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iOS

Posted by Jonathan Fernandez
Jonathan Fernandez
8,325 Points

Getting Icons for noobs

So I basically wanted to ask where all you developers out there go to get app icons (iOS)? What are good starting places for newbies and are there any tools out there that allow me to resize my own icons quickly (from adobe illustrator)? (e.g. norm, @2x, @3x etc.)

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Btw just to help be clear with what I mean by app icon - I kinda mean icons for all over the app. e.g. Tab Bar Icons, Button Images, etc.

1 Answer

Ryan Ackermann
Ryan Ackermann
14,665 Points
Ryan Ackermann
Ryan Ackermann
14,665 Points

Hey Jonathan for my projects I usually sit down and sketch out ideas on what I want the icon to look like, lets say I wanted to make a compass icon for a location app then after I rough out what I think it'll look like, even if it looks like a flaming turd, I'll head out in search of inspiration, that way I don't get side tracked and end up copying someone! :p

So my favorite places to stop by and look at peoples creations for inspiration purposes are first Google kinda elementary I know but if you wanna quickly look up what something looks like Google Images sure helps, ex I use Wikipedia for quick facts, not something that I'd put in my research paper ;)

Lastly I frequent Dribble for icons and other artwork inspiration that is just mind glowingly cool, but this can become distracting so I only go to this after I have a pretty solid idea of what I wanna make!

As for the Icon creation software I use Adobe Photoshop, which was spendy, but their are great cheap, even free, alternatives that can work for your specific needs. If you do use Photoshop I highly recommend Dev Rocket this plug-in is a HUGE life saver and it can easily create Icon templates that now support all of the new iPhone screen resolutions and dimensions as well as the ability to export the icons and artwork to @3x @2x and @1x! But if your on budget a browse around the web will surely turn up some different creation alternatives :)

I hope this helps you, or provides you with a direction to what to do next!

Good luck :)

Jonathan Fernandez
Jonathan Fernandez
8,325 Points

Hi Ryan, thanks for your detailed feedback.

Well I'm not much of an artist myself and kinda wanted to know if there was a good flea market for free and paid icons that most developers would go to for a quick icon fix in case the project your dealing with has a very limited time frame.

Although I'm really happy that you got to show me Dev Rocket. Will definitely give it a try. : )

Also doing some research today for icon resizing I was also able to find this website called
Make app Icon & thought I would note it for anyone on budget, reading this forum.

Btw just to help be clear with what I mean by app icon - I kinda mean icons for all over the app. e.g. Tab Bar Icons, Button Images, etc.

Best, Jonathan

Ryan Ackermann
Ryan Ackermann
14,665 Points

I'm glad I could help, I wish I knew places to find free/ paid assets for yeah though! I only create icons and all others assets myself and have never really thought about searching for them through the web.

That website is sick! Thanks for sharing, I'm only doing iOS work now, but if I ever need to do get around to Android I'll use that site for sure!

Oh almost forgot, if you'd like a free alternative to Dev Rocket there is a fancy little Icon Template PSD that comes with actions that are all showcased in that link and since I found it after I already purchased Dev Rocket I kinda stick towards that, but I would hands down recommend this and the designer behind it is always updating it with every new iteration of iOS !

Oh man I should probably have picked up on this sooner!! If you want icons for the design of the apps content then totally check out Creative Market they have everything! So sorry I only am understanding this now, this should have you covered for all your needs in finding a great icon set for you app!