3D Icons Or 2D Icons
The article presents the comparative analysis of 2D and 3D Icons that are really well-known today in the digital art and website design. Both icons types represent the volume found in the three-dimensional world but use different means of creating this illusion. 3D modelling is more of an accurate technical representation than a piece of art. So 2D Icons are more flexible in creativity. You should think about all the advantages and drawbacks of 2D and 3D Icons design while creating the definite projects.
2D is like a drawing, 3D is like a sculpture – it is the most simple way to explain the difference between 2D and 3D. 2D as well as 3D icons have their own negative and positive sides which are described below. Generally 3D web icons win, but let’s find out more details.
2D and 3D icons design – what’s the difference?
When it comes to 3d Icons the light source plays essential role for creating authentic three-dimensional images. No doubt the using several light sources in webpage design nowadays is preferable but take into account that they should follow fundamental laws of physics and be truthful. So if you want to make 3D icons look softer and much more realistic – use several lights.
Both 2D and 3D icons represent the volume found in the three-dimensional world but use various means of creating this illusion. Without doubt the volume can be represented by 3D Icons to much more extent than 2D Icons. Among the minuses of 2D Icons are flat images that show just one perspective. Detailed highlights and imperceptible soft shadows are missing as a rule. The shades usage is restricted as well.
3D web Icons have all these features instead. But 3D is mathematical replication of the data which in any case limits its usage. In some cases you can effortlessly replace 3D Icons by 2D ones or by the videos with the sounds – but all this depends on situation. 3D dimension can be achieved due to the software used for 3D modeling. Don’t forget that 3D icons need to be depicted in correlation with the other objects and the environment they’re placed into.
3D web icons: artistic or realistic?
Nevertheless sometimes positive aspects can be turn into negatives. Such as the thoroughness as well as truthfulness of the picture may be the negative aspect of 3D web Icons. This means you are much more free to use artistic vision while drawing some object. One example is, if we take a cell-phone, you’ll be able to draw it rather similar to what we associate with its name but eliminate some extra details, shades and highlights. Sometimes schematic drawings are much more better than 3D models. But to decide what to use you should analyze each definite situation. High-quality 3d icons need to repeat each detail and line completely, make the object seem closer to reality. So it is more a kind of technical representation than a piece of art. Though some illustrators manage to create abstract 3D web icons that involve innovative thought and look like true works of art. Realistic and accurate modeling is one of popular trend of 3D design nowadays.In case you are planning to use some characters as icons, 3D icons are going to appear much more realistic than 2D ones. The characters may remain cartoonish and this will give zest to your website.
Let us enumerate the technical issues you may face while using 3D icons.
So pay attention to these useful facts while creating the icons design for your web-site:
– It’s not possible to display all the glory and details of 3d icons with bad resolution of the viewers monitors;
– because of the fact that the monitor screen is 2D device we cant see the true three-dimensional object as we see it in reall life.
– 3D space is harder to be manipulated and managed in comparison with 2D one;
– sometimes users have to download some extra software that is needed for correct viewing of 3D web Icons.
In conclusion we can say that both 2D and 3D icons are based on geometric data but 3D objects are the sculpture models, they’re more complex items. Also 3D web Icons requirements are much severer. No doubt you can claim that 3D Icons may lack creativity and abstract air, nevertheless the facts of depth and volume that are created with a help of 3D technology are incontestable.
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Stan Lem is not a newcomer in writing for the web – he started about five years ago and took special interest in the area of web design and web development – more specifically 3D icons and 3D web icons.
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