3D Icons and 2D Icons Contest

Basic differences between 2D and 3D icons design

Speaking about 3d Icons we need to point out that the source of light plays an extremely important role for creating authentic three-dimensional images. It's acceptable and even recommended to use several light sources in web page design nowadays but they should follow fundamental laws of physics and be truthful. Several lights generally make 3D web icons look softer and more realistic.

The aim of 2D and 3D icons is to represent the volume found in the three-dimensional world but 2D and 3D icons achieve this illusion working with diverse means. 2D Icons can surely represent volume to less extent than 3D Icons. Among the minuses of 2D Icons are flat images that present just one perspective. To this disadvantage you can add another one - detailed highlights and imperceptible soft shadows are missing. The shades usage is restricted as well.

3D icons can be proud of all these features instead. But 3D is mathematical replication of the data which anyway limits its usage. In some case 3D objects like 3D Icons may be effectively replaced by 2D ones or by the videos with the sounds. The sounds give some extra dimensionality to the videos that actually use 2D images.Software used for 3D modeling allows to create that 3D dimension. Bear in mind that 3D icons should be depicted in correlation with the other objects and the environment they're placed into.