The Fabulous WebmasterWorld Icon-a-Thon!

Gentlemen (and ladies), start your processors...

[mivox]

Well, it's been a long time since our lovely Graphics & Multimedia Forum has had itself a contest... and our forum's contests are one of the only chances you'll see here on WebmasterWorld to strut your stuff without fear of our unbiquitous "No Self Promotion" rules, so listen up!

We are trying to get Brett to replace those *ahem* sub-par StickyMail Icons [webmasterworld.com] that appeared in the last big update of BestBBS... and here's how you can help:

1. Pick 5 existing icons that you would like to "upgrade" OR create 5 original icon designs. Icons must be 20 x 20 pixels maximum size, executed in the 216 "web safe colors" palette. Your work must look good even to those poor souls still using antique computers. ;)

2. Save your teeny masterpieces in gif or png format.

3. Upload them to your server (if you do not have access to a webserver, please stickymail mivox [webmasterworld.com], and I will tell you how to submit by email).

4. Send stickymail to mivox AND korkus2000 -- your friendly Graphics & Multimedia Forum moderators -- with the following information:

A URL (or URLs) where we can download your entry images (to save us time, please name your entries like so: yournick1.gif, yournick2.gif, etc., etc.).

What software you used to create the icons.

List any filters or special steps used in creating the images.

Whether or not your software can generate windows .ico format files (ie- Can it be used for creating favicons?)

5. korkus2000 and mivox will pick their 10 favorite icons for a "Moderators Choice Top 10 List" (woooo!), and will post links to all entries to allow voting for a "People's Choice Top 10 List" (wooooHOO!). Details on how to vote will be posted along with the entry-viewing links.

Entries will be accepted through Sunday, June 15th, 2003. Since I (mivox) live almost as close to the International Date Line as you can get (unless you live in Hawaii), I will accept entries submitted until Midnight (12am) on Sunday, MY time. ;)

The Fine Print (boring , but please read anyhow!):

a. We reserve the right to reject, without notice, any entries that don't follow the guidelines given above.

b. All entries become the property of WebmasterWorld, and can be used anywhere within the forum software, not limited to the stickymail icon collection, whether or not they are chosen as winning entries.

[edited by: mivox at 12:14 am (utc) on June 6, 2003]

[korkus2000]

Here are some threads that may help with ideas!

[webmasterworld.com...]
[webmasterworld.com...]

Happy pixel painting! :)

[limbo]

:o

I love a good competition.

bring it on :)

[kingkelly]

Icons?!? Blechhhhh....

[mivox]

Oh c'mon kingkelly... I said they could be submitted in png format! ;)

[Marcia]

OK, I've got one made and it's a cutie, but I modified one that's 20x20. I'll just have to make it smaller.

Couple of questions:

>>Whether or not your software can generate windows .ico format files (ie- Can it be used for creating favicons?)

Isn't there a free program you can download to create .ico images? Or an online .ico generator? And can an existing image be opened in those to turn into an .ico?

I've never used .png format - does it support transparency?

[drbrain]

marcia: transparency AND alpha channel, yum yum!

[universalis]

Isn't there a free program you can download to create .ico images? Or an online .ico generator? And can an existing image be opened in those to turn into an .ico?

I make favicons and such in Photoshop, then use the strangely-named (but free!) IrfanView to convert the result into the .ico format.

h*ttp://www.irfanview.com/

There may be an even easier way that I don't know about...

[kingkelly]

Wha? PNG? sorry mivox, didnt see that part. I guess i could make an icon. I think people are still unclear on what to do. You want us to just make one of those smileys? Or actual icons to be used for the stickymail...?

[Marcia]

kingkelly, I think the idea is to make new images from scratch or modify the existing ones that are used for our stickymail icons. The .ico files are what's used to put a special little graphic in the address bar on the I.E. browser - used for bookmarking purposes and nothing else.

I'm trying to think of what would be good metaphors for indicating with an icon what the topic of a stickmail is, even before it's opened.

[mivox]

Marcia has got the idea. :) I want the submissions to be in GIF or PNG format, so everyone can view them in their browsers...

I want to know whether or not the software you use can output .ico files, so we'll have a list of recommended .ico-capable software (with examples) to point people at next time the "how do I make a favicon" question comes up.

