Thursday, February 24, 2011

Simple Icons And Minimalistic Internet Page Design

Simple icons are produced not to make the design delightful but rather minimal and present day. Light-weight Simple web icons are supposed to be made to increase web page user interaction.

Minimalistic web page design as a prevalent trend

Minimalistic design implies simplicity and lightweight elements such as Simple web icons. This kind of icons doesn't have complex wordings, figures, textures and patterns. Sometimes less even implies more. It depends on areas and extent. Web design is just that area.

Minimalistic design is rather an unexpected trend at present. As far as you know high present day technologies have one big weakness - usually they resulted in the loss of simplicity. Today the contemporary trend is to combine minimalistic web site design with CSS3 and HTML5. Simple doesn't mean primitive. Internet site that uses simple design often has off-color effects and also actively use CSS and Ajax.

The most important features of the modern simple internet site design:

  • grid based design;
  • simple icons;
  • light shading and reserved color transition;
  • light texture of patterns and backgrounds (often transparent like);
  • more empty or white space;
  • simple shapes and figures, clear lines;
  • less amount of various bright colors;
  • clear and readable typography;

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Line Icons Development - Various Techniques

The objects with the outlined contours is the one other kind of Line icons. They're called contour drawings. There're items without some strict outlines which can be rather some hint than actual contour of line icons. They are often known as gesture drawings. Such drawings are being widely used by experienced artists who are able to repeat the outlines of the object right after seeing it. It's not a complete piece of art but rather a sketch which requires 20-30 seconds to be drawn.

One more technique is adding some halftones and shades to the object with the help of short lines and crosshatching. Don't afraid to vary their frequency and also pencil pressure. And this variety impart more three-dimensional look to the object. It helps to produce amazing Line web icons, logos and buttons.Furthermore lets get information on open lines. It's such sort of the lines where the dots not combining the singular elements. It may look really striking when being applied to line icons design. The lines can be gesture-like, parallel, contour etc. as well. You may be wonder what is bezier curves in computer graphics? It is such type of the curves which are essential for creating complex line shapes. These curves are real helpers in creation of the vector shapes such as line icons, different buttons etc. Nowadays computer technologies reached such a level when it becomes possible to reproduce the same designs or even build new shapes that based on some older ones. The wonderful thing - it can be done without extra efforts and time. Another benefit is that it is simple to return to the previous adjustments with a help of the history panel. As a result there is no need to create Line icons from scratch in case you have made some mistakes.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

The Essence Of 2d Web Icons

2D web icons along with other objects are remarkable for their flexibility. This versatility is achieved by rendering them at various resolutions suitable for various output devices.

2D Icons items:

  • raster pictures (digital graphics);
  • styled text as a typeset for 2D Icons;
  • vector models (geometric graphics).

The above-mentioned items can be managed by 2D transformations such as rotation, scaling or angular position and so on. Meshing basic models you may get more complex ones.

Due to the layers technique 2D icons can create the illusion of all 3D characteristics like shadow, reflection or highlighting. The layers really should maintain the definite hierarchy and order carefully. This makes modifying 2D icons and similar objects easier.

2.5D Icons vs 3D and 2D Icons

2Dicons also are widely recognized as 2.5D models. This technology gives web designers ability to work with any layer without touching the others. This type of 2D object creation is preferred by the most of the prominent graphics editors.

2.5D is a synonym to pseudo 3D and is interpreted as "two-and-a-half-dimensional" graphics. Models which were developed with a help of with 2.5D technology appear to be tridimensional but in fact they are not.

This technology used for designing 2D icons is frequently achieved by the special lighting effect. 3D illusion is achieved as a result of virtual source of light to the left or to the right side and above the users monitor.

Vintage Web Icons As A Part Of Vintage Design

In case your want your site looks archaic - use Vintage icons. They're one of the most noticeable and easy-to-apply graphical elements. With a help of vintage web icons you'll be able to create the vintage atmosphere at your webpage Also use vintage typography, less-saturated colors and retro textures. Your web site visitors will definitely like antique air of your new design.

Retro trend is all about the styles of the70s and 80s. Retro advertising art from the 1950s is bold and striking. Today with a help of computer technologies it is possible to put a new face on this type of art and easily use its characters in webpage design and printing. Often such faces in the vintage web icons are retro cars, pin-up girls, soldiers and politicians of the former times as well.Most frequently used retro cars are Fiat 500, the 1970 Dodge Challenger, the 1969 Chevrolet Samara, the 1964 Ford Mustang etc. You can effortlessly find Vintage web icons that contain hints to retro cars concepts. This will help to attract more attention to your web-site layout. They are ideal for the internet sites concerning auto sales, transporting services, tour sites etc.A pin-up model is another popular character used in vintage icons design and other internet site graphics styling. Typically it presents images of how the really sexy and beautiful woman should look like. If you are an owner of the web-site regarding health and beauty areas or the model agencies - bear in mind that you can use pin-up images that are great for vintage web icon.

Military and security guard websites may effectively use soldiers and officers with an outdated appearance to win the site visitors favour and trust.

