Icon-A-Day, Icon # 4, Open Folder

Rarely seen, always looked at.

Published on January 11, 2005 By mormegil In Icons

Icon 04 (Open Folder) Today's icon can be one of the hardest, or the easiest icons in the pack. However, in this one case it is going to be quite simple because of the way we did the Closed Folder as "ridged metals". Normally you have to do a lot of messing around to make the folder look like it is opened, but not distorted, and you tend to end up starting form scratch. Once again we are lucky, to make this next icon I made a total of 2 new graphics, the rest are just tweaked items form the Closed Folder. So here we go:
Step 1: I copy our closed folder icon from Article #1.	Step 2: Now I delete the glare, and the reflection. Then I select the folder front and Skew and Size it until it is in the position that I want. I also Tweak the back of the folder a bit as well. I keep the shadow from the original folder because it still looks OK. I also go in with the Mesh Tool and darken the top of the folder front a bit. This is to make it look a bit less "in the light"	Step 3: Then I draw in some new glare and use the Interactive Transparency tool to fade it out.
Step 4: Now using the same technique as the last three days I Copy the folder, Flip and Skew it into position, Convert it into a bitmap and Crop it. Then fade it out with the Interaction Transparency tool.	Finished Icon Image.	Download Finished Icon Here
I know this Icon set is starting to look a bit monotone, but in the next few days we shall start adding some color. I like for the basic elements to have some consistency in color before. Otherwise the pack starts to get loud. I am going to save the My Computer icon for the weekend, but I might take a stab at the Internet icon tomorrow. Which begs the question; anyone have any suggestions for an Internet icon, other than a globe? I am soooooooooooo.... sick of globes. Seriously anyone have any ideas? Tune in tomorrow, and we will most likely be making a globe. Read the other Icon-A-Day Articles. Icon # 1, Icon # 2, Icon #3. And don't forget to check for all the Icon-A-Day icons as they get made, in the Miscellaneous Icons Gallery at Wincustomize.com

Comments

Koasati

on Jan 11, 2005

Suggestion for an internet icon...... a WEB! I'd love to see what you would do that.... I mean knowing your work, it wouldn't be a plain-jane web. (no offense intented to anyone named Jane)

Laura Charron

on Jan 11, 2005

Net, perhaps? I know it's along the same lines as web, but just more food for thought.

Lantec

on Jan 11, 2005

I agree with Koasati, a web with little computers at each attachment end. Maybe little balls of sticky stuff moving along the webs? I'm sure you'll come up with something good.

Corky_O

on Jan 11, 2005

Can't wait for the next lesson, thank you again.

mormegil

on Jan 11, 2005

Not a bad Idea, might be to detailed to pull off in something small thought. I might mull that one over, any other Ideas?

CerebroJD

on Jan 12, 2005

A fox (

), or maybe a spider.

Just had another idea....a road or a highway might be cool.

c242

on Jan 12, 2005

Great series, Paul.

Just a suggestion : Could You consider a set for IconX users after completing without that mirror-effect ? It looks really good with static icons but just wrong with zooming ones.

mormegil

on Jan 12, 2005

Humm, never thought about that. Maby when the pack is done I can strip the reflecting out.

c242

on Jan 12, 2005

That would be great !

TasT

on Jan 12, 2005

Ummmm, the Icons look great the way they are man, no need for coloring them.

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