Where or how to get bases for icons?

This may be a silly question...and it may have been asked before, but I went as far as 7 pages...after I did a few searches and didn't find what I was looking for, so ...

I was wondering where and or how do you guys come up with the images you use for icons?

I already have a folder icon..open and closed, that I plan to stuff things in for the folders, but like what about the drives, computers, internet globes...etc?

I'm not trying to be rude, but not everyone "draws" their own icons, right? So how would I get the bases...are they font dings?

Also, what do I need to know and or do about making icons for apps like Firefox, AIM, WMP...stuff like that...I know that there's a certain amount of copyright to worry about, but obviously people use "defaults" of the apps as bases to make their own...so how do I know what I can use?

I really feel stupid to be asking these questions, but you see, though there are thousands of icons available...I know because I have over 5000 icons and or pngs I've collected...but there aren't enough that have the girly touch. Not a big market for them I don't guess...

Anyway, I'm making some pretty pink puffy icons (I'll do in blue too...lol) and I need some images...

Please help...

Thanks,

TNBrat!

#231792

A lot of people use the Mac icons for an idea of what needs to be created. As far as the actual icon work, people just make what seems to work. Folders are somewhat standardized as to what angles to use (but we get a lot of creativity there). Ditto goes for hard drives. Pretty much, as long as you know what you are looking at, it works.

(please don't post in pink, by the way)

#231816

I know that at foood.net there is a tutorial which helps you create bubbles and folders. The bubbles could help you create a globe icon.

http://www.foood.net/tutorials.htm

#231847

Here's one more

http://www.iheartny.com/howto_01.html

#231851

gnomexp, Well, I kind of know what to make, it's just making it, ya know? I can't really use the Mac Icons as bases because they belong to someone...so I'm trying to figure out where people get the images they use to start...

Sorry about the pink...I always used pink at the other forums...it's just my thing...

Shark026, Thanks...that linked helped, for sure!

Sid, and thank you too...great site! Don't know how I missed it!!

#231897

Hey, I've made a few icons, my first set, though I imagine someone else has already made some just like them, but I haven't seen any.

Of course, since these are Mac folder icons, if they are out there I wouldn't know because I'm an XP person...but I've always had a soft spot for the "Apple" logo I decided to give it a go....

I'd love some feedback, but please be nice, it's my first set, though anything constructive would be fine...

Also, should I put this somewhere else?

Thanks....

Apple Folders Vert Logo Link (Deviant Art)

#234659

I just looked at them and they look good. However, I feel you should start out with a "Milky" touch to the Icons, the shadow effect would look much more beter with a milky white (icon) color ...and make the edges a bit rounded ...take out the text descriptions...and shift the apple logo a little to the lower end..

Whew, sorry ...that is simply my feedback ...and in any case, good work for a first timer

#234662

Yeah, milky is always a good start. Gray just doesn't communicate apple, IMO.

For a first start, these are very good though!

-NC

#234895

the rainbow apple is out of perspective :S

I too advise you to remove the text on the folders, and the bold colors aren't that pretty. Pretty nice for your first icons, but try to add more detail (shadows, highlights, detail)

Oh and the way I make icons is sketch on paper > detail on paper > blocks in ps > detailed blocks in ps > styled blocks in ps > go in w/ brush and tools to retouch/enhance > icon builder export as icns > pixadex export folder icon, icns, and ico. I do all my icons at 256x256.

#234904

javagreen, thanks for the advice and no worries about being to critical, because that's the only way I'll be able to improve!

nightcrawler1089, and thanks to you too, though I was trying to accomplish the milk thing I guess I got it wrong, any suggestions on where I can go so I can download a "base" or something so I can get it right?

pwnzrzpat, yes you're right about that one, it was sort of a last min thing, should have just left it off. I do have another version without the text, because I wasn't sure about how blurry it looks...so thanks.

About the bright colors, I imagine you're right about them too, but I guess I have a thing for colorful and bright...think I should darken them?

