3D Icons and 2D Icons Handy Material

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 appropriate and even advisable to use several light sources in internet site design today but they should follow basic rules of physics and be truthful. If you would like to make 3D web icons look softer and much more realistic - use several lights.

The purpose of 2D and 3D icons is to represent the volume found in the three-dimensional world but 2D and 3D icons achieve this illusion using different means. Without doubt the volume can be represented by 3D Icons to much more extent than 2D Icons. One of the disadvantages of 2D Icons are flat images that show just one perspective. Detailed highlights and imperceptible soft shadows are missing as a rule. Also the shades usage is really limited.

3D web icons have got all these features instead. But 3D is mathematical replication of the data which in any case limits its usage. In some cases you can effortlessly replace 3D Icons by 2D ones or by the videos with the sounds - but all this depends on situation. 3D dimension can be achieved with the software used for 3D modeling. Just remember that, 3D icons should be depicted in correlation with the other objects and the environment they are placed into.