So I was trying to make a new icon for the editor when Crimson Wizard pointed out a potential issue, I was maybe hoping that someone who know Photoshop, GIMP or similar software could help out.
The issue is that the icon is entirely blue, and when it is placed over a blue background it fades in and becomes sort of invisible. Crimson Wizard suggested that adding a white outline to the shape could help, although I suppose a black outline would do the same thing. If anyone wants to try giving it a nicer color or do other edits they're free to do so.
Showcase:
Spoiler
(https://cloud.githubusercontent.com/assets/1510803/25072542/66ef6544-22d1-11e7-8dbe-a50cbe7bcf0d.png)
Problem:
Spoiler
(https://camo.githubusercontent.com/8d6966dbc8c1021d8357c20e292c8a2a4c2cbf03/687474703a2f2f692e696d6775722e636f6d2f42516877666c562e706e67)
Image:
Spoiler
(https://cloud.githubusercontent.com/assets/1510803/25107306/e52f777a-23ce-11e7-880f-ba48c6b96421.png)
Original:
Spoiler
(https://raw.githubusercontent.com/adventuregamestudio/ags/456002167423610016201e1ba257ddc168ca5f84/Editor/AGS.Editor/Resources/ags_cup.png)
Not sure it helps but I did some things to it like outline, gradient, drop shadow.
when i tried to upload the pngs to an image sharing site it messed the files up so i just uploaded them in a zip:
https://www.sendspace.com/file/adh7mq
Lets not rush this ;)
First of all:
Here are the source photoshop files (the cup is in splash3). The cup is done in vectors so it should be easy to create custom icons.
http://shatten.sonores.de/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/splashes2.zip
Here is an icon creation guide:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/dn742485(v=vs.85).aspx
And an icon creator, unfortunately this one can only create icons up to 64x64
http://www.xiconeditor.com/
Made a quick 128x128 icon:
(http://shatten.sonores.de/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/ags_icon_128.png)
Here's the ico:
http://shatten.sonores.de/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/ags_icon_64.ico
And here's the source psd:
http://shatten.sonores.de/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/single_cup.psd
The splash screen looks really cool, so wouldn't including the skewed white screen solve the background problem?
https://www.sendspace.com/file/ljjj37
Quote from: LameNick on Thu 20/04/2017 12:38:37
The splash screen looks really cool, so wouldn't including the skewed white screen solve the background problem?
https://www.sendspace.com/file/ljjj37
It would, however it requires additional space in an already cramped environment which would make the icon harder to see. Maybe trim off the sides so that it just covers the cup.
Sorry for flooding you with all these versions, I'm not much of a graphic designer, just hope that one of them will be perceived as not crippling the original too much.
https://www.sendspace.com/file/r6emqj
I like the ones with mirrored tilted rectangle. I do not like ones with ellipsis, because our current splash design (and cup design we are using) is based on metro style, which seem to favor straight lines.
But this needs to be tested in small size (like on window title bar) to see if it fits well.
EDIT: BTW, we do not have to use same shapes on every size of an icon. We may use complex shape on large icons, and simplified shape on small icon, to keep it distinguishable.
We're getting somewhere, however, LameNick, can you send me a 256x256 version of the narrowscreen image?
i had to retrace it in vectors since all the provided original images were smaller than 256x256
https://www.sendspace.com/file/a83elb
This is pretty cool I think.
Spoiler
(http://i.imgur.com/8wCXHSh.png)
I think it might look even better, especially on the smaller icons, if we also had scaled each individual image by vector, but maybe this is too much hassle? I don't know. It probably would be better than the stretch scale that I used when I made the test icon. I would need copies of the file "ags_cuponscreen_256x_v2.png" in the following dimensions.
- 256x256
- 128x128
- 96x96
- 64x64
- 48x48
- 32x32
- 24x24
- 16x16
Unfortunately I don't know how to directly export vector graphics in specific resolution. I can just import it in specific resolution, but I don't know whether the scale transformation happens before it's conversion into bitmap or after. If these are not good I might try different rescaling algorithms but I doubt at these small resolutions there would be much of an observable difference.
https://www.sendspace.com/file/nvzzka
Thank you, it looks much better than what I did. I uploaded the changes to PR #397 (https://github.com/adventuregamestudio/ags/pull/397).
