New Application Icon

[StickyNomad]

I did consider some user remarks and slightly retouched TC's main icon:

Look here for the very first result.

I didn't change much, but on a canvas that small, a few pixels and a slightly adjusted coloring might make quite a difference. Comments welcome...

[Sir_SiLvA]

Mh... I Still dont like it the blue-color is still a complete else one as the original wish i prefer

[Mirek]

I do like the new icon, but it has this rough, metallic feel to it...

[sqa_wizard]

Well ... it is the same as always :
- Don't change it and the 1st group will tell you it is boring, requesting a fresh one.
- Change it and the 2nd group will tell you that it is not the same as before.

For my part, I think the old original was good, but do not fit into the new set anymore.

If it changes I would prefer the "new" of your very first result ...

[PeaceMaker]

I like the "slightly retouched' one...

[Samuel]

The new icon looks even better.

One small suggestion: Would it be possible to create the Icon with an alpha channel? Your icon is viewed best in front of an white background. (Because of the grey shadow) I currently using the WinXP standard blue taskbar. So it has an very strange looking border. Should be similar with other dark backgrounds.

[StickyNomad]

2Samuel

The new icon looks even better.

Thanks!

Hm, we decided to use 256 color icons, therefore there doesn't exist alpha transparency. I will first try around with the shadow color, maybe a darker grey looks better...

But pehaps the main icon could be provided additionally in XP-format with alpha channel. I'll ask the author about it.

[PeaceMaker]

2Samuel

The new icon looks even better.

Thanks!

Hm, we decided to use 256 color icons, therefore there doesn't exist alpha transparency. I will first try around with the shadow color, maybe a darker grey looks better...

But pehaps the main icon could be provided additionally in XP-format with alpha channel. I'll ask the author about it.

Good idea.

[HolgerK]

For me the second version is quite better than the first.
I'm using black caption and task-bars, so the lighter blue offers a better contrast to the background.

One (or two) additional suggestion:
- the white label background must not have a gradient (better use unique white (R255,G255,B255) )
- the red lines could be a little more brighter (R212,G56,B56) instead of (R186,G50,B61)

About transparency(or gray shadow):
The disk symbol is no typical XP-Icon (to dark and no perspective drawing, size is to big to add a drop shadow,...)
So I think replacing the gray 1 pixel (right and bottom) border with transparency or darker gray, will not significantly change the picture on bright backgrounds, but decrease the contrast on darker backgrounds.

2StickyNomad
May be you already know about these MSDN articles:
Creating Windows XP Icons
Top Rules for the Windows Vista User Experience
Just for information. It's not my wish to change the well known design of this TC-Floppy.

Kind regards
Holger

[StickyNomad]

2HolgerK

Thanks for your suggestions, I'll consider them. I already tried a darker shadow color and IMO this looks a bit better already. But if the author agrees to include an alpha-transparency icon, I will provide it.

And thanks for the links, I didn't know these ones yet.

[PeaceMaker]

2StickyNomad

Can we expect an updated icon in the next Public Beta???

[StickyNomad]

2PeaceMaker
Well, I don't know. I've sent the current version to the author, and he has to make the decision about this...

[petermad]

2StickyNomad
I think the metal slider is a little to narrow on the new 16x16 icon - maybe make it 1 pixel wider towards the left?

http://madsenworld.dk/tcmd/tc7_16x16.png

[StickyNomad]

2petermad
OK, I'll try that...

[StickyNomad]

Look here. I darkened the color of the drop shadow and also widened the silder a bit. I also removed the light gradient from the label.