Usage of specific characters is not limited to the above-mentioned ones. You may apply creativity and use them unconventionally. Thus you will surprise your visitors. As far as you know it is a good way to turn your potentional customers minds to your web business.

Vintage Icons Patterns and Typography

Recommended Vintage patterns in vintage icons design:

  • patterns containing vintage papers;
  • with vintage frames;
  • with outmoded florals;
  • paper and bagging, gold-cloth as the texture fabric;
  • wooden or bronze textures for vintage icons.

For producing vintage icons titles, content headings and texts you can use such authentic fonts as Matchbook, Bazar Medium, Embossed, Hill House,-Fontleroy Brown, Fusty Saddle, Just Old Fashion, Goudy Bookletter 1911, Rocket Script, Parisian, Star Avenue etc. Feel absolutely free to discover and purchase on the internet the best appropriate fonts that will ideal match your design.

Try to get a such vintage-inspired design that looks fashionable and appropriate, but no old-fashioned. The goal is to create the cozy and noble, antique feel with a help of Vintage icons as well as images and styled blocks for the site layout. Without any doubt your visitors will return to your web-site with a grateful smile again and again. They will feel more comfortable and cozy at your web site.

But try not to make your vintage design look too stuffy, you need to be aware that professional design is formal-looking and the major emphasis should be made on the products, services or content material your website provides.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Simple Web Icons Additional Info

We can easily say that among the principal features of minimalistic design are Simple web icons. Remember that simple icons along with other design elements should be used moderately. Reduce the amount of simple icons. Use them only where it is absolutely necessary. Optional simple web icons are to be refrained from repetition or eluded. They may serve several functions.

Limited amount of color, reserved tones, clear elements, soft lighting are being used for simple web icons design. One of the best benefits of Simple icons is that they don't distract website visitors from the main idea of your site.

Rules for simple icons design:

  • minimal usage of duplication
  • less amount of graphical elements
  • maximum intuitive clarity
  • clear typography in simple web icons
  • less icons

Simple web icons and minimalistic design

Do not forget about lightweight background textures and patterns. They are also important for the design and content perception as well as simple icons. The background pattern or images shouldn't catch all the attention of your visitors. The eyes should focus on the site content or some main blocks. Developing the background use a light simple shade. This makes it secondary compared with the foreground items like simple web icons.

Another outstanding feature of the lightweight and clear design is definitely clear typography. Simple icons names (if there're any) should be precise, meaningful and equivalent to their function. Headings placed on simple web icons should be of readable font and large enough for easy reading. Clear hierarchy need to be followed as well.

Also for building a great clean simple icons design you can use enough white or empty space. Extra spaces keep elements more readable. Due to this fact it is easier to work with them. Even if you use some extra space between simple web icons this dont harm to the design of your site at all.

Speaking about the minimalistic trend in most cases it is not totally minimal. Nevertheless the dominance of white space there are still some simple icons, light textures, neat styles and bold fonts. Remember minimal isn't exactly the same as simple. Initially minimal meant plain typographic excluding images and styling. But present day design requires something more than black text on white background to make your website distinguish among thousands of other plain website pages. Add more zest to your webpage layout with a help of some unusual coloring, catchy simple icons, half-transparent and lightweight textures and patterns. Also reduce design elements to the most essential items.

Simple is often used as a synonym of smart. Simple web icons look great and professional especially for a clean business style design.

Discovering The Truth On Realistic Icons

Realism traces back to the 1850s when this movement unfolded in French art. Over the hundreds of years it came through all types of art and design. Speaking about realism in web design we can say that it's represented here by Realistic web icons.

Realistic icons background

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Line Icons Important Info

We generally use lines for emphasizing edges as well as outlining the contours of objects. Line icons can be the wonderful decoration of any web site design, of course if you have a skill to design them correctly.

Lines and their features in line icons design.

Let's discover what line actually is. The shortest definition is the following: line is a form that contain both width and length but eliminating depth. The line is not only straight but more often curved. The lines can render some appropriate mood or feeling of a movement. Inspite of the being static shapes, Line icons can make an illusion of the dynamic objects. The mood depends on the lines direction. For example horizontal lines in Line icons bring the feeling of calmness, peace and stability. Speaking about the vertical lines - they strive for the light movement. The diagonal lines reflect energy as well as stronger dynamic feeling. If you would like develop refine and ultra-modern line icons designs you should use combination of straight lines and curves.

Line art - Line Icons

For sure the initial type of line art that familiar to a great amount of artists is curve stitching. This kind of line art was made with a help of threads of various colors and needle. Originally the canvas was a cardboard. This movement is also well-known as "String Art". Generally it was found out by Mary Boole as the accessory material for kids to help them study geometry of angles and spaces. Line art lived also like illustrations for print sources before the photography was invented. At that time line art involved only black and white colours. A few shades of gray were also acceptable and imitated.Appealing to both technical and creative sides of human nature, line art combines geometry and art. If you want to become a Line icons designer keep in mind that this process may develop imagination and creativity as well as calculation skills.Line art has an ability to be printed to the halftone pic with no extra conversion. Thus it is different from photography or multi-color painting. This type of art is named line drawing and line copy as well.