Call for an official Mozilla Sunbird theme

Discuss application theming and theme development.
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Chris Cook
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Post by Chris Cook »

markcarson wrote:Another variation on the previous toolbar set of icons:

<img src="http://markcarson.com/images/CALENDARicons-4.png">


Mark,

These icons look a little sharper and clearer than the previous ones. This is a good start. Send me the pngs when you get them ready and I'll start implementing them in the theme.
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markcarson
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Post by markcarson »

Another day, a better version of a SunBird logo:
<img src="http://markcarson.com/images/SunBird-100x93.png">
<img src="http://markcarson.com/images/SunBird-200x185.png">
and of course the original is vector art (Corel Draw) so making them any size is cake.
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markcarson
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Post by markcarson »

Chris Cook - what do you think about the green circular (winstripe) plus sign idea? I can easily add that to the last toolbar set I posted, but I'm not sure what the winstripe delete sub-icon would look like. Anyone?

By the way, the icon toolbar in the previous post is alreada a PNG and is shown in this forrm via an IMG URL, so you can just 'save as' from the browser, etc. The spacing required to make a legit image set in unknown to me. I'd be happy to cut them up or re-combine on the correct icon to icon interval if someone can advise.
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FlashBanG
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Post by FlashBanG »

Wow.. Amazing logo! Perfect mix of knowing that this product is related to Thunderbird, but is different.

2 suggestions regarding the logo:

1) Make the red color on the feathers and head a little more subtle to blend in more evenly.. looks a little bit striking now.. Perhaps make it a yellowish red shade? (i guess this would be orange.. sorry, i suck at graphics and colors :P )

2) Take out the 2004 from the calender.2005 is just 6 months away, and we want a logo for sunbird to last a while :-)


Regarding the "winstripe delete icon", right now, it is simply a big red X.. Since we need to overlay it on top of a calender like thing, how about making a small red circle with a white cross inside of it? So users can see the little green plus sign is add, and the little red X is delete..


Also, one final suggestion before you turn this into a theme.. The one big difference i can tell when put the winstripe icons and your icons side by side is that the winstripe icons use white backgrounds, and yours have a yellowish tinge..

For example. look at the inside of the add event icon (specifically, the blank space in the grid).. it is kind of dull. Now look at the winstripe coy and paste icons.. the paper there is sparkly white.. When both of these icons go side by side on the sunbird toolbar, you would notice a stark contrast.

by the way, Kevin and Stephen might have already changed the add icon, or made a new delete icon..You may want to mail webmail AT kmgerich DOT com to see whether you can use any of their in development icons, so that if they change it, it wont be after you put all the hard work into the theme.


Compliments on fine work, and looking forward to future designs :-)
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markcarson
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Post by markcarson »

FlashBanG and Chris Cook

Ok, this is it for tonight:

<img src="http://markcarson.com/images/CalendarIcons-5.png">
With Add Event and Delete Event as Winstripe (as I understand it) Edit Event is slightly changed, but still the pencil metaphor.

And finally (for tonight)
<img src="http://markcarson.com/images/CalendarIcons-6.png">
with the "sparkly white" (or stark white if you ask me) backgrounds. I used a gradient fill originally to add some warmth to the icons, but, well, Microsoft has taken the warm and fuzzy out of computing I guess...

Hey, I think the bit of orange/red color on the SunBird logo gives it some visual snap, but let's hear a few more opinions, then I'll make whatever changes seem appropriate.

Thanks for the feedback everyone.
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Chris Cook
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Post by Chris Cook »

markcarson wrote:<img src="http://markcarson.com/images/CalendarIcons-5.png">
With Add Event and Delete Event as Winstripe (as I understand it) Edit Event is slightly changed, but still the pencil metaphor.

And finally (for tonight)
<img src="http://markcarson.com/images/CalendarIcons-6.png">
with the "sparkly white" (or stark white if you ask me) backgrounds. I used a gradient fill originally to add some warmth to the icons, but, well, Microsoft has taken the warm and fuzzy out of computing I guess...

I like what you've done with the add/delete changes. I'm not immediately convinced that the "event" graphic is meaningful enough but in context it may be fine. I'm also undecided if the gradient or the stark white icons are better. Is a more subtle (lighter?) gradient a possible compromise? The current gradient seems slightly dingy but perhaps that is only when sitting next to the stark white example.




markcarson wrote:Hey, I think the bit of orange/red color on the SunBird logo gives it some visual snap, but let's hear a few more opinions, then I'll make whatever changes seem appropriate.

Personally I'd like to see more contrast between the bird and the calendar. I think when sized down to 16px (the icon will be used for the executable icon so you should make an example at that size so we can see) the elements will blend together too much. Perhaps using some of the existing calendar colors (blue and gray?) or whatever color contrasts best with yellow would work better?

I think I'm fine with the 2004 in the header of the calendar if this is the year that Sunbird is "born". I would avoid replacing it with text (language issues) if it is changed. You could try putting small numbers in the corner of each day like in a wall calendar. This would make them less legible but in this case that might be preferable and it would make the calendar look more like a functional calendar that people are used to seeing. Will being a vector image work as a disadvantage at a small (16px) size?

As far as size and spacing, the large icons should be 24x24 px (to be the same as the other moz apps). The small icons should be 16x16 px. Icons may be spaced at 0 or more pixels. Obviously the less space between each icon, the smaller the file size. All files should have the same icon spacing to reduce theming complexity. Each icon will also need a normal, hover, and disabled state.
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Post by Sipaq »

markcarson wrote:<img src="http://markcarson.com/images/SunBird-200x185.png">

I like this very much. The only thing I would change would be be to remove the 2004 number from the calendar header. This might confuse people. Could you post the logo in the 48x48 (Windows XP large icons), 32x32 (other OS large icons) and 16x16 (small icons) size, so that we can see how the artwork works there?
<img src="http://markcarson.com/images/CalendarIcons-5.png">
With Add Event and Delete Event as Winstripe (as I understand it) Edit Event is slightly changed, but still the pencil metaphor.

