Commons:WikiProject Nuvola 2.0+

David Vignoni’s Nuvola icon theme was originally intended to satisfy the GUI needs of KDE users; however, it has since grown to find use on numerous Wikipedias (as well as http://shopping.wikia.com) as a set of navigational icons, and may soon find use on other Websites and in conceptual diagrams. It is colourful, friendly, legible and sensible, but its scope is rather narrow for many applications, due to its origins. Outside the areas of electronics and office supplies, its coverage of real objects is hit-and-miss.

WikiProject Nuvola 2.0+ is a project to make new icons that will fit stylistically into David Vignoni’s Nuvola icon set, so that it can be used not just for operating system GUIs, but for all kinds of application software, Web sites and conceptual diagrams. The extended set should depict as many objects as possible, and (ideally) completely meet the topic-icon needs of http://shopping.wikia.com and all Wikipedias.

To do this, we must draw new elements, adapt other icons to the Nuvola style and/or manipulate icons at a detailed level. This doesn’t mean simply putting existing icons together, or combining a Nuvola icon with a non-Nuvola icon that doesn’t match it stylistically. (These things appear to be most of what happens in Category:Modified Nuvola icons.) Also, unlike most of Category:Modified Nuvola icons, our icons should be available in SVG form so that (a) they can be used at higher resolutions if necessary and (b) it is easier to edit them further.

We must also create SVG versions of the PNG icons: While the KDE package in PNG format contains almost 600 icons, the SVG icon set contains less than half of that. As well, in some cases the two icons do not match; when this is the case, the PNG version is usually better.

Perhaps once the project goes far enough, we can even get Nuvola creator David Vignoni on board. At the very least, we could ask him to codify for us the Nuvola theme guidelines, as has been done for Tango.[1]

Etymology

Nuvola 2.0+ is a tentative name. It can change if there is community consensus. However, Seahen considers this an appropriate name because:

  1. Vignoni calls his final PNG version 1.0, and the latest SVG version 0.9.
  2. Vignoni says he will probably not release any further versions on his own[2], so he will not release a Nuvola 2.0 on his own.
  3. Our project will improve dramatically on 1.0, more than enough to justify a full version number increase. The PNG version contains almost 600 icons, and we will probably ultimately create at least 600 additional icons.

Sub-projects

Icons that do not fall into any of the categories below are just as welcome as those that do, and we may start new categories later. However, the following categories badly need artists’ attention, and may provide some starting ideas.

Country flags

The ultimate goal is a scalable, recognizable flag for every country in the world. Currently there is the following limited set, alphabetical by country:

Continents
North America South America Europe (complete) Africa Asia Oceania
Country Flag icon Status
Canada    
Mexico    
Country Flag icon Status
Argentina    
Bolivia    
Brazil    
Chile    
Colombia    
Ecuador    
Paraguay    
Peru    
Peru (state flag)    
Country Flag icon Status
Albania    
Andorra    
Austria    
Belarus    
Belgium    
Bosnia-Herzegovina    
Bulgaria    
Croatia    
Cyprus    
Czech republic    
Denmark    
England    
Estonia    
Finland    
France    
Germany    
Greece    
Hungary    
Iceland    
Ireland    
Italy    
Latvia    
Liechtenstein    
Lithuania    
Luxemburg    
Macedonia    
Malta    
Moldova    
Montenegro    
Netherlands    
North Ireland File:Nuvola North Irish flag.svg  
Norway    
Poland    
Portugal    
Romania    
Russia    
San Marino    
Scotland File:Nuvola Scotish flag.svg  
Serbia    
Slovakia    
Slovenia    
Spain    
Sweden    
Switzerland    
Turkey    
Ukraine    
United Kingdom    
Vatican    
Wales    
Country Flag icon Status
Côte d’Ivoire    
Libya    
Country Flag icon Status
China    
Japan    
Korea    
Country Flag icon Status
Samoa    
Legend :   : Need an approval (but who will approve??).   : Approved.   : Will be replaced soon by a better version
Gonna make the other ones soon. Every country should be done in maybe a big week if I work hard. :) If you have something to change on a flag of mine, please ask. I do it for you almost directly. If I miss a country too. :) Min's 15:43, 20 June 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Simplified flags

 
 
 
 

In some cases, a flag icon includes fine detail that cannot be seen in screen renderings at resolutions less than 128x128px. This makes for a blurry rendering (because shapes and outlines become less than a pixel wide). Since the fine detail is still useful for high-resolution and print renderings, the best solution is to create two versions of the icon, one with the full detail of the flag and one with some detail removed and outlines thickened. (It may also be useful to enlarge the charge in the latter version. If the flag contains numerous stars, try using fewer stars and making them larger.) Note that since some of Vignoni's icons other than flags (such as  ) have equally fine detail that also doesn't render at low resolutions, so simplifying the flags would be a stylistic departure, and full-detail flags should be the priority.

