new application icon

[Ulisse]

Alex, would you like an icon like the attached one?
I haven't too much time, but if you like the concept, I think I could go on and improve that one and produce a complete set in a reasonable time ;)

[Ulisse (ulipo)]

attached a better version of the icon, still only in 256x256 (but made with a trick that makes it scale nicely at 128x128 and 64x64)

[Ulisse (ulipo)]

tweaked another little bit, still waiting for a response to eventually start working on smaller sizes (and maybe a monochrome glyph)

[Alex (noneed4anick)]

Hey,

sorry for my delayed answer, but I had a hell of a week... First of all thanks for your efforts.
Well, I like it, but I think it's too much a drawing of a cuttlefish, rather than an icon. It doesnt need to look exactly like a cuttlefish, a kind of octopus would be fine too. But it should maybe have something that can be related to what the application does. Also the cuttlefish looks kind of sad to me.

[Paulo José (pauloup)]

Hi, Ulisse,

It seems we had the same idea: to create a new icon to Cuttlerfish. Since sept 06 I'm sending my ideas to Alex and I didn't know this Launchpad's entry, so he asked me to join this discussion and show here my proposals.

The attached image shows my last proposal. It just shows the basic shape and idea, then no colors neither details are showed here. Since I sent this proposal, Alex contributed with some ideas, like incorporating the USB, Wifi and Bluetooth concepts in the icon.

I'm working on a nest version and I hope to show it here soon.

[Ulisse (ulipo)]

@Alex: that one was the hi-res version of an icon, it is actually a drawing of a cuttlefish but in smaller size versions it would loose progressively some details.

@Paulo: I like very much the concept of an octopus holding a lamp, but just the silhouette won't work: I love glyphs for notification areas, but an icon needs to be in full color at greater sizes and in menus. Try to put your icon in the middle of the loads of other icons you find in a modern system, it would surely stand out in a negative way.

I'd go for a main icon in full colors and a glyph just for 22x22 and 16x16 sizes, but your actual icon it's already too crowded to be a nice glyph in such sizes, I would put more accent on the lamp and avoid to hog it with other symbols (USB, WiFi etc.)

I'll be happy to contribute to your work!

[Paulo José (pauloup)]

Hi Ulisse,

I agree every word you said. But my image shows only the basic shape just because my way to create is step by step. When I'm done with the basic shape, I move on with colors and styles. And not because I propose to use a glyph as main icon. You're right in your arguments, and I'm sorry for have not been clear.

About Alex's ideas, my reply was:
"Good ideas, they just need to be polished. There are few space for placing elements, symbols and concepts on an icon, so how simple we could keep it, better. The USB, Wifi and Bluetooth are technologies that Cuttlerfish uses to produces actions. Ok, but with all these elements together, maybe the icon do not represent very well itself (the Cuttlerfish app), but most these concepts. Although, would be good represent them someway, to create a connection between them and Cuttlerfish."

So I think we can help each other, since our ideas seems go to the same way. Once I get time to work more on it, I will want your opinion again. And I think you should go on. Your icon have a very good and pleasant style and color scheme, the last version above all.

Thank you!

[Ulisse (ulipo)]

Ok, I'll wait for your next iteration on that icon and then I'll try to apply to it my style and the tricks I've learnt doing icons for Gnome ;)

[Jimmy Merrild Krag (beruic)]

Hello.
I made these icons, where the tentacles show really well. (Th attached file is an Inkscape svg, that contains multiple icons).
Please have a look at it, and please DO modify it if you got some ideas. I'm not a graphical professional, so my colouring skills might be limited.

In the end, I think it would be cool if there was a public vote about the icons, but for now, maybe there should be a call for entries on popular Ubuntu media, such as OMG! Ubuntu and Webupd8. What do you think?

[Jimmy Merrild Krag (beruic)]

About my icons: I have purposefully tried to keep them simple. The vector is drawn on top of an image I found, where the tentacles were spread, so they show, even in small resolutions. Perhaps the colouring could be improved with some grading and stuff, but I'm unsure how to do this. Also, the body might be better with some pattern in larger resolutions.

[Alex (noneed4anick)]

Hey Jimmy,

I like the shape of the cuttlefish on the right, I think it would look very well as indicator icon in monochrome colors. But the icon itself is (as you also pointed out) a little too plain -- even the other two designs on the left and in the middle -- for the main icon.

Also, as paulo pointed out already, the new icon should give the user a basic idea of the app.

[Jimmy Merrild Krag (beruic)]

Well, anybody is welcome to edit my icons.
When I made it, I felt that the tentacles were important to sort of symbolize that Cuttlefish can manage many things at once, and that's why I've emphasized on them. Perhaps it should hold something with the tentacles in the large version of the icon?

[dustigroove (dustigroove)]

Just adding my $0.02 as a user of Cuttlefish... Paulo's icon is both aesthetically pleasing and blends well with the monochromatic themes shipped with Ubuntu, all while managing to illustrate function in a simple but elegant way (the lightbulb). Sometimes less is more. I can see where the addition of color and shading to the larger version is possible and would allow it to fit in to the other high-color icons in the system (although trending in UI is now leaning towards more simplistic icons with less detailed color).

[Jimmy Merrild Krag (beruic)]

Somehow I missed Paolo's contribution earlier. I completely agree with dustingroove.

[Jimmy Merrild Krag (beruic)]

So, when it this icon gonna make its entry? Shouldn't we just go with Paulo's for now? It can always be changed if a better one emerge later.