As, in general, details are pretty important, the graphical designs of your icons can have some pull in the overall success of your product. Programs like RealWorld Icon Editor are developed to help you come up with some great looking icons for your programs.
With RealWorld Icon Editor you will be able to create icons from scratch, from an image or from multiple parts. This program features a large amount of handy functions, such as drawing tools, text tools and various photo editing functions.
One of the biggest improvements in the newest version of RealWorld Icon Editor is the introduction of layers. These will open up a lot more possibilities and help you come up with some even more interesting designs. Although it may not seem so at first, using layers will also help you work faster and more efficiently.
The users of RealWorld Icon Editor will quickly discover that this program offers an impressive number of advantages. One of the most important ones is that the icons which they create will be compatible with Windows XP, Windows 7 as well as with Windows Vista.
Besides its many image editing features and effects, RealWorld Icon Editor has another trait that I really liked. It offers a lot of assistance through help manuals and video tutorials to those who don’t have a lot of experience in using the program. This is actually quite great, as the number of buttons can be a bit overwhelming at first.
Personally, I think RealWorld Icon Editor is truly a complete solution for all your icon editing needs. This program has batch icon creation capabilities and is actually affordable, so I recommend it to everyone who is in search of such a tool.
v10.1 [Jul 14, 2010]
The notable new feature of this version are layers. Layers (with effects) can be used when editing individual pictures or entire icons. The image to icon convertor user interface was simplified and displays live preview of the generated icon.
The built-in 3D editor is capable of automatically multiplying objects and it is now much easier to create things composed of multiple similar parts - like pyramids, grass, or shells.
The new version is also available as fully portable, no-installation zip package and works on Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 (there are minor limitations in look and feel on Windows 2000). Native 64-bit edition is available.
-Layers - layers (with any effects applied) can be used when working with images and icons.
-Better image to icon conversion - the convertor has a new user interface, with less controls and live preview. Algorithm tweaks result in crisper images.
-New drawing tools - a bunch of new drawing tools (LASSO, MOVE, FILL, SELECT with XXX) from Paint.COM.
-Better TEXT tool - able to draw rotated text.
-Updated color picker - user selectable range and accuracy of colors. History of last used colors.
-Simpler material panel for 3D - the material panel was simplified and it is now easier to make transparent objects.
-Iterator for 3D objects - a component in a 3D object