It's the good kind of spam we like to see.MisterMaker wrote: ↑Wed May 11, 2022 6:15 pm haha I think I spam this topic with more than enough data that we don't need it to be repeated
An exploration into the Icon theme
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Re: An exploration into the Icon theme
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- MisterMaker
- Posts: 743
- Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2020 7:41 am
External geometry
So this is a hard one it is the external geometry buttons and there are a lot....
Now Solidworks has a very simple Icon. (nr 1)
Just a box with a line. Simple and recognizable.
I don't want to make a direct copy since that could get me in trouble.
But since we have 7 options I doubt a simple cube with a line will do it. (The one we have now is pretty much a square cube with a line.
I was first thinking about this, but it has to much detail. So next I zoomed in on the corner and got this: In Freecad it looks like this: Now I have some issues:
First they are only recognizable by color which can give issues to color blind.
Only the colors explain a bit of what the function does, like the geometry is green where it attaches. And the lines are the color of reference geometry when you freeze it. Sync all green, and fix all red.
Maybe something else with the same colors scheme.....
So issue I have with the icons is that the arrows are too small and not readable, but it is not really bad if it is not readable since you can make the icons bigger. But the idea is that once you know the icons you make the toolbar smaller and you purely go on the icon looks since you don't need to read it. But if you cannot recognize the icons from each other this will not work. So that is my goal.
Now Solidworks has a very simple Icon. (nr 1)
Just a box with a line. Simple and recognizable.
I don't want to make a direct copy since that could get me in trouble.
But since we have 7 options I doubt a simple cube with a line will do it. (The one we have now is pretty much a square cube with a line.
I was first thinking about this, but it has to much detail. So next I zoomed in on the corner and got this: In Freecad it looks like this: Now I have some issues:
First they are only recognizable by color which can give issues to color blind.
Only the colors explain a bit of what the function does, like the geometry is green where it attaches. And the lines are the color of reference geometry when you freeze it. Sync all green, and fix all red.
Maybe something else with the same colors scheme.....
- adrianinsaval
- Veteran
- Posts: 5543
- Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:15 pm
Re: An exploration into the Icon theme
They still look like they have too much detail to me, the solidworks icon is too generic to be copyrightable, you can't get into trouble, it would still have the same problem of differentiating stuff though but the different overlayed icons might look better on that one.
- MisterMaker
- Posts: 743
- Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2020 7:41 am
Re: An exploration into the Icon theme
I tried some more simpler and more simpler and more simpler and so I ended up at the SW icon but with a wedge instead of a cube.
So I guess I only have enough pixels for 2 lines at max.
So 2 lines it is, and I present you the new icons: Before and after:
So I guess I only have enough pixels for 2 lines at max.
So 2 lines it is, and I present you the new icons: Before and after:
Re: An exploration into the Icon theme
I like the simpler style.
The sinc icon maybe need a more representative symbol like sinc arrows.
The fix reference seems a remove icon, maybe something like a search related works better.
The sinc icon maybe need a more representative symbol like sinc arrows.
The fix reference seems a remove icon, maybe something like a search related works better.
- adrianinsaval
- Veteran
- Posts: 5543
- Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2018 5:15 pm
Re: An exploration into the Icon theme
I like the general layout but I feel like curved edges are not a good representation of what the icon does, also it might be preferable to have overlayed mini icons to convey the differences like the original instead of colors and edge position.MisterMaker wrote: ↑Thu May 12, 2022 9:00 am I tried some more simpler and more simpler and more simpler and so I ended up at the SW icon but with a wedge instead of a cube.
So I guess I only have enough pixels for 2 lines at max.
So 2 lines it is, and I present you the new icons:
explorer_pfmeAp8uK3.png
FreeCADLink_I3zF9YbacY.png
Before and after:
Untitled.png
Also maybe use the default external edge color for the highlighted edge in the icon.
- MisterMaker
- Posts: 743
- Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2020 7:41 am
Re: An exploration into the Icon theme
Those mini icons are absolutely not readable on my 4K screen.
But I notice Linkstage has a bug there. At least at my install the dropdown menu's stay at 16px and don't follow the toolbar icons settings.
Dropdown with big icons
Dropdown with smalles 16px icons
Btw my icons look awesome on the bigger settings
But I notice Linkstage has a bug there. At least at my install the dropdown menu's stay at 16px and don't follow the toolbar icons settings.
Dropdown with big icons
Dropdown with smalles 16px icons
Btw my icons look awesome on the bigger settings
Re: An exploration into the Icon theme
What do people think of making the function more prominent? Very crude idea here:
Re: An exploration into the Icon theme
The attach and detach are clear for me, the curve and color indicates the tool function. The other icons are more simbòlic.adrianinsaval wrote: ↑Thu May 12, 2022 2:58 pm I like the general layout but I feel like curved edges are not a good representation of what the icon does