Rockstar Icon Designer - Kate McInnes [20]
Pictogram icons need to be as clear as possible and still represent the item it stands for. Make the silhouette of the item using basic shapes and lines, then embellish it with one or two key features from the object. Try not to clutter the pictogram with too much detail; remember, it's not about the object but its meaning.
Pictograms are commonly a single color with cut out areas added for the details. The best way to make this is with the Pathfinder options in Adobe Illustrator or the Shape Building tools in Adobe Photoshop. Try and make the objects as editable as possible before you export the final designs. This style of icon often requires lots of small tweaks before it's complete. Making sure that the shapes can be easily scaled and moved will ensure that you don't have to remake some elements if a design change is necessary.
A successful set of glyph icons should look crisp and clean. This means pixel perfect shapes and a restrained use of gradient fills (if any). Align all shapes to the pixel grid and try not to use angles that will render and scale badly. Try to only use straight lines and 45 degree angles with thick bold lines and shapes. Fine shapes and details will blur and distort the icon.
Using a library of common elements will help to create a harmonious set of pictograms. Building each icon with the same size circles, lines and corner styles will help to visually link each design and create an overall theme. Because the only element used to make a pictogram is shape, it's easy to disrupt the harmony of a set with mismatching designs.
Developer icon set by David Ferreira for wpzoom.com.
Perspective
I'm first to admit that I was rubbish at drawing three dimensional objects when I started in icon design. It takes a bit of practice, but once you learn the basic principles you'll be able to build on your knowledge and become a master in no time.
RSS icon made with Inkscape by Ambroise Coutand.
In this chapter we will begin by looking at traditional perspective. Learning how to draw perspective will help you focus your attention on the form and construction of objects and give you the skills to create effective three dimensional icons. Starting at zero perspective and moving through two-point perspective to isometric projection you will learn about the various forms of perspective while gaining skills in traditional drawing skills with pencil and paper, pixel pushing in Photoshop and shape building in Illustrator. The learning process will guide you from basic to intermediate rendering skills while you brush up on your perspective theory.
A Word on Perspective
In art and design, perspective is a way to draw objects that appear to have the same three-dimensional qualities that can be seen in real world objects and scenes. Perspective makes use of vanishing points and horizon lines to define the angle that an object is drawn in and the way in which foreshortening and distance will change the objects form.
The terms one-point, two-point and zero-point perspective relate to the number of vanishing points in the drawing. Programs such as Inkscape and Adobe Illustrator CS5 have the capability to reproduce objects using a perspective grid, but as always, it's best to have a full understanding of the theory of perspective before you re-create it digitally. In the following chapter I will explain the three main forms of perspective used for icon design and how to draw them.
Zero-Point Perspective
Zero, no point or straight-on perspective, is a drawing or design that is drawn with a straight on view with no apparent side or top planes showing. Zero-point perspective is commonly used for Toolbar and glyph style icons. Depth is created with the use of scale and color rather than vanishing points. An example would be a drawing of a mountain range. The illusion of depth is achieved by gradually changing the color and