Just follow all the steps up in my first post, and then sticky mail it to me and korkus exactly like it says to, and you'll be fine. :)

[ggrot]

CAn they be animated images? Of course these wont work as .ico icons, but .gifs will.

[korkus2000]

They should all be static.

[mivox]

Hehehe... anyone who submits anything that blinks, wiggles or rotates will be hunted down and confined to a monitor-lined room to watch an endless loop of The Web's Worst Animation.

Seriously though: we are looking for ICONS not ANIMATIONS. Sorry for not clarifying that in the first post.

[PFOnline]

Dang, I know it clearly says the max should be 16 x 16 but I'm finding it's tough work in that small a space! I have a great idea for a smilie but at 16 x 16 it's kinda hard to tell what it is.

Is it really crucial, or do you think it's possible that like 20 x 20 could be acceptable?

I noticed some of the icons on this page [webmasterworld.com] are bigger than that. (Sorry if it's a moot question since it clearly says 16 x 16 but had to ask) ;P

[rogerd]

I hope this effort improves the icon usage by members. Whenever I get a stickymail, it's almost always the default letter-looking thing. :( (Of course, I shouldn't complain, having never sent a sticky myself with an alternate icon...)

[mivox]

I have a great idea for a smilie but at 16 x 16 it's kinda hard to tell what it is.

Hehehe... That's part of the challenge. ;)

[PatrickDeese]

Well - I may never enter the contest but it did motivate me to finally search for and find a free photoshop plugin for the ICO format. :)

[richardb]

For PFOline and all those who value their eyesight ;)

http*//www.cursorarts.com/ca_prod.html#iconforge

Cute little windows icon (only I think) app

Rich

[Nicke]

The biggest limitation is to stick with the websafe palette, I think there is no need to use websafe colors only these days; the icon may show slightly different for those with antique machines but look a lot better for the majority.

[mivox]

The biggest limitation is to stick with the websafe palette

Yeah. That one was draconian, wasn't it? I was feeling a little sadistic...

Heck, I am a little sadistic. hehehe. Them's the rules. Good thing there's no cash prizes, or people might get really bitter with me. ;)

[PFOnline]

Hey mivox, did you get a chance to check my sticky? :) Did I do everything right? (I mean, did it meet the qualifications OK?)...

Come to think of it, I don't even know what "216 Web safe colors pallette" is hehe... So I might have to edit the images to that... (Once i found out what it is, and if the images do indeed need to be changed to that.) :P

[edited by: PFOnline at 9:35 pm (utc) on June 5, 2003]

[Alphawolf]

Didn't even know I could change my icons in the StickyMail. Found a blue paw. COOL

Here's a cool proggie that works with ICO's:

[microangelo.us...]

Regards,

AW

[korkus2000]

PFOnline - They are fine.

Alphawolf - Thats my program of choice.

[mivox]

*grumble*

You're not supposed to start telling everyone what programs to use until AFTER the contest... I want everyone using "their own" programs, not something that got recommended in this thread! (...so I can get a better idea what's out there ;) )

[mivox]

*bump*

Changed the rules. Got stickies about designs people made that worked at 20x20 but not 16x16...

So... OK... I'll soften up on that one. Now, MAKE SOME ICONS PEOPLE! NO MORE EXCUSES!

:)

[Alphawolf]

*grumble*
You're not supposed to start telling everyone what programs to use until AFTER the contest... I want everyone using "their own" programs, not something that got recommended in this thread! (...so I can get a better idea what's out there )

Why is there no 'Owner Edit' in this forum?

You can delete the link if you'd like.

AW

[Marcia]

Well thank you for bending the rules! Mine is just too cute at 20x20 to spoil, and it was 20x20 to start out with.

mivox, I thank you and my elephant, she thanks you too.

[mivox]

Why is there no 'Owner Edit' in this forum?

There is, but it expires after a couple hours, I think... It's not a problem worth deleting anything over. ;) No worries.

Elephant

Your elephant is quite welcome... (I was also hoping the change would encourage a few more people to enter. Your elephant doesn't have much of a run for her money at this point. hehe)

[korkus2000]

You still have time to enter.