The main distinction between 2D and 3D is usually described in the following way and #58; 2D is much like a drawing and #44; 3D is like a sculpture and #46; 2D together with 3D icons have their own positive and negative sides which are described below and #46; In most cases 3D web icons win and #44; but let and #39;s learn more details and #46;
2D and 3D icons design and #45; what is the big difference and #63;
As for the 3d Icons the light source plays essential role for creating authentic three and #45;dimensional images and #46; It and #39;s acceptable and even advisable to use several light sources in web design nowadays but they should follow basic laws of physics and be truthful and #46; A few lights usually make 3D icons look softer and much more realistic and #46;
The purpose of 2D and 3D icons is to represent the volume found in the three and #45;dimensional world but 2D and 3D icons obtain this illusion working with different means and #46; Definitely the volume can be represented by 3D Icons to more extent than 2D Icons and #46; One of the minuses of 2D Icons are flat images that show just one perspective and #46; To this drawback you can add another one and #45; detailed highlights and imperceptible soft shadows are missing and #46; Also the shades usage is really limited and #46;
3D web Icons can be proud of all these features instead and #46; But 3D is mathematical replication of the data which anyway limits its usage and #46; In some cases you can effortlessly replace 3D Icons by 2D ones or by the videos with the sounds and #45; but all this depends on situation and #46; 3D dimension can be achieved due to the software used for 3D modeling and #46; It is very important show 3D icons in correlation with the other objects in the neighborhood and the environment they are placed into and #46;
3D web icons and #58; artistic or realistic and #63;
Nevertheless sometimes advantages can be change into disadvantages and #46; Such as the thoroughness as well as truthfulness of the picture may be the weakness of 3D web Icons and #46; Put simply while drawing some object you are much more free to use artistic vision and #46; Lets take a mobile and #45;phone for example and #46; So its possible to draw it rather similar to a real one but eliminate some extra details and #44; shades and highlights and #46; Sometimes schematic drawings work even better than 3D models and #46; You should analyze each particular case and #46; High and #45;quality 3d icons need to repeat each detail and line thoroughly and #44; make the object seem closer to reality and #46; So to answer the question we can say it is more like a kind of technical representation than a piece of art and #46; Though some illustrators manage to create abstract 3D web icons that involve innovative thought and look like true works of art and #46; Realistic and accurate modeling is one of well and #45;known trend of 3D design nowadays and #46;Speaking about realistic look and #44; if you are going to use some characters as icons and #44; we can definitely say that 3D icons are much more realistic than 2D ones and #46; The characters may stay cartoonish that will add some humor and zest to your site and #40;especially if it is associated with the goods and services your company provides and #41; and #46;
The technical issues you may face while using 3D icons in your project layout and #46;
So pay attention to these useful facts while creating the icons design for your website and #58;
and #45; Weak resolution of the viewers displays makes it impossible to depict 3d icons in all their glory and details;
and #45; since the monitor screen is 2D device it will not display the true three and #45;dimensional object as we see it in reality;
and #45; 2D space is easier to be modified and controlled in comparison with 3D one;
and #45; the non and #45;standard applications essential for correct viewing of 3D web Icons may force the user to download additional software which is certainly not convenient and #46;
In conclusion we can say that both 2D and 3D icons are based on geometric data but 3D objects are the sculpture models and #44; they and #39;re more complex items and #46; And the requirements for creating the high quality 3D web Icons are much severer and #46; 3D Icons may have no creativity and abstract air but the facts of depth and volume which are effectively produced with 3D technology are incontestable and #46;