A few hours to go, people! Vote if you haven't already! :]
Though, must say, the quality of critique most of you guys posted here is beyond what I ever expected. Let's hope y'all continue to participate each month. :)
Originally Posted by Fenneking
I have never heard of icon making before. Though, it seems like the objective is to enhance the original stock(s) whether it is color, texture, quality, background, or combination thereof. To me, again, I have no experience with icons, it seems like the majority of these did not seek to transform the original stock much from minimizing and upping the contrast and brightness a bit, if at all. I am wondering if I am mistaken in the objective of icon making, as I stated above. Hope that doesn't sound overly critical.
People can choose to add textures, c4ds or even brushes if they want. Though, since icons are small pieces of graphic art, they generally choose to refrain from doing so. Having tons of textures/c4ds along with the stock in such a small piece would, most likely, introduce unnecessary clutter in the piece and ruin it. As Gav put it nicely, as far as icons are concerned, "less is more". As a result, people generally enhance the brightness/contrast, lighting, depth or the colors. Or all of them. I personally prefer those which have enhanced colors. :p
Though saying that most didn't change much is going a little overboard. Check out Blade's or Aeryln's. Color enhanced. Or Snowdrop's, Anna's or NecrumWarrior's. They aren't icons with simply copy-pasted stocks and increased contrast. Some work DID go into them. And it's visible. lD