This may be just me, but I liked the old stronger blue color better. Now it became rather blusih grey, very unelaborate in my opinion.
Also, have you considered the white background with blue outline variant (I saw one in the LameNick's archive) ? How would that work for large icons in your opinion? Hmm maybe not.
Well, anyway, if people are generally okay with it, I may merge the request now.
I'm not a designer myself or have any sort of proficiency in anything related to that, so I'll let others weigh in on that. It makes sense however to go with that color as it is closer the AGS logos color scheme.
I did consider the blue outline ones that LameNick provided, but ultimately decided against it as it didn't look good on the smaller icons and I preferred to use the same image for all the sizes, just for sake of simplicity.
If anyone wants to see what the icon looks like under specific circumstances I can provide screen shots if they're unable to check out the dev branch themselves.
I'd also try a background that matches blue cup's tilt angle. Especially on small icons, different tilt make it look too complex.
I am comparing it with uTorrent icon, which is a "nu" symbol on the green field, it also has a thin white outline around it, following general shape.
I'm sorry I don't understand what you're saying or what a tilt angle is in this context.
I mean, currently the white background is tilted inverse compared to the blue cup's tilt. Maybe make it just outline the cup?
Like this? https://www.sendspace.com/file/99jq7a
I think personally i like more the original, but i don't mind either way.
I guess I will stand aside here, because I cannot decide myself, so I will leave this for others.
The main issue I am having with this new icon is that IMHO it looks bland, if you compare it with more elaborate deep blue color of the existing icon, and other program icons I have around it on the task bar or programs menu.
I'm sorry, i somehow missed the whole color switching thing.
https://www.sendspace.com/file/qfjpar
Thank you, personally I like that color better :).
One (hopefully final) request, could you make a variant with original tilt but darker color, since you and ChamberOfFear seem to like that kind of tilt?
I would just test how the actual icon looks like.
I'm happy to help. Here they come:
https://www.sendspace.com/file/dz62zo
I think I like the "ags_cup_screen_06_256x_unmirrored_darker_RGB" best personally, that mirroring will probably work better when scaled to smaller dimensions as well I think.
Ok, choose which you like more and lets push it into repository.
LameNick, could you make a copy of ags_cup_screen_06_256x_unmirrored_darker_RGB.png into all the different dimensions?
The PNG dimensions should be square, however the icon it self is taller then wider, not sure if thats a problem.
https://www.sendspace.com/file/dbgilp
I find the discussion hard to follow because every new icon requires everyone looking at the thread to download and extract zip files. Would you mind including screenshots or similar directly in the post?
Quote from: cat on Thu 27/04/2017 16:46:50
I find the discussion hard to follow because every new icon requires everyone looking at the thread to download and extract zip files. Would you mind including screenshots or similar directly in the post?
I've also been having this problem, but I thought I was the only one that wasn't really willing to download every single icon, and so I kept my mouth shut.
But seeing as I'm not the only one, I'd like to echo your statement by saying that I too would like to see some actual screenshots.
I'm sorry guys but as was implied with Crimson Wizard's last post the latest changes were going to be pushed to the master branch of the source code, and now they are (https://github.com/adventuregamestudio/ags/pull/397). I have now moved on to other tasks and projects that I cannot possibly divert my attention from, making montages of random situations where the icon is showing takes more than I am currently willing to offer of my limited spare time.
I'm honestly a little perplexed that you waited this long to speak, based on what you're saying you've clearly been following this thread, and I wrote this 5-6 days ago.
Quote from: ChamberOfFear on Sat 22/04/2017 20:47:04
If anyone wants to see what the icon looks like under specific circumstances I can provide screen shots if they're unable to check out the dev branch themselves.
If anyone wants to see what it looks like, work more on this or make changes, you can download the icon here (https://github.com/adventuregamestudio/ags/blob/ff4ef46472ba23d9bc72c2f99646da9d6c54db66/Editor/AGS.Editor/agsico-1.ico).
