NEW ICONS & BUTTONS DESIGN - vector/flash/png/ico/gif fo

Hi there,

I don't know if this is the right place to post this message, but I'll try anyway.

I've just put online a new site about ICONS, BUTTONS and COMPONENTS to be used in flash and other web development applications. Here is the address:

http://www.xgem.co.uk

I've decided to create this site and its products because in the past I've been looking for professional icons and buttons and came up with bad stuff or very expensive products.

Here I'm trying to provide good products at a convenient price and, in the process, to make some money (at least get back some of what I'm investing).
At the moment there are 11 products, but many more are under development right now and will be available in the following weeks.

A FREE DOWNLOAD IS AVAILABLE FOR EACH PRODUCT:
http://www.xgem.co.uk/applications/PayPalStoreManager/inc_paypalstoremanager.asp - GO TO "DETAILS & FREE DOWNLOAD" BUTTON.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. AND IF I SHOULD CARRY ON DEVELOPING THIS PACKAGES.

Hello orsotony

I think it's a good idea, but the icons look pretty ropey to me. I don't mean to be overly negative, but I wouldn't download, let alone buy them.

Have a look at these sites for some nice icons:

http://www.iconfactory.com/
http://www.enhancedlabs.com/main/downloads.html
http://fasticon.com/
http://www.famfamfam.com/lab/icons/
http://www.louiemantia.com/icon/
http://www.yellowicon.com/

Again, sorry to be negative, but hope it helps anyway.

hi, Impel GD

thanks for your quick answer, and YES any comment does help.

I know about the sites and the icons you told me to check, and I'm sorry you think my icons aren't good enough but I'm glad you gave me your opinion.

Anyway, the idea behind my icons is to give something different from the usual.
All the sites you told me to check sell the same kind of stuff, and I have to say their icons look great but always the same: perfect photographic quality.
Sure they look nice, but they wouldn't look so good if you were in need of something metallic or like glowing pastic (and with the same style throughout). Wouldn't you agree?

What about if you want to make a site or a program look in a particular way. Maybe give the idea of a sketch, or of metal, or of rust, or of a cartoon. For example, the EFFECT ICONS on my site (under the PNG/GIF/ICO/PSD) category have been developed to be used as a set, with the same style, to give a certain feeling. They have not been developed to give the idea of a photographic icon. Quite the opposite.

I believe there is too much of the same out there. This is way I've developed these icons.

One more thing I believe has to be taken into consideration is that packages like the "CARTOON ICONS" come in many different formats including vector flash libraries and the price stays low.

Anyway, what is on my site now is just a few packages.
In the next month we will upload about 10 more sets, one of which wil have photographic quality. But most of them will have different styles and "quality".

Hope you'll like them a bit more and to hear from you again.

hi again, Impel GD

For example, one set that will be available soon is "ELECTRIC SIGNS".
To see a small preview check the icons on the top bar on http://www.xgem.co.uk.
With this icons (over 200 different ones) you'll be able to change colors and apply shadows.

Again, please tell me what you think.

Hiya

Yes, offering something different is good. Can see your point about your effect sets. Only thing I would say is that icons, by definition, are meant to be instantly clear and recognisable and metallic/rust effects could possibly get in the way of this.

Having them in different formats will also be useful for many I'm sure.

Hi there,

You don't seem so convinced.
I agree when you say that icons in general, by definition, are meant to be instantly clear and recognisable.
So, maybe, the point is that they are supposed to be more of buttons than icons.

Just a question: if you make a web site, will you use photographic icons or buttons that adapt to the style you are developing? Possibly buttons where icons-symbols are already part of them?

Don't you see any good use for this style of buttons? (lets call them buttons and not icons from now on). Plese answer what you really think and not something to make me happy. Iìm reaaly trying to develope a better product.

The thing is, in the eight-odd years I've been working as a designer I've never once created a project with effects like the icons/buttons on the site. I see that style of resource appealing to people who aren't getting paid to create artwork, and I don't suppose they'll want to pay for things themselves.

As an exercise, see if you can find five well designed websites which use those styles or similar. I know this is at least partially subjective, but I think you'll see my point.

Anyway, maybe I'm completely wrong and you'll make millions. Let me know.

Maybe you are right.
About the 5 well deisgned web sites, I find it difficult to even find one that uses icons at all. Generally if you want a good web site you don't use icons but simple menus and buttons.
At least this is my thought.

Thanks anyway and nice talking to you.
When I'll upload new sets I'll let you know (if you don't mind I like to have your opinion).

So long, Antonio

Im not sure about anybody else but as soon as I clicked on your sites link I was bombared with popups and a request to install software that I dont really want to intsall. If you want people to look through your site you might want to make it so they dont have to install something to view it. It gave me a bad impresstion and I dont ever plan on going to your site again.

If you want to know what type of popups and instaltions requestion I got here is the list

CAMIMA ENTERPRISES LIMTED (this must be installed to view the webpage from what it tells me and if you close the page it keep popping up.

About three casino sites.

Im not sure if this is part of your site because it seems no one else had the problem. But you might want to be aware of it. Tell me if this is not part of your site and Ill try your site again and give you some feedback.

No, I had the problem as well. Made me uninterested in posting on this topic. I have a pop-up blocker, and when I saw crap hit the fan with it, I closed out immediatly.

I'm using Firefox 1.5 and didn't get any popups.

I normally do use Firefox, but sometimes forget what I'm doing and click on IE. Thankfully I did have the pop-up blocker. My opinion is that normal computer users, in general, dont use Firefox, and shouldnt have to when viewing a professional website, such as a site to buy icons from. Any web site that throws pop-ups all over my screen makes me warry of anything else that they have to offer.

Just tried in IE - what the heck is that about Antonio!? There's about 10 of the damn things, and they keep spawning more windows.

Don't expect people to visit your site more than once with rubbish like that forced on them.

Yup, as you can see, I totally agree. don't know if he's done that on purpose or if his website has been hacked, but whatever it is, it needs to be fixed if he expects to do serious business.

As soon as I tried to see your web site I got nailed with 6 virus attacks....