Here is version 2 of the staggeringly popular Un–Crappy Copland Icon Set, hereafter referred to as TUCCIS. The first version had over 500 eWorld downloads in the month since I posted it, so you know it's got to be good. This new, improved, better-than-ever set has 122 of the best Copland icons you will ever find. Honest. You'll see…
Important quality tip: If you have any experience in downloading icons, you know that, on any given network, the vast majority of icons are just plain crap! These are not—hence the name. "Why?" you may be asking. Here are some reasons.
1. Most icons out there are simply drawn in 8-bit, 32x32, and look horrrible in list views or in b&w/4-bit. These are optimized to look good in all six kinds of icon view, even the very rarely seen 4-bit 16x16.
2. I use all these icons on a daily basis, and tinker with them 'till they look really good. The average icon here has undergone two or three revisions before it is deemed worthy of inclusion.
3. I use professional tools—ResEdit and Photoshop. These are the programs that 96% of icon artists use, according to a recent Gallup Poll. If you are drawing icons without either of these tools, get with the program! I mean it!
4. I only use military-grade pixels. Granted, they cost more, but the end results are worth it…
CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE…
I have downloaded many, many, many icons in my time, and it always irritates me to see somebody take a few icons from a variety of sources, repackage them, then pass them off as his/her own. So although nearly all of the icons in this collection are entirely original, and those that are not have been heavily modified from their source, the following icons are not totally my creations (of course, every icon is based on the "Original Copland ƒ" icon, which I did not draw—Apple did):
Apple Menu Items (Disabled) ƒ, Control Panels (Disabled) ƒ, Disabled ƒ, Extensions (Disabled) ƒ, Startup Items (Disabled) ƒ, Sys (disabled) ƒ
These are heavily modified versions of Apple's icons.
Chalkboard ƒ
I do not know who came up with the original "3+4" icon but wish to anonymously acknowledge him/her here.
Disinfectant ƒ
All the little "Slash-V" icons were originally by Vernon Brown.
Folder ƒ
The shaded black outline in the icl8 resource was copied and modified from Vernon Brown's "FileMaker Pro ƒ" icon.
If it is not immediately obvious, I lifted some icons from their respective programs.
Everything else was drawn from scratch and/or manipulated in Photoshop.
Important Icon Tip: This read me icon is not mine. I use it because it is really cool, and have no idea who drew it. If you know, e-mail me.
RAVE REVIEWS
"Un-crappy. That's an understatement."
Geoffrey Hamilton, Icon Wizard
"Only a brillant mind with an incredible artistic flair could have created such original and creative icons. Honestly, they are great! I personally like the flat folders better, but will use many of these 'cause they're so cool."
Pam Smith
"...Your Un-Crappy Copland Icons are definitely that: un-crappy! In fact they were actually very good... I agree, there are a lot of crummy "Copland" icons out there and yours are among the top. (I see by the number of DLs that others agree!)."
Count Chocula (Yes, I get e-mail from cereal. Ain't modern technology wonderful?)
(Actually, I am pretty sure it is just a screen name.)
"Love the small icons in Aaron's title bars. Don't stop making more of these. The 3D ones are the best. Thanks for your efforts."
Andre Masse
These are some of the best I have yet seen. It really shows how high quality icons should look like after spending, so, much, …, where did you find all this time?
Eric Houser
"Oh, man, they kick butt, Matt."
Michael Stern, without a hint of sarcasm
"A real turn-on."
Erin Gross, with even less sarcasm
"You're just nuts, that's all there is to it."
James Muiter, Dartmouth Computing
"Son, you've finally lost all sense of reality, haven't you?"
Dad (The answer is yes.)
"Matt, don't you have anything better to do?"
Everyone in my dorm (No, sadly.)
"Those are easily the best icons we have ever seen. Would you work for us for, say $100K/year?"
Software companies the world over (Can anyone beat that offer? <grin>)
"They're better than sex."
The Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo
THE SECOND–TO–LAST HEADING
Important legal tip: Just because I draw icons for programs does not mean I actually own them. For example, in this set there are icons for SoundEdit 16 and Spectre, neither of which I have, sadly. In other words, if there is an icon for your company's program in here and I am not a registered user, don't call me a pirate!
If there is a program for which you would like a folder drawn, or if you have a program that needs an icon (or a better one than it has now), and you think I would do a good job for you, or if you would like your rave review printed in TUCCIS 3.0's read-me, e-mail me and I'll see what I can do for you.
If you have read this far, you are the sort of conscientious individual who just might pay shareware fees (I know, there aren't many of you). If you dig these icons, register somebody else's software. For example, you are probably using Aaron, since these icons work well with it. Register Aaron! It's really worth it. That will make both Mr. Landweber (the author of said product) and me happy, so you actually get twice as much registration for your money.
The preceding paragraph does not apply to people who work for software companies. I have a plea for you: send me a t-shirt and/or software (betas gladly taken!) if it isn't too much trouble. If it is, then write a nice review of my icons and sign it "So-and-So, XYZ Software Company." That way I can quote you in the upcoming 3rd version and look really official.
Important legal tip 2, for CD-ROM manufacturers and other distributors of shareware, freeware, and misc-ware: If you think well of these icons and want to distribute them to your subscribers, I would love it! Just send me a copy of whatever you distribute them on. This does not apply to user groups or commercial online services like eWorld, AOL, etc.
Thank you for downloading these icons. Hope you enjoy them!
GEEK TEST
If you get this, you are a geek:
Spotted in the Silicon Valley: a Volkswagen Beetle with the license plate FEATURE.
