coloring.

I prefer cellshading, but only to an extent, its great and all, but it can get old fast, but that is just my opinion

 

[Venetia]

Venetia & Axerax: Thanks a bunch for the input. I don't know if it's the norm, but a transparent border can be set for icons. I thought the light border might make them stand out, but did consider using it as a transparency. I think it depends on which Windowskin is used.

I tried darkening the border around the grapes as you suggested Axerax and I liked it well enough to try it with all the icons. I think it does work better.

Why is it considered bad to have a larger palette? I've seen some of the cell-shading and I really don't care for it at all. It looks 'unfinished' to me. Gradient shading is OK, but I have a hard time keeping the consistency because for some items it seems to work great and for others it seems a little lacking. So, I decided to do it closer to free-hand painting.

I thought you could set a transparent for the icons but I couldn't recall--I agree that a light transparency is good for dark menus and vice-versa for light menus. You're dealing with such a limited space, just a few pixels, and the ultimate pursuit should be to make the user squint as little as possible .

I love larger palettes, as long as they're planned well. Dragging something into photoshop and using the blur tool then calling it shaded is the same as taking a dump in a burrito and calling it edible. Sure, you can technically eat it, but who the heck would want to??

Looking around the board lately it seems people are prizing tiny palettes over everything. It seems to me that RMXP is capable of 16 million colors for a reason--we don't have to limit our color imaginations to 256 anymore! Smaller palettes do have the tendency of looking cleaner and easier to define, but to me it'll never win that 'wow' factor a wide-paletted scene can grab if it's done well.

And anyway you have a great example there of using a wide palette well; all the schpiel I just gave was just a prelude to that :D. I can't help it. I'm wordy :s!

 

[Religion]

Wow, For a first, these are really good. I am still bad at my icons!
keep it up!!

 

[Athena]

Venetia: Thanks for the info. Don't worry about waxing wordy. Your posts are easy to read and useful. I appreciate the help.

Religion: Thanks for the encouragement.

 

[ciela]

really the first try? They are amazing! You become a pixel god soon :P