A history of the Camino application icon
Thursday, May 11, 2006 23:44
I just landed jasper's updated icon set, available to all the next time we get a working nightly (still prodding people about that, progress is being made).Based on feedback the main issue seems to be that people think the icon "is too small". But fact is that that's just a perceived issue. The icon uses the full 128/128 pixels canvas. As shown in the images below all 3 use the same square 128 pixel canvas, non the less the first icon seems to be much smaller. The issues is caused by the spikes, resulting in a smaller surface actually being used by the icon.
Thanks again to Jasper for all his hard work and openness to comment. I sent him back to the drawing board (literally) more times than I could have handled were I in his shoes. Nevertheless he stuck with it and produced something that I think everyone can agree is a huge step in the right direction. Just try to keep that in mind when you're thrashing the new look :) - Mike Pinkerton
This also shows why so many icons either have a square or circle as their base shape. Those shapes just make very good use of the canvas, that's for sure something of great importance for an icon. On the other hand it does create a situation where the Camino icon stands out in the Dock because it appears to be smaller. We can argue that this is an issue or we can say that it's unique property of the Navigator/Chimera/Camino icon shape.
When, 2 years ago, I started working on creating the new look of what is now know as the "Camino 1.0 theme" redoing the application icon was a major part of the effort. Early on I also had the same problems with the icon, I argued we could use the canvas much more efficient. But the main problem in creating a new and unique icon for a web-browser lies in the fact that so many have already been made. And most of the obvious visual metaphors had already been used. Prior to the release of Apple's Safari, I had already made a compass icon for Camino. It was very bad and was certainly not the first. But it was the only really good visual metaphor left for a browser. Finding a new icon metaphor or logo for such a common application is really really hard. Since Apple had already released Safari we didn't have much choose other sticking with the icon Ugo Dantas De Santana made for Camino back when it was called Navigator.
To be honest I had really hoped I could come up with a stunning new icon for Camino but that thought was quietly smothered by Mike Pinkerton. Initially I had my doubts about his arguments, but looking back I think it was the best way to go.
You have to keep in mind that Navigator/Chimera was the first amazingly fast browser for the then very young Mac OS X platform. Most of the people who used Mac OS X in those days knew or used Navigator/Chimera one time or another. The application had a reputation and was well known. And that application had always had the same globe/compass combo icon.
When you have such an established picture mark you just don't switch to something else, especially considering the fact that nobody else used such a unique icon shape. Changing would be like McDonalds choosing a new font for their M that would have spiked arches instead of round ones. Or Apple taking out the bite of their apple logo. You just don't change the unique shape attributes that create the distinct visual identity of the logo. Accept of-course if the logo is so bad you just don't have any other choose. But that wasn't the case. So instead we choose for redoing the icon from scratch keeping only the unique shape as a base.
We tried a lot of things before we came to what we have now. We wanted a style that looked more like the style Apple introduced for Tiger (Mac OS X 10.4). We also wanted to get rid of the America's centric globe, and instead we choose for something that vaguely looks likes continents. (yes there here actually people who really didn't like america being in the icon). We also borrowed the .Mac globe look to emphasize the internet/network aspect of the application because only a small amount of people actually saw a compass in the icon. And finally most work went into creating all the sizes we needed of the icon. We actually have 1024 all the way down to a 16 square pixels versions of the icon. That is a pretty huge size difference. And the hard part is making sure the 16px version looks/feels the same as the 1024px version.
Only recently I introduced a monotone version of the icon. I created this icon mainly to have a simplified version that could be easily used on very small and solid colored canvases. Just using the base shape and an extra circle for the globe did the trick. It's so simple and yet works amazingly well, while still being recognizable as the camino icon. This version of the icon can be seen as the website icon, and on the .dmg icon and .dmg background image.
So you see how a thing that is perceived by some as a weakness, is actually the main strength of the icon. You just need to see and use it. There is always room for improvement but I think we succeeded quite well.
24 comments Add Comment Email post Digg post
- At 1:25 AM, said.
That is a wonderful explanation. I knew people who hated this icon, but after reading this article, they look at this work of art in new eyes. Trufully, I always loved it. Now, I love it even more@
- At 1:49 AM, said.
Nice article (and icon). Not to be an ass, but it should be "is TOO small" & "McDonalds choosing a new font for THEIR M"
- At 2:20 AM, said.
Hey Jasper, that was a nice write up. Reading about the decision on shapes gives me a greater appreciation for the icon.
- At 3:58 AM, said.
Have you tinkered with the size of the spikes? Or one minus the spikes (globe + chrome)?
Is there any chance we can use the monotone version as the app icon? Can I download it somewhere?- At 5:42 AM, said.
I was familiar with most of this either because I was there or through reading old discussions, but it's really nice to see it set out all in one place :)
I just wish some companies would remember not to toss away their distinctive logo just because we're in a new decade :P- At 6:59 AM, said.
