The Path To Vector
Put the kettle on, this is a long one.
IconBuffet is great! There – that’s out of the way.
IconBuffet needs something new as it has gotten a little stale. However, rather than come up with a fresh idea, I’ve thought long and hard about an old, short-lived one that I feel should return and could breath some extra life into IB. Here we go…
There are some old-skoolers around here that remember (and have) Shanghai Tech Vector. If any of the Shanghai sets weren't bad ass enough, along came the vector source files for Tech. And then IB2.0 happened and we lost that set amongst our collections. Of course, after given permission, many of us passed it on to those who wanted it. But there was something about having the vector source for an IB icon set.
Iconshock’s icons aren't the best (but they have released Smurfs and “Oh Snap!” they just raised a notch or two) and the style is pretty much the same across the board. However, they have a Vector Source version of just about every set. So I got to thinking (dangerous, I know). Why not release the vector sources for some of the sets on IB?
I don’t know the specific reasons for taking down Shanghai Tech Vector nor do I dare claim to tell the chefs what they should do with their icons they release; but I would really love to have some of these sets in their vectory kewlness. As long as we are abiding by the same guidelines and “EULA” of the existing Free Deliveries, where’s the harm?
Now, I can understand if the chefs feel releasing the vector sources for the free sets is a bit generous, perhaps they would consider having the download only available to VIPs. This, I imagine, wouldn’t be too terribly difficult to implement (a couple of flags to say, VIP and Original Set Owned) but I am not a developer and don’t know what I am talking about really. Buying a stock set nets you the EPS files, so being a VIP could have this extra perk as well on free sets?
Ultimately, I think it would be a boost to VIP sign-ups and it would reinvigorate IB a bit. Additionally, those having the vector sources could really go that extra mile to sprucing up their app or web site. I know there is an increased lack of control over the use of the icons once the vector sources are out there, but I feel this community is pretty much on top of doing the honorable thing when it comes to the use of the sets.
I guess that wasn’t as long as I thought it would be.
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KatieK on Sep 10, 2007
I have been drooling over the thought of some Modena and Oslo vectors...
louiemctool on Sep 10, 2007
i am jealous of your thinking...
:)
Cattya on Sep 10, 2007
Great idea! What do the Icon Masters think? :)
soprano on Sep 10, 2007
DUDE!!! That's exactly what I was thinking about 2 hours ago!
grantneufeld
on Sep 10, 2007
I have been wanting vectors since I realized the max size on all the free deliveries is just 32 pixels. Please count this as a big vote for vectors — even if VIP-only.
elnitido52 on Sep 10, 2007
Yes, IconShock has Vector Sources for almost all free Icons.
Yes, IconShock has 89 sets already and you can get them for free in a couple of days.
Yes, IconShock never has a server issue.
Yes, IconShock has larger icons (128x128).
Yes, IconShock has an Icon Creator Tool for free, IB doesn't.
The only thing missing there, is the "Forums", where you can interact with friends. But with the IB server issues, there is only one difference right now, I'm paying for my icons here.
If it is difficult to access IB right now, imagine if you need to get and download vector sources too. Hopefully, things will get better one day. When that time comes, let's ask for those extras, not now.
tamashii on Sep 10, 2007
@elnitido: to be fair, IconShock likely doesn't have the server issues because they aren't being hit nearly as hard as IB does. Additionally, it's a much simpler system. There are no badges, no points, no tokens, no stamps, no user profiles/avatars/tags. All this means the IS servers aren't required to perform even a quarter of the work IB's do. It's more than just a lack of forum that differentiates the two.
I would also contend that the majority of serious users on this site have, in some form or another, a graphic manipulation program for which we ultimately could use to make our own icons. Technically, my job alone dictates that I have two that could be used (Illustrator and Photoshop). Regardless, there are dozens of free gimp-style software packages that can be used to generate icons. Hell - just go to this online favicon editor to convert ANY image to an ICO/Favicon.
My post wasn't an ad for IconShock, just merely used as an example of another icon site that offered vector versions. I honestly just don't see the icons distributed there ever reaching the level of use that the icons made here enjoy (Facebook apps, dozens of websites, additional apps). No one is forced to pay the six bucks a month to get extra virtual cash to "pay" for your free sets. While collecting icons is addictive, I wager many VIPs here feel the subscription fee is compensatory to the good work and experience that Firewheel provides to us by way of IB.
