Dear Michael,
I really appreciate your comments. They help me a lot.
First, I voted for high-resolution and flat in the survey. The soft
3D
look is really nice, but I worry that it is difficult to see some of
the complex iconography. So some of my comments may not apply if you
decide to go for higher-def imagery.
I don't want to go into details, but people are use to explicit
explanations. If
some symbol is simple but new, 95% of users will say "interesting,
but put in
the background flower and bicycle" :)
Save-open actions is an excellent example. When I tried to simplify
it to arrows
(which are element of traditional icons) and generalized symbol of
place/object
to save, most of comments was in the direction "arrow is OK but add
folder
icon or disk icon or DVD icon". And my point is - we don't have to
show one
specific storage media. This way symbol becomes more scalable.
But sometimes it is just too hard to simplify.
1. The size of the small action sub-icon in the lower right is fine
for simple images like + and -, but it is hard to see more complex
ones like redraw and export. Zoom last and zoom more are a bit hard
to
see, but easier than redraw and export.
That is why for blue sub-icons the area is bigger. By 1x1px, but
bigger :)
Maybe I should increase it, but it decreases space for icon itself.
[to consider]
2. Query would be easier to identify if you put a raster (and maybe
vector) pattern under the arrow tip.
See my initial comments ;)
3. Element-add could use some informative imagery like you did with
analyze rather than a box. The GRASS icon in wxPython has a small
arrow and legend. Also, it would probably be good to add a north
arrow
to the legend icon as this is the only place to get a north arrow
too.
But 'element' stands for anything (alias nothing).
North arrow [to consider].
4. I could learn * as new without much difficulty, though I tend to
think of it as 'select' for some reason. On the other hand, I can't
think of a better image for new.
I had many problems with 'create'. This is n-th version. I agree it
is very
similar to select/bookmark.
5a. Load and save make perfect sense, but most people are accustomed
to a folder rather than your more abstract circle. I'd suggest a big
arrow (like you have) and little folder in the lower right, but this
goes against your grammar of large item and small action icon. Maybe
use your map-export.png idea and have a small down arrow for save,
small up arrow for load, and small horizontal arrow (minus the circle
as superfluous) for export??
Just arrow is an interesting option. Or simple box like in sub-icons
for save
and open.
5b. Save-as isn't easy to figure out. Once I know it, I get it, but
it's not obvious. Arrow down into a document rather than a crooked
down arrow?
I agree it's not obvious, but I do not like documents/folder in
icons. Still
looking for better sign.
6. Digitizing add various features. A plus is easier to understand
right away than a *. This makes grammatical sense: add a boundary
to a
vector, etc. It also complements the '-' for delete/remove feature.
Digitizing you usually create new objects. For me 'create' is not
the same as
'add' [1]. The same is with delete and remove.
In other case of course we can use just + and -.
7. The imagery for add command layer is much more understandable than
the current "gear", at least for me. But it's too small to see what
it
is. How about having the 'terminal' image fill the entire inner
'layer
box' rather than be a 3rd box inside. Also, would black background
and
white letters be easier to see and understand as a terminal?
I almost don't use pure black/white, so contrast in this icon could
be too big,
but I have to test it.
8. Need brighter colors on the otherwise very nice RGB-add (HIS-add
is
beautiful).
Probably my design goes too far into Glamour style :) but I like
unsaturated
colors.
My goal for this weeks is to finish GRASS icons, but I write down
carefully all
your comments and will test them.
Thank again for your very detailed description and patience.
Robert
[1] http://geoinformatics.fsv.cvut.cz/wiki/index.php
/
Toolbar_icons_for_GIS_applications
#Behind_the_scene_.E2.80.93_meaning_of_words_and_symbols