PS: I forgot to thank abstauer and LameNick for their help, so thank you guys. I credited them in the commit message (https://github.com/adventuregamestudio/ags/commit/ff4ef46472ba23d9bc72c2f99646da9d6c54db66).
I know this has now already been merged into master, however I still feel I should voice my opinion.
Personally I dislike the logo itself, and even more so the "improved" icon, and feel we should rather do a more retro style logo focusing on the origins of AGS and pixel art
(even though many of us, including me, want AGS to evolve to become a more modern friendly engine with multi platform support etc).
(http://i.imgur.com/NpAZxPJ.png)
CaesarCub did this one in less than 5 minutes yet I feel this one portrays AGS much better than the current one.
We can change the icon. But why these opinions are always stated after someone makes a change already? The logo has been there for two years. I was asked to change the icon to match the logo when I was releasing 3.4.0 (a year ago), but I did not feel like making one on my own, so I left old one for a while. I am not a confident artist myself, all I can do is wait until someone suggests their work for me to put into program. In two years no one did.
I cannot help but wonder why is all the changes to AGS looks are so erratic... people are refusing to talk until someone makes a move (probably seeing that no one else does).
E: That may be ironic, but the only reason why I wanted to change the splash was that I did not have original logo source (unflattened graphic document), and that was very difficult for me to update version number on it. If not that, we would probably have same logo as in 3.2.1 still.
I would've brought my opinion in sooner, but I've been too busy lately to pay much attention to the forums.
I understand your frustration with this Crimson, so if not now, I think this is definitely something to put on the "todo list" for a potential AGS4.
Saying that, this change obviously makes sense, and for all I know I'm the only one who dislikes the logo ;).
(One dislike being I get too much of windows office 365 feel from it)
Quote from: Peder on Sun 30/04/2017 22:01:17
I understand your frustration with this Crimson, so if not now, I think this is definitely something to put on the "todo list" for a potential AGS4.
I do not see much problem with changing it again now, because the 3.4.1 I want to release is still in beta stage and will be for at least a month more, I think.
It's just that the whole process is silly: someone wants to change an icon, then someone does not like it, and repeat.
I guess we applied it too fast, but then again, this new icon is just a logical continuation of a new splash/logo, and new logo was introduced back in ... 2014 (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=48318.0)(!)
I remember something about files being able to carry more than one icon... maybe put one as default and a few other choices in for the user to pick from?
Yeah I vaguely remembered mention about this splash screen way back, turns out I even voted myself ;).
Multiple icons should be a no no imo.. we already have multiple icons/logos in use to represent AGS across the site/forums and in the editor which is another thing I don't like.
The site/forum logo is completely different to the favicon used and again completely different to the logo/icon in the editor.
We really should come up with an icon/logo that can be used everywhere, instead of having different ones everywhere.. ??? :-\
Quote from: Peder on Sun 30/04/2017 22:01:17
Saying that, this change obviously makes sense, and for all I know I'm the only one who dislikes the logo ;).
(One dislike being I get too much of windows office 365 feel from it)
You're not the only one. I dislike it because I dislike the whole flat look that seems to be going around on logos nowadays. But I've kept my mouth shut, because no one else has mentioned it, and I know the logo needed updating after all these years.
Also, I realize I probably just dislike change. So with that in mind. I dislike the new logo, but I'm keeping an open mind and trying to welcome it. :)
Quote from: Peder on Sun 30/04/2017 21:25:16
Personally I dislike the logo itself, and even more so the "improved" icon, and feel we should rather do a more retro style logo focusing on the origins of AGS and pixel art
(even though many of us, including me, want AGS to evolve to become a more modern friendly engine with multi platform support etc).
(http://i.imgur.com/NpAZxPJ.png)
CaesarCub did this one in less than 5 minutes yet I feel this one portrays AGS much better than the current one.
I like this icon and would be happy to see it in the next non-beta version of AGS.
I had a go at designing an icon that follows the circle trend:
(https://i.imgur.com/A5fMn2f.png)
Here it is in the wild:
(https://i.imgur.com/9pxnVfx.png)
And here's a 16x16 version:
[imgzoom]https://i.imgur.com/TCwAb84.png[/imgzoom]
Thoughts?
