2D web icons as well as other objects are well known for their flexibility. This is achieved by the peculiarity of rendering them at various resolutions suitable for various output devices.
2D Icons items:
- raster pictures (digital graphics);
- styled text as a typeset for 2D Icons;
- vector models (geometric graphics).
All these items can be managed by 2D transformations such as rotation, scaling or angular position etc. Meshing basic models you may get more advanced ones.
2D icons usually are not like the real three-dimensional objects but as a result of layers technique they can create the illusion of all 3D characteristics like shadow, reflection or highlighting. The layers really should keep the certain hierarchy and order carefully. This makes modifying 2D icons and similar objects easier.
2.5D Icons as the pseudo 3D kind of 2D Icons
The layered 2Dicons also are known as 2.5D models. This technology offers web designers ability to work with any layer without the need of touching the others. The most of the prominent graphics editors choose this type of 2D object creation.
2.5D is a synonym to pseudo 3D. This means "two-and-a-half-dimensional" graphics. Models created with 2.5D technology appear to be tridimensional while in fact they aren't.
This technology used for designing 2D web icons is frequently attained by the special lighting effect. 3D illusion is achieved due to the virtual source of light to the left or to the right side and above the users monitor.
