Workbench Icon Creation - Suggested Software and Best Practice?

[paullee]

Hi, reading workbench creation and want to do some exercise on creating icon.
https://www.freecadweb.org/wiki/Workben ... orkbenches

Any suggested software? (Linux Fedora) Anywhere with more information on this subject?

I have almost not used any graphic software at all.


Thanks for any suggestion.

[NormandC]

paullee, this has nothing to do with getting help on FreeCAD. So why did you post this in the Help forum?

Seriously.

[paullee]

paullee, this has nothing to do with getting help on FreeCAD. So why did you post this in the Help forum?

Seriously.

My apology if there is nothing more about it in FreeCAD docs...

There is a hint in Workbench Creation doc: Icon = """paste here the contents of a 16x16 xpm icon"""...

Having no much idea about graphics, (I saw some 'strange characters' here in other WB), I am searching FreeCAD and via google e.g. and find some ArtWorks... Workbench Key (no idea what it is about)... hoping there may be something more here.

https://www.freecadweb.org/wiki/Artwork
https://www.freecadweb.org/wiki/Workbench_KEY

Will look other websites about it.

[triplus]

SVG icons are the preferred choice but a bit harder to implement compared to using embedded XPM workbench icon approach. One option on how to implement SVG workbench icon support in a workbench that is not a part of default FreeCAD workbenches:

https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic. ... 40#p119068

P.S. Basically you use a function in importable python module. To determine the location of your FreeCAD module and use that info to construct the path for your SVG workbench icon after.

[paullee]

Thanks for pointing to the discussion and the module creation wiki that I am not aware of!

I am checking some tutorials on Gimp and Inkscape, both software I have not managed to learn to use it before.

It seem the better choice is Inkscape, hope it can change into the 'XPM' format - seem easier in setting than the more advanced setting for SVG.

http://write.flossmanuals.net/inkscape/creating-icons/
https://www.gimp.org/tutorials/Creating_Icons/

[triplus]

I would consider using XPM workbench icons as a legacy option. We actually had to invest effort in the past to port them to SVG:

https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=14426

XPM workbench icon will work but SVG workbench icon is what is desired/expected now. In addition FreeCAD modules not included in FreeCAD by default usually don't use the resource file approach to provide (icon) artwork. And therefore more or less use the same approach to determine the location of SVG artwork suitable for FreeCAD commands (and things like that).