Bespoke graphics for iPhone
March 1, 2010 3:29 AM Subscribe
How do I create bespoke graphics for an iPhone app? What programs do people use and recommend, what processes are used to get from an idea to a professional looking app?
I have been asked to develop original graphics for an iPhone app, I am artistic and have some experience of using Photoshop but I am unsure of how to proceed.
I would like some advice on what programmes I could use, what sort of process might be suitable and if there are any resources either online or books that might assist me.
The developers I am working for have used free stock images in the past which they have edited in Photoshop. They are now moving onto developing a game which has a level map, icons and level screens and need bespoke graphics to achieve the professional look that they are after.
So far I have considered (on their suggestion) sketching images, scanning them and then working on them in Photoshop. I am unsure of how I would develop sketches digitally though as my Photoshop experience is limited to working on photos and simple images, not the level of detail that the app would require.
There is no rush from the developers to get this done quickly so I have time to learn about programmes and processes, developing my skills as I work for them. I have access to the Adobe Design programmes and I am sure I could have access to other programmes that are suggested if they have worthwhile features.
I am competent on computers, able to draw freehand, but do not have any stylus style hardware and have never used anything like that before. If using a stylus is recommended it is a possible avenue to go down but at this point I am not informed enough to know what options are useful to me.
An example of the sort of bespoke graphics that I would like to achieve for the developers is similar to "Aiport Mania: First Flight" on the iPhone. If this is considered advanced I understand that I may not be able to achieve this level of work for some time.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I have been asked to develop original graphics for an iPhone app, I am artistic and have some experience of using Photoshop but I am unsure of how to proceed.
I would like some advice on what programmes I could use, what sort of process might be suitable and if there are any resources either online or books that might assist me.
The developers I am working for have used free stock images in the past which they have edited in Photoshop. They are now moving onto developing a game which has a level map, icons and level screens and need bespoke graphics to achieve the professional look that they are after.
So far I have considered (on their suggestion) sketching images, scanning them and then working on them in Photoshop. I am unsure of how I would develop sketches digitally though as my Photoshop experience is limited to working on photos and simple images, not the level of detail that the app would require.
There is no rush from the developers to get this done quickly so I have time to learn about programmes and processes, developing my skills as I work for them. I have access to the Adobe Design programmes and I am sure I could have access to other programmes that are suggested if they have worthwhile features.
I am competent on computers, able to draw freehand, but do not have any stylus style hardware and have never used anything like that before. If using a stylus is recommended it is a possible avenue to go down but at this point I am not informed enough to know what options are useful to me.
An example of the sort of bespoke graphics that I would like to achieve for the developers is similar to "Aiport Mania: First Flight" on the iPhone. If this is considered advanced I understand that I may not be able to achieve this level of work for some time.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
OK this is quite an open ended question!
Firstly, I would look at iStockphoto, try a search for "game icons" or similar. You could either by the icons straight for use in your app, or just to get some inspiration.
Secondly, grab the iPhone GUI photoshop file. Very good for mocking up and comes with all the interface elements layered.
Thirdly, illustration. Well the results of this depends on whether you can draw or not! You mention you can, so sketch something on paper, and get a wacom tablet which allows you to put the paper under the cover so you can just trace it into photoshop or illustrator for colouring and tidying up. Maybe a book or a course would come in handy too. Good luck!
posted by derbs at 5:31 AM on March 1, 2010
Firstly, I would look at iStockphoto, try a search for "game icons" or similar. You could either by the icons straight for use in your app, or just to get some inspiration.
Secondly, grab the iPhone GUI photoshop file. Very good for mocking up and comes with all the interface elements layered.
Thirdly, illustration. Well the results of this depends on whether you can draw or not! You mention you can, so sketch something on paper, and get a wacom tablet which allows you to put the paper under the cover so you can just trace it into photoshop or illustrator for colouring and tidying up. Maybe a book or a course would come in handy too. Good luck!
posted by derbs at 5:31 AM on March 1, 2010
The illustrators and designers we work with almost all work in a combination of Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Illustrator lets you create "vector graphics" which are resolution-independent. They can be made larger and smaller, as your needs require. Photoshop, on the other hand, is needed for detailed work on small images with relatively few pixels, such as game pieces, icons, etc.
It's pretty easy to pick up the basics of Photoshop. From that point it's up to you how much you learn. Photoshop is a whole world of tools. I've tried to use Illustrator a couple of times, but it never makes sense to me. For both programs there is lots of instructional material available.
posted by alms at 7:23 AM on March 1, 2010
It's pretty easy to pick up the basics of Photoshop. From that point it's up to you how much you learn. Photoshop is a whole world of tools. I've tried to use Illustrator a couple of times, but it never makes sense to me. For both programs there is lots of instructional material available.
posted by alms at 7:23 AM on March 1, 2010
Inkscape is a free vector illustration tool that I use for making iPhone application icons and button graphics.
It outputs SVG, a vector format which can be brought into Photoshop for further resizing, editing.
SVG can be viewed by modern, standards-compliant browsers (which excludes IE, unfortunately). So it is a quick way to share and review designs with others in a dev team.
Illustrator will also take in and export SVG, so you can use Inkscape to share SVG files within a larger dev team.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:09 AM on March 1, 2010
It outputs SVG, a vector format which can be brought into Photoshop for further resizing, editing.
SVG can be viewed by modern, standards-compliant browsers (which excludes IE, unfortunately). So it is a quick way to share and review designs with others in a dev team.
Illustrator will also take in and export SVG, so you can use Inkscape to share SVG files within a larger dev team.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:09 AM on March 1, 2010
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Another option is to use illustrator and export to low resolution, then clean up the images in Photoshop
posted by delmoi at 4:48 AM on March 1, 2010