Oh and wow, that's a lot of work you go through, I'm not so good on paper...and even worse than in PSP...lol, but I'm willing to try what ever it takes, so thank you for that too!

#236060

Great work so far.

A little late in adding to this thread but here I go...

I started out modding Apple's icons.

Eventually I just started making my own. Here's my process now.

-Drawing everything out on paper

-scan the drawings

-trace over with the pen tool

-render everything out with layer styles, brush strokes and whatever else I can think of.

So... my base for icons is now a blank piece of paper.

Back to the icons...

I don't mind the saturated colors as long as stay within a contained area. They definitely help keep the contrast between the apple and the folder front.

#236066

actually, all the apples are out of perspective, it's just noticable on the rainbow one. in addition to what everyone else said about text, shadows, etc., you might want to make the near side of the folder cut out, like a real folder...

(i can't draw, but that's the idea)

but seriously, for your for attempt, those are awesome! :woo hoo!:

#236070

shmengie, But they are real folders and not sure how they all could be out of perspective because I started with this...

#236079

Yeah, milky is always a good start. Gray just doesn't communicate apple, IMO.

For a first start, these are very good though!

-NC

Hey I have a question, what does it mean NC - PC?

I like your aviator !!

#236084

nightcrawler1089, and thanks to you too, though I was trying to accomplish the milk thing I guess I got it wrong, any suggestions on where I can go so I can download a "base" or something so I can get it right?

Nah, just play around with the colors, saturation, hue, etc.. A lot of it is a matter of preference, and eventually you'll find something you'll like.

Hey I have a question, what does it mean NC

Off-topic (you should have PMed me), but NC is short for nightcrawler. I got tired of writing it all out.

Good luck!

-NC

#236146

shmengie, But they are real folders and not sure how they all could be out of perspective because I started with this...

well, tink...they're not REAL folders now, are they? they're only digital representations of real folders. no, but seriously...

i'll refer you here for an example of what i mean. also, i think i kinda mis-spoke about the cut-out: i think the extending tab on the rear is the real defining characteristic i was going for with my suggestion.

as to the perspective issue: for the moment, forget about all the folders except for the rainbow one. the technique used to give icons (or any drawing) depth is called forced perspective. notice the top edge and the bottom edge of the front flap of the folder. if you extend those lines to the left, they will meet at what is called the Vanishing Point Left. now look at the stripes in the apple. they are horizontal in a 2-D space, when in fact they should also point to the VPL. does that make sense?

hth!

#236147

Well, the thing is that everyone uses the same type of folders, and I thought I'd do something different, that's why no cut-out. And since I scanned the image from a catalogue, then they are the exact type of folder I was going for.

Where did you get the image you attached? Because I would like to have those icons in general...lol

And yes, I get what you mean about the perspective thing, and thank you, I'd be the first to admit I've been having issues with that, but all the Apples other than the rainbow one should be of the correct perspective, because all I did was recolor the apple to get them....the rainbow one was taken off something else, so I don't doubt that it's out of perspective.

sketching, sorry, some how I missed you, but Thank you. Again, that's a lot of steps, but your icons are really nice, so I'll try to do the paper thing....What image editing software do you use?

nightcrawler1089, again, thanks...I guess it's a longer process than I expected. Not that I though that making icons was easy, because if that were the case, I would have been doing them all along....I just thought that these were ok...not good, just ok...but I was wrong, so that means I have a lot more work to do....

#236323

the folder tab/cut-out thing: only a suggestion. they look good without it. those icons are over at aero-soft under the icons sub-folder. i forget which ones exactly, but poke around.

for the perspective, you can use the ps perspective tool (edit|transform|perspective) and smoosh the left side. and yes, i sit corrected. i definitely mis-spoke when i said that all the apples were screwy. in fact, it's my eyes that are screwy.

#236346

Hey, I liked most of them! They're not necessarily bad, they could just use a little tweaking so that other people would like them.

There are tons of things developers are satisfied with that end users wouldn't be.

-NC

#236524