Beautiful! Understanding the background only deepens my love for this incredible browser.
- At 7:03 AM, said.
Nice job on the icon.
I'm puzzled though.. why is your blog titled "japser's blog" if your name is Jasper? Is that a dyslexic nickname or something?- At 8:09 AM, said.
Hey guys thanks for the comments. Please do excuse me for the typos, English just isn't my main language. I try to catch most with spell check but that doesn't take out all the mistakes I made. I'll fix it asap.
As far as my nick name goes. It's chosen to be spelled wrong. Why? Just to startle people, and because it's a typo I make very often.- At 8:41 AM, said.
Nice story, but when you say countries don't you mean continents since that's what the shapes look like? This brings the question how you explain leaving India and China out with the vast majority of potential Camino users?
- At 9:09 AM, said.
I'll be an ass as well:
EXCEPT, of course, if the logo is so bad you just don't have any other CHOICE. But that wasn't the case. So instead we CHOSE for redoing the icon from scratch keeping only the unique shape as a base.
.....
Great post by the way. I used Chimera way back in the day but more recently Safari and then Shiira took over as defaults. But since last week I'm back using Camino and loving it.- At 3:40 PM, said.
I'll see if I can upload a version of the monotone simple camino icon for those who would like to use it. Shouldn't be to much trouble.
Anoymous:
By countries I indeed meant continents (I'll change that later). But I'm quiet sure that they don't look like any continent I know. Perhaps they resemble but only very vaguely. You saying we need to change again ;)
Oliver:
Well to be very honest with you, I'd agree that the Camino icon probably isn't the best ever made. But that's just not realistic, it's impossible to create something that everybody likes. At the end I'm very happy with what we have, and I think the project should be proud of what it has.- At 4:16 PM, said.
Thanks for all your hard work, Jasper. Not only on the icon, but the site and all. There are a lot of "unsung heroes" in this project.
Still waiting for the monochrome icon, ever since I've seen it on the disk images then the cb.org site, I've been itching :)- At 5:44 PM, said.
It's a lovely icon Jasper, I think the current version is certainly an improvement over the old one.
Did you ever try angling the spikes and globe so they match the angle of Apples HIG? Angled in same way icons like Dictionary, Address Book etc. are. This way the icon would appear bigger and conform to guidelines.- At 5:48 PM, said.
I never had a problem with the icon, myself. I felt that it achieved the "Tigerlicious" look in spades. Just seeing how many layers you have in that screenshot hits home. I've been there! Graphic design is tough work, and icon work even tougher because of the color and space restrictions. In short, great job!
- At 6:33 PM, said.
I like the monotone version also. Its fat, chunky and a lovely shade of blue :)
- At 8:08 PM, said.
I always liked the camino logo, but I guess I'm alittle lost on taking full credit for what is basically the original camino logo with Apple's .Mac logo ontop of it.
- At 8:41 PM, said.
Howdy,
A fairly long time ago someone displayed an app icon which had an extra ring around the outside of the standard icon. I've used that ever since for the optimized builds I prefer. That is the only non-default icon I use.
Thanks for a really nice set of icons.
Good Luck,
Herb Schulz- At 10:01 PM, said.
I like the newer Camino logos quite a bit actually.
-Chris-
Milwaukee- At 1:48 AM, said.
To join the asses (?) before me: "succeeded quite well."
Nice article!- At 11:19 AM, said.
The monotone icon is great! I wish you could release that aswell.
- At 9:59 AM, said.
The main problem I have with the icon is that I keep my dock very small and constantly on the screen for quick reference on which programs are running. I normally only have two items in the dock: the finder and mail. Everything else I launch with quicksilver. Since my background is white and my dock is small, it often looks like this:
http://static.flickr.com/47/149674079_2c88261ce4_o.jpg
As a result, I "lose" the icon often thinking that another program is open because the spikes of the compass disappear against the white. The resulting small blue dot is not instantly recognizable as Camino, so I often end up relaunching it in Quicksilver though it is already open. Not a huge problem, but I think the monochrome icon is in fact more utilitarian while still being Camino-esque.- At 7:15 PM, said.
Amit. I am aware of the issue you show in your image. But it's not my fault. In the icon resources of Camino I provide special version for small use, making sure it has a good visible outline. The problem is that the Dock will always use the 128 pixel version and down scales that. The result is horrible I know. But there isn't anything I can do a bout it other then making a rediculously big outline, or making an new icon all to gether. I think Apple should make the Dock a bit more smart.
- At 9:49 PM, said.
Where can one download the simple icon. I dig it.
- At 3:10 PM, said.
Nice explanation. A bit convoluted, but nice. And MOOT. As most savvy MAc user know, one can choose any icon one wants!
My Camino icon is a photo of my old El Camino Car/Truck!