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Use Smaller Icons In Toucan

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November 18, 2008 - 12:14pm
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John T. Haller
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Use Smaller Icons In Toucan

I've been thinking about the Toucan interface and I think the icons in the tabs are too big. They're 64x64, larger than the icons in any app I've ever seen, and wind up overpowering the interface. I tried it with 32x32 icons and it looks much better in my opinion:
https://portableapps.com/temp/toucan_small_icons.png

I also think we should rename the "Portable Variables" tab to just "Variables". That would free up the room to separate out the Help tab from the Settings tab (logically, it makes no sense for help to be on settings). The Help tab could have the about info directly on it with a button to open the help manual.

Thoughts?

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November 18, 2008 - 12:31pm
Steve Lamerton
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Both

of those are already planned for the next version (well the resizing of icons for 2.0.3 and the renaming for 2.1).

As for splitting off another tab, what does everyone else think, personally I am not a great fan as we will end up with a settings tab with three items on it, but I am open to thoughts on this.

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November 18, 2008 - 12:33pm
(Reply to #2)
John T. Haller
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Help

Help isn't settings. The settings tab is already sparse, but adding more things that aren't settings (like Help and About) doesn't make sense.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

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November 18, 2008 - 12:38pm
(Reply to #3)
Steve Lamerton
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Hmm

ok, and what do you think to 48x48 over 32x32, personally I think they are a little small.

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November 18, 2008 - 12:40pm
(Reply to #4)
ZachHudock
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I think 32x32 is good....most

I think 32x32 is good....most apps that offer variable icon sizes for display use 16x16 (small) and 32x32 (large)

The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705

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November 18, 2008 - 12:44pm
(Reply to #5)
John T. Haller
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48 is huge

48 is *HUGE* within an application. I have never seen any other Windows application use 48s or higher. 32x32 is standard icon sizes within Windows and on the desktop. 24x24 is standard large toolbar icons and 16x16 is standard small toolbar icons.

Take a look at all our other apps to get a feel for icons and sizes. Nearly all use 24s or 16s. Of course, those are toolbars within applications. The closest interface this would be to is the options window within Firefox (which I think is a close design parallel as it's iconified tabs) which also uses 32s.

Honestly, anything over 32px on tabs or in toolbars within an application looks comically large to me.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

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November 18, 2008 - 12:51pm
(Reply to #6)
Steve Lamerton
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Fine

I give in! To me 32 looks way too small for any definition in the icons, but we will go for it in the next release.

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November 18, 2008 - 12:58pm
(Reply to #7)
John T. Haller
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Shadow

Ditch the shadows and angles. Go for front-on. Remember, the purpose of icons isn't to show off the artwork, it's to be functional first.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

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November 18, 2008 - 12:59pm
(Reply to #8)
Steve Lamerton
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Well

I shall have to contact Neorame to do that, I shall try and get it done in time for the next release.

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November 18, 2008 - 1:06pm
(Reply to #9)
John T. Haller
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Either Way

Shrink them either way. It's still obvious what each icon does. The ability to see the details in the icons isn't important functionally.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

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November 18, 2008 - 1:26pm
(Reply to #10)
ruudboek
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I agree, especially for those

I agree, especially for those small netbooks, which are getting more and more popular and have a small screen, so screenspace is very valuable, i think 32x32 would be a blessing. Wink

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November 18, 2008 - 4:08pm
(Reply to #11)
J Neutron
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The Tabs

Is there any way to have the icons change size to indicate which tab is currently active?

I get lost since there isn't any real indication of where you are.

Jim

neutron1132 (at) usa (dot) com

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November 18, 2008 - 4:31pm
(Reply to #12)
John T. Haller
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Clear

It's pretty clear. In the screenshot it's obviously the sync tab as it is highlighted and the word sync is bolded. The only thing that would be clearer is possibly using the icons as the background of the form (which would also let Steve show em off). Possibly faded in the upper right, partially cut off flush with the top and right of the form with controls over them.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

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November 18, 2008 - 8:28pm
(Reply to #13)
J Neutron
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Sorry

I've got a weird color balance on my monitor and can't always catch subtle shades of colors.

In some programs, I have to change the colors of different elements to make stuff stand out better.

Not exactly color-blind, but that brings up another question... there's plenty of people who ARE color-blind or have other accessibility issues. A little advance planning will go a long way in affecting usability.

Jim

neutron1132 (at) usa (dot) com

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November 18, 2008 - 9:35pm
(Reply to #14)
John T. Haller
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Bold

The bold definitely helps as well (which is a better indicator, as is the fact that the tab is visually connected to the rest of the form a little bit). But that's why I'd suggested the BG icon in the upper left as that would hammer it home.

We're taking color blindness more into account in apps. I've often done it with websites for the 3 major kinds of color blindness. Jooleem, for instance, has same shape/contrast marbles that are indistinguishable to color blind folks. We're doing a re-release with our own shapes that will be distinguishable.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

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