Home and office furniture, appliances and décor

Nuvola doesn’t even have a filing cabinet, let alone a bed or dining table or any type of seating. There are also none of the appliances classified as white goods.

Note that the dresser and table below are front views; angled views would be better (although ideally all furniture would exist in both views).

Icon Item depicted Status
  Desk Pre-existing; more realistically-shaped version (wider, with legs, angled view) would be desirable as well
  End table or nighstand (without usual shelf) Finished, but angled view would be desirable as well
  Dresser Finished
  Angled view of above dresser Finished
  Picture frame Finished
  Dinnerware setting Finished

Shopping

This would include items likely to be found in a store, and thus suit the needs of online stores. This would include:

  • Cash register and checkout counter
  • Shopping bag
  • Cash (try not to make this country-specific)
  • Credit/debit cards
  • Basket
  • Cart
  • Shelves, bins, etc.
  • Catalogue

We have no icons in this category yet.

Food and drink

Sorry, but   and   don’t make a meal.

Image Item depicted Status
  Cupcake Pre-existing; SVG version needed
  Birthday cake SVG version needed; candles asymmetrical (present along front edge but not back edge).
  Coffee or tea Pre-existing

Clothing

Even   (which appears to have been accidentally released without a head on top) doesn't have a neck, much less any sleeves. We have no icons in this category yet.

Emoticons

Tango has a complete set, but we can’t use Nuvola to express our dissatisfaction with what little it gives us. We have no original icons in this category yet. :-(

Icon Text equivalent Status
  B-) Pre-existing
  :-D Pre-existing
  :-O Pre-existing

Weather

  doesn't give us any precipitation, so it's a pretty dry category. Tango, on the other hand, is flooded with  ,   and  . We have no original icons in this category yet.

Icon Meaning Status
  Partly cloudy Pre-existing, SVG version needed

Buildings

Currently, the only building we have is  , and its inferior SVG twin,   (which doesn’t, for instance, have roof shingles). We have no original icons in this category yet.

Icon Status
  Pre-existing;   SVG version flawed

Subject icons

Currently, Wikipedia pages such as Wikipedia:Browse use a mix of Nuvola and non-Nuvola icons to represent various topics. This is not aesthetically pleasing; a Nuvola icon for every field of study would be the ultimate goal. The list below may be incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Icon Subject Status
Arts
  Painting Pre-existing
  Photography Pre-existing
Drawing Missing
Sculpture Missing
  Digital art Pre-existing, SVG version needed
  Music Finished
Drama Missing
  Film Pre-existing
Physical sciences
  Chemistry Pre-existing,   SVG flawed please help.
Physics Missing
  Astronomy Pre-existing, SVG version needed
Geology Missing
Math & computer science
File:My-computer.svg Computer science Pre-existing
  Mathematics Pre-existing, SVG version needed
Life sciences
  Biology SVG version needed
  Ecology Pre-existing
Humanities
  Languages, comparative Finished. Note: This icon has been adopted as the logo of Wikibooks:Wikijunior Languages.
  Language, spoken Pre-existing, SVG version needed
  Literature Pre-existing, SVG version needed
Religion Missing
Philosophy Missing
Social sciences
  Education Pre-existing, SVG version needed
  Sociology Pre-existing, SVG version needed
  Politics, international Pre-existing, SVG version needed, been attacked as biased since it represents only two European countries
Psychology Missing
Government/Law Missing
History Missing
  Sociology Pre-existing, SVG version needed
  Geography Pre-existing
Professions
Engineering Missing
  Medicine Pre-existing, SVG version needed
Architecture Missing
Accounting Missing
Law Missing
Trades and technical fields
  Handymanship Pre-existing
  Electricity Pre-existing, SVG version needed
  Electronics Pre-existing, SVG version needed
  Mechanics Pre-existing, SVG version needed
  Drafting Pre-existing, SVG version needed
Carpentry Missing
Plumbing Missing
Hydraulics Missing
Pneumatics Missing
Automotive Missing
  Security Pre-existing

Miscellaneous

Icons that are not part of sub-projects include:

Icon Description
  Search trashcan

Flags of sub-national entities

Entity Icon Status
Catalonia, Spain   Finished
Valencia, Spain   Finished

Members

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