2d Icons

2D icons and other objects are well known for their flexibility. This is achieved by the peculiarity of rendering them at different resolutions ideal for various output devices.

2D Icons may embody the below items:

• raster pictures (digital graphics);
• styled text as a typeset for 2D Icons;
• vector models (geometric graphics).

The above-mentioned items can be managed by 2D transformations such as rotation, scaling or angular position etc. Meshing simple models you may get more advanced ones.

Due to the layers technique 2D icons can create the illusion of all 3D characteristics like shadow, reflection or highlighting. The layers should maintain the definite hierarchy and order carefully.

2.5D Icons

The layered 2Dicons are usually known as 2.5D models. This technology offers web site designers ability to work with any layer without the need of touching the others. This kind of 2D object creation is liked by the most of the well known graphics editors.

2.5D is a synonym to pseudo 3D and is interpreted as “two-and-a-half-dimensional” graphics. Models that were created with a help of with 2.5D technology appear to be tridimensional while in fact they are not.

This technology used for designing 2D web icons is often attained by the special lighting effect. 3D illusion can be reached due to the virtual light source to the left or to the right side and above the users monitor.