Lastly, my suggestion for an "extra" is nothing more than the redistribution of a format that was seen already once before here. They already have the files, this isn't extra work (if it is merely the addition of the vector versions as a set). The inclusion of an extra set a week wouldn't cause much more server strain than we see already; and may not see at all should they get the extra/more powerful servers.
rajr19 on Sep 10, 2007
anybody who wants it can ask me if its ok with chefs. I HAVE IT!
soprano on Sep 11, 2007
What, STV? The chefs said distributing it is OK.
rajr19 on Sep 11, 2007
ok, here
Steax on Sep 11, 2007
If I remember correctly, the chefs removed it because it "didn't fit with the rest of the sets".
I wouldn't mind if we had to pay, say, the same value of the set (in tokens) in order to obtain the vectors of a set we already have... it'd be fair, right? =)
soprano on Sep 11, 2007
Great idea!
rajr19 on Sep 26, 2007
nice idea.
MrDee on Sep 26, 2007
good idea - will let VIP use their tokens in a meaningful way
kitt
on Sep 26, 2007
Yeah, I'd pay extra for VIP for the vector sources, too. Where extra = increased VIP subscription rate or more tokens (though, the former would be more profitable for the site).
Nell on Sep 27, 2007
I am pretty sure many of the sets are made in the old fashioned way, pixel by pixel. The Taipei family is definitely made like that. Or at least, the final vector shape is corrected/tightened pixel by pixel. So maybe there are no vectors to distribute...
Nell on Sep 27, 2007
Not that I'd complain if the Chefs released the vector sources... I'd buy again the Oslo family ♥
chii on Sep 27, 2007
I ask already the same question just a few days ago: http://www.iconbuffet.com/people/chii/blogs/svg-icons
+1 for vector sources!
daia on Sep 27, 2007
I vote for vector aswell, i use folder size atleast 72x72 pixels on my desktop (just because it looks cool), so that sort of rules out using IB icons :(
And they would also look much cooler in Pixadex if they were scalable.
tamashii on Sep 27, 2007
@chii: You asked four days ago. This thread was created almost 3 weeks ago. Another proponent for a Search function, hehe. In the meantime: we have a nifty tool from whoisgregg.
@Nell: Ya, some of the sets just aren't gonna be available, but others are, and heck - I'd take any of them.
@everyone: My thoughts lean more to the pay tokens for the vector sets just like they were regular icons. I wouldn't have a problem at all dishing out another serving of tokens for them.
With regard to the increased VIP sign-ups, I was meaning that I believe more members would upgrade if that was the only way to get the vector sets.
dyar on Sep 27, 2007
@tamashii: Do you propose that the Vector Sets be non-tradeable? If not, how would a trading system work just between VIP's? Do you get Stamps when you use your Tokens to get the Sets?
A lot more questions than answers because I see a lot of problems with the whole scenario as currently proposed. However, the Vector Sets would be nice.
tamashii on Sep 27, 2007
hehe - I don't claim to know any answers. Those are good questions. Initially (per the original post), I wondered if it could just be a flag that allowed the download of the vector sources by VIPs-only when you downloaded the set. However, that would get complicated on the backend really fast, I suspect.
Then I figured just releasing it as its own set (like Shanghai Tech Vector was) would be better all around. The vector sets would have to have some kind of flag that made it undeliverable to non-VIPs (like if you try to send it, it always comes up that they "have it" in the Send Dialog). I don't see why you wouldn't get stamps - it would be like any other set except that it couldn't be obtained by Non-VIPs.
I really don't know how any of that coding would work. In lieu of all the backend magic, I would simply like the release of the sets just as STV was - available for delivery and trade to any and everyone. The VIP-only proposition was merely another way it could go.
Jen on Sep 27, 2007
The chefs mentioned once that they redraw every size from scratch. Wouldn't that mean that there are no vectors?
CountryGirl on Sep 27, 2007
Would someone mind explaining what a vector is and how do you use it?
rajr19 on Sep 27, 2007
a vector is an image that you can resize to as large as you want - without quality loss.
so you can have an icon the size of america if you have a big enough printer :)
so, you use them usually with photoshop/illustrator. you can also use inkscape i believe, which is a free open source software.
CountryGirl on Sep 27, 2007
Yeah, I have inkscape. I tried opening a vector today though, and it said the format wasn't recognized... Maybe I'll try again.
iqon on Sep 27, 2007
Vectors use geometric mathematical expressions to represent the image instead of a raster grid. As rajr19 said resizing the vector image has no loss of quality because mathematically its constant. If you stretch a raster grid new squares are added (or removed) around the existing squares and the software has to guess what color should be in each new square based on the neighboring squares. This results in pixelation when you enlarge objects.
CountryGirl - if you want play in Inkscape go snag some SVT images from Open Clip Art Library (all images are public domain).
jackprince on Sep 28, 2007
My vote for Vector! :) ... i would do a VIP sign up i guess!
KevinJB on Sep 28, 2007
Yes, please give us vectors :)