2D Icons and 3D Icons Facts

2D and 3D icons design - what is the difference?

As for the 3d Icons the light source plays essential role for creating authentic three-dimensional images. It is appropriate and even recommended to use several light sources in internet site design today however they should follow basic laws of physics and be truthful. If you want to make 3D web icons look softer and more realistic - use several lights.

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

3D icons can be proud of all these features instead. But 3D is mathematical replication of the data which in any case 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.3D dimension can be achieved due to the software used for 3D modeling. Don't forget that 3D icons should be depicted in correlation with the other objects and the environment they're placed into.