<img src="http://markcarson.com/images/CalendarIcons-6.png">
with the "sparkly white" (or stark white if you ask me) backgrounds. I used a gradient fill originally to add some warmth to the icons, but, well, Microsoft has taken the warm and fuzzy out of computing I guess...

I tend to like the 2nd set the most, but that is just my personal opinion. Could you also try to work out some icons for the Sunbird options dialog? There you can be and have to be a lot more creative since we use the Firefox icons there at the moment which do not really fit our categories well.

I'm looking forward to seeing more stuff from you.
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Post by markcarson »

I've emailed icons to Chris Cook under separate cover and I will rework the Logo tomorrow (Wed Jun 23). I'm not happy with it at small sizes (48x48 and 32x32). Also the red crest feathers have got to go (they look real bad at icon size renderings). I will change the colors on the calendar but the numbers (and even the month/year) are moot, you can't read them at sizes under 64 pixels. I believe that Chris Cook is getting started on a theme at this point, but thats not to say that I cant make other icons for other themers if there is any interest.
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gizmo
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Choice of the best icons

Post by gizmo »

For me, I really really think that this one is better than your last.

markcarson wrote:MVL, I assume this is what you had in mind. Better?

<img src="http://markcarson.com/images/sunbird-icons-2.png">

The Firefox icons typically have a darker gray bar beneath them (drop shadow) which I did not add at this point. The more I look at these, I think then need a darker border on the New Event and Edit Event icons. The red X in the Delete is a bit overpowering also.


Am I alone with this opinion ?

To be near of Winstripe, the (+) and the (-) are on the right, not on the left.
And the blue that you use isn't exactly the same than inside Winstripe (darkless). For the first icon, be careful to not be too near of the "New Window" icon.

For the logo, it's very cool to have a first try for Sunbird. For the year, don't write 2005 anymore. Nothing will be better :) (I hope Sunbird logo will be the same for 2006, 2007, ....)
Perhaps call Asa or mozilla marketing team for their point of view ??


Very very good work. It's really one the more important step and work to give a "sexy" touch to Sunbird.
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R A F
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Post by R A F »

@markcarson: absolutely beautiful logo! Since you mentioned the red might have to go, I assume blue-ish wingtips is out of the question (provided Tb keeps its colours)? Just a a thought...
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Post by FlashBanG »

markcarson wrote:<img src="http://markcarson.com/images/CalendarIcons-6.png">


A few comments :)

1) I agree with Simon that this set is my favorite so far.. The "stark" white looks much better, when sitting next to the winstripe icons, IMHO.

2) I am also wondering whether the icon for "event" can be changed to make it a little clearer.. something to indicate maybe, that it's a page out of a calender? or maybe something signifying a clock? You might try using the clock from the history icon in the winstripe theme..

3) I know that I'm the one who suggested using the little red circle with an x for the delete icon, but i just noticed that all other themes use the same delete icons as their equivalents in the other apps.. Take icandy jr. for example..
Image

It's delete is the trash can, and doesnt have a seperate one for "delete event". If we look at it that way, we could just use winstripe's Red X for delete (see bookmark manager delete icon).. Should we follow the "standard theming practice" so to speak? or go our own way on this? Just a thought..


4) Another thing about the iconset.. Right now, the day view, week view, and multiweek view icons are not clearly indicative of what they do.. The month icon is fine, as you can tell it's a "month" view of a calendar.

Perhaps for the day view, you could use a single page from a calender with a random day and day of week selected.. Something like

______
| June |
| 24 |
|_____|{+}


I'm not sure what you can use for the week and multiweek though..

5) Also, i didnt notice it until gizmo pointed it out, but all the winstripe + icons do appear to the right of the icons rather than the left.. But i guess it isnt a major issue to fix..

Anyway, that's my "constructive criticism" for the day ;)

Looking forward to the next batch :)
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Post by Sipaq »

FlashBanG wrote:<img src="http://markcarson.com/images/CalendarIcons-6.png">

1) I agree with Simon that this set is my favorite so far.. The "stark" white looks much better, when sitting next to the winstripe icons, IMHO.

Just to clarify. I did not say that this is my overall favourite so far. I did just say that it was my favourite iconset compared to markcarson's other iconset with the color gradient. I really like all the showcases so far and I think that everyone of them would immensely improve the current Sunbird look and feel.
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mvl
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Post by mvl »

Why not use the icons from the bookmark manager for edit (properties, the checkmark) and delete (red X)? Then you need to come up with something for new. A piece of paper with the same green + will do.
The view icons already suggested are nice. Maybe some more bright colors, like winstripe has.

I don't really like icons with numbers or letters in them. They are bad for localization.

For the logo, I think the numbers make it look to crowded. What if you remove them? And if you are up to some creativity: maybe putting the bird below the calendar with the wings up would make it look less like the thunderbird icon, but still similar enough.
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Post by FlashBanG »

So you're suggesting that the bird is below the calender, and the wings are wrapped around the calender above the bird? Hmm.. interesting idea..

I also agree regarding the brighter colors used in the icons, but i was holding off discussing that until we got the basic outlines/shapes figured out for the icons.. then, colors wont be very hard to implement/change.
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Post by zackriggle »

The bird actually looks really good. TBH, I don't think the wings will matter. You have no idea how long it took me to figure out that the FF icon was a fox looking down at the world (with the 32x32 icon). People will be entranced by the yellowness of it.
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