2D web icons along with other objects are famous for their flexibility. This is achieved by the peculiarity of rendering them at various resolutions suitable for various output devices.
2D Icons may include the next items:
- raster pictures (digital graphics);
- styled text as a typeset for 2D Icons;
- vector models (geometric graphics).
These items can be managed by 2D transformations such as rotation, scaling or angular position etc. Meshing basic models you may get more advanced ones.
2D web icons usually are not similar to the real three-dimensional objects but because of the layers technique they are able to create the illusion of all 3D characteristics like shadow, reflection or highlighting. The layers really should keep the definite hierarchy and order carefully.
2.5D Icons
The layered 2Dicons are also generally known as 2.5D models. This technology allows web designers to work with any layer with no need of touching the others. The best of the well known graphics editors prefer this kind of 2D object development.
2.5D is a synonym to pseudo 3D. This means "two-and-a-half-dimensional" graphics. Models which were developed with a help of with 2.5D technology appear to be tridimensional while in fact they are not. The featured projection depicts both front and side views.
This technology used for designing 2D web icons is frequently achieved by the special lighting effect. 3D illusion can be reached as a result of virtual light source to the left or to the right side and above the users monitor.