Looks good, but I wouldn't know that this is supposed to be a cup if presented without context.
I tested the 16x16 version out in Windows 10. It doesn't look bad to me:
(https://i.imgur.com/Z59UbTP.png)
Spoiler
Side note: I thought I was the only one left using Sunbird! (No, I will not use a plugin.) Also, is that FDFormat or something to the left?
Could be a bit brighter I guess, changed it a bit:
[imgzoom]https://i.imgur.com/3Ej3FX2.png[/imgzoom]
And in Win 10:
(https://i.imgur.com/aSHveRM.png)
(The diskette icon is from TotalCommander.)
I like it, especially this new slightly changed version.
But my only problem is that the angle kind of stops my mind from instantly recognizing it as a cup. It looks more like a blue lens cover for a camera to me.
I'm probably a case for Freud, cause it kind of looks like a round circle with a penis to me... (roll)
I think it's the angle of the handle that makes it hard to understandle what it is. The pixel version looks ok, it's quite hard to draw anything clearly readable in 16x16 pixels anyway, but I'm not a fan of that vector piece and its black outlines, it also looks rather bland next to your other taskbar icons.
It's actually great to see people working on such things and improving little bits of AGS here and there.
Quote from: Hobo on Fri 22/09/2017 17:32:56understandle
That made me giggle quite a bit (laugh)
Ok then, next attempt:
(https://i.imgur.com/uAtCNxN.png)
Not really.
I like it. I personally think the black shading is a bit much, but that's probably just me.
The only problem I really have though, is that the cup looks really shallow. As though the base of the cup takes up 80% of the cup. (laugh)
Or that we're looking at the cup from the bottom.
Am I making sense?
Quote from: Khris on Fri 22/09/2017 19:39:20
Ok then, next attempt:
This looks like a smiling ghost with a handle... or beard... or riding a wheel... or freud stuff again :).
The old icon was better.
Or maybe we should go with Khris' icon reworked and at different sizes.
Right now, I'd just prefer the old icon outright.
This is the Critics' Lounge, so I'm allowed to say this.
Why not just put the extra icons in the exe and let the user choose the one they like best?
(Of course, must users don't know they can change the icon...) (roll)
Quote from: Cassiebsg on Sat 02/06/2018 15:39:20
Why not just put the extra icons in the exe and let the user choose the one they like best?
(Of course, must users don't know they can change the icon...) (roll)
Sounds like a good idea to me. Probably throw in a green cup while we're at it, since I remember someone having a problem with the cup being blue. (laugh)
Most users probably don't know they can change icon, because very few programs offer alternate icons. I can only list two games which I remember having it. The Petz series, and Megaman X6.
I tried to give this a go as well.
(http://shatten.sonores.de/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/1ags256.png) (http://shatten.sonores.de/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/1ags32.png) (http://shatten.sonores.de/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/1ags16.png)
Here's a quick test:
(http://shatten.sonores.de/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/ags_icon_test.png)
edit:
Tweaked the gradient | Made the cup take up more space of the square
(http://shatten.sonores.de/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/ags_smaller_cup.png) (http://shatten.sonores.de/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/ags_bigger_cup.png)
one last edit with the classic CJ cup:
(http://shatten.sonores.de/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/ags_classic_cup.png)
Source in Inkscape in case anyone likes to tinker with it.
http://shatten.sonores.de/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/ags_icon.zip
I rather like it.
It's got that overused minimalist thing going on. But it's not TOO minimalistic, because it uses a nice gradient and skewered angle. Which is why I rather like it.
Give it about ten to twenty years though, and all icons and logos will become overly complex again, and I'll be complaining about that being overused. (laugh)
I actually like this new icon more than any of the other AGS Icons (even the one currently being used).
I'm not fond of that classic CJ cup though. It clashes too much.
Thanks for the feedback, although it seems like I'm a little late to jump on the bandwagon.
I admit the main inspiration came from my mobile phone - not to mention the inkscape tutorial. :)
And who knows, maybe even pixely Win 3.11 icons might see a comeback :)