[RFC] New Konsole and Yakuake icons
AbandonedPublic

Authored by mglb on Oct 13 2019, 10:10 PM.

Details

Reviewers
trickyricky26
Group Reviewers
VDG
Konsole
Yakuake
Summary

Variants:

Which one do you like? The patch (so far) contains Konsole and Yakuake icons, 48px, variant A. Personally I like variant C for Konsole the most.

Note that in T10243 I've published following version, with slightly different colors:

If you like these colors (especially dark bg), I can use them.

Todo after deciding on the design:

  • update sizes other than 48px
  • add/change the Konsole and Yakuake icons in the icons-dark directory.

Diff Detail

Repository
R266 Breeze Icons
Branch
mglb/add-konsole-yakuake-icons
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Buildable 17691
Build 17709: arc lint + arc unit
mglb created this revision.Oct 13 2019, 10:10 PM
Restricted Application added a subscriber: kde-frameworks-devel. · View Herald TranscriptOct 13 2019, 10:10 PM
mglb requested review of this revision.Oct 13 2019, 10:10 PM
cblack added a subscriber: cblack.Oct 13 2019, 11:19 PM

They look nice, but I'm not sure how well they fit in with other Breeze icons.
Comparison montages:


ndavis added a subscriber: ndavis.Oct 14 2019, 5:16 AM

The Yakuake icon is a major improvement. The little angled rectangle making the prompt arrow look like a Y is a little distracting, but also kind of charming and helps to distinguish it from Konsole. I kind of still prefer the plainer ">_" version though.

I think the K in most of the Konsole variants is a bit too much and I think it would be too distracting. It's not immediately obvious that it's a K. When I look at it, the first thing my eyes see is ">|<", rather than ">K", which is confusing. I think that green color is not particularly Breeze-like and there's no clear reason why green would be a symbol for Konsole. The reason why blue is commonly used is because of Plasma Blue (#3daee9), Plasma's main accent/highlight color. I do like the idea of tabs on the bottom, but they look a bit off somehow. Maybe it's because they don't look like Breeze tabs? We may want to consider changing the look of Breeze tabs in the future though, so it's probably best if we don't try too hard to match the look of the Breeze widget theme.
Maybe something like this? I'm not sure.

trickyricky26 requested changes to this revision.Oct 14 2019, 11:36 AM
trickyricky26 added a subscriber: trickyricky26.

Before this is can be landed, you will have to also add/change the Konsole and Yakuake icons in the icons-dark directory.

While I think these icons do look nice on their own and I quite like the clever design of the Yakuake Prompt / "Y" symbol, I don't think they fit the Breeze icon style very well. I think they are too boxy and flat (even though you used gradients) to fit in. I would suggest you try to use more slim lines, similar to the current Konsole icon, as well as gradients with bigger differences between the colors.

Maybe something like this? I'm not sure.

I think these tabs look more Breeze-y, but still the icon looks quite flat and imo the thickness of the prompt symbol does not look right for a Breeze icon.

I think the K in most of the Konsole variants is a bit too much and I think it would be too distracting. It's not immediately obvious that it's a K. When I look at it, the first thing my eyes see is ">|<", rather than ">K", which is confusing. IIRC the discussion about the redesign of these icons started with the problem that they are not recognizable enough as standalone apps, not just as genric terminal emulators. I think we should try to experiment some more with the "K" symbol until we maybe find a variant that we like and fits well enough with other Breeze icons. Otherwise, I don't necessarily think

or one of the variant B icons will be an improvement over the current Konsole icon, which I personally like because of it's simplicity.

This revision now requires changes to proceed.Oct 14 2019, 11:36 AM
mglb updated this revision to Diff 67926.Oct 14 2019, 8:38 PM

Brighten background

mglb added a comment.Oct 14 2019, 9:44 PM

Please note that Konsole icon is intended to be personalized icon/"logo" (see T10243).
The prompt symbol is thick as it is main symbol (like symbols in e.g Plasma, Akregator, Kile, "K" icons/logos) - the window-like background (or just square in var C) is just secondary addition.

I did Yakuake symbol first and this is the only one I really like. Konsole symbol is just an attempt to make something similar, so ideas how to modify it are welcome.

I think that green color is not particularly Breeze-like and there's no clear reason why green would be a symbol for Konsole.

This is "Icon Green" (the prompt slightly lighter, K slightly darker), breeze secondary color.
In terminals era, monochrome monitors were usually green, amber or white. Green one was apparently most popular. Green terminal is also a thing in pop culture today.

I do like the idea of tabs on the bottom, but they look a bit off somehow. Maybe it's because they don't look like Breeze tabs? We may want to consider changing the look of Breeze tabs in the future though, so it's probably best if we don't try too hard to match the look of the Breeze widget theme.
Maybe something like this? I'm not sure.

Intentional - I wanted to make it more symbolic than real-looking. Realistic widget representations are good for utility icons (e.g preferences) IMO. Also, when I look at this dark background and ">_" in variant B, I see something like squarish Konsole-Konqui :P

gradients with bigger differences between the colors.

Changed, now the ligthness difference in dark gradient is similar to other icons.

IIRC the discussion about the redesign of these icons started with the problem that they are not recognizable enough as standalone apps, not just as genric terminal emulators. I think we should try to experiment some more with the "K" symbol until we maybe find a variant that we like and fits well enough with other Breeze icons. Otherwise, I don't necessarily think or one of the variant B icons will be an improvement over the current Konsole icon, which I personally like because of it's simplicity.

There were also complaints that there is no Konsole icon in Breeze, only generic utilities-terminal.


Update: lighter background

mglb edited the summary of this revision. (Show Details)Oct 14 2019, 9:46 PM

I really like the Yakuake icon that has a subtle "Y" in it. If everyone else does too, maybe that should be moved into a separate patch so we can get it in quickly and then concentrate on the Konsole icon.

Personally I'm not 100% sold on integrating the bottom tabs into the icon. The tab bar location is configurable, after all. But, I won't formally object to that part if everyone else likes it. :)

I really like the Yakuake icon that has a subtle "Y" in it. If everyone else does too, maybe that should be moved into a separate patch so we can get it in quickly and then concentrate on the Konsole icon.

@mglb could we move forward with this so the Yakuake icon doesn't get stuck waiting on the results of the conversation about the Konsole icon?

mglb added a comment.Nov 2 2019, 6:03 PM

I'll do the split today or tomorrow.

mglb abandoned this revision.Nov 3 2019, 1:36 AM

Yakuake icon moved to: https://phabricator.kde.org/D25123

Abandoning this one. If I decide to come back with Konsole icon I'll do it in dedicated task.