Icon readability issue on Windows shortcut overlay (Icon looks sus).

[Drigva]

Description:

On Windows, the shortcut arrow overlay covers the rocket flame, leaving only part of the rocket body visible. When the wallpaper color is similar (e.g., default Windows 10 background), the icon silhouette becomes ambiguous, hard to read and can appear unintentionally phallic.

I had to look twice after I installed it when the object appeared at the corner of my eye.

Suggestion:

Consider adjusting the icon to keep key elements away from the lower corner, or add stronger contrast/outline/background so it remains clear with system overlays and at small sizes.

Thanks for the great project!

[ittroll]

@riyasy I had a go at creating an alternative icon. Feel free to use if you like or ignore if not.

[riyasy]

@Drigva Yes, the edges are getting cutoff at the corners in the desktop shortcut.. This also happens in the store icon display too.. like the sharp nose gets cut at the top..

[riyasy]

I had a go at creating an alternative icon. Feel free to use if you like or ignore if not.

@ittroll , I had various iterations for a new icon in my mind for quite some time.. But this has to be the best literal translation of "FlyPhotos" into an icon. The only con is this reminds of Telegram icon and other mail/message apps..

I made a version inspired by this.. Need to think..

[ittroll]

The only con is this reminds of Telegram icon and other mail/message apps..

Yeah, yours is a nice looking icon, but the shape and predominate blue colour reminds of Telegram. Perhaps some other colours would help?
With my attempt I kept the classic polaroid shape which was also used by Picasa Photo Viewer.

[Drigva]

I had a go at creating an alternative icon. Feel free to use if you like or ignore if not.

@ittroll* , I had various iterations for a new icon in my mind for quite some time.. But this has to be the best literal translation of "FlyPhotos" into an icon. The only con is this reminds of Telegram icon and other mail/message apps..

I made a version inspired by this.. Need to think..

I like the design, it didn't resemble Telegram to me immediately, but after you mentioned it, it does.

[Tomasz-W]

I have no problem with the blue rocket icon as program icon, but I do have a little problem with using this icon for the graphic files themselves. A blue rocket simply does not suggest a file containing a photo/image.

It would be nice to have a distinct icon for the FlyPhotos app and a separate one for the files associated with it.

The standard for photo files is a mountain shape design, so I would suggest an icon depicting a polaroid photo with mountains and a rocket or paper plane in the background.

[riyasy]

@Tomasz-W , I accidentally edited your comment instead of quoting it and now replaced it back with original content.

It would be nice to have a distinct icon for the FlyPhotos app and a separate one for the files associated with it.

Shall check the possibility..

[riyasy]

Yeah, yours is a nice looking icon, but the shape and predominate blue colour reminds of Telegram. Perhaps some other colours would help?

@ittroll - Also an additional requirement is even in the most smallest rendering (The icon which we get with "Open With", and when explorer view is 'Details' ), it should be identifiable..

[ittroll]

The jet plane says holiday or flight app to me.
Of those ones, the paper aeroplane with the green hills gets my vote. I wonder if adding a border sells it better as being a photo.

AI made this weird mashup which is not terrible.

Also an additional requirement is even in the most smallest rendering

The small icons can be tricky. It is often necessary to hand edit a simple version for the 32px and 16px sizes because a resize becomes a mess.

[Drigva]

I drafted an SVG of the first version. A lot of information were lost, the small icons are still somewhat recognizable. Perhaps the second version will be more recognizable.

FlyPhotos.zip

[riyasy]

This is how it renders at various locations

[ittroll]

Looks pretty good to me.

Is it worth trying the second polaroid version at smaller sizes? It would perhaps be more of a homage to Picasa.

[Tomasz-W]

Just for the note: The one above was an icon for image files associated with Picasa, not Picasa app itself.

@ittroll Are you able to prepare flat version of your polaroid icon to compare?

[ittroll]

Just for the note: The one above was an icon for image files associated with Picasa, not Picasa app itself.

Sort of, it was actually the icon used by the Picasa Photo Viewer. Which FlyPhotos is a modern alternative to.
The main Picasa app provided other functionality which FlyPhotos doesn't seek to replicate.

Here is a transparent background version at various sizes.

[riyasy]

Since we are planning for two icons

• App will always be represented by plane icon in any size for consistency.
• Files for which Fly is set as default viewer will be represented by the polaroid icon. Will need to make it flat to sync well with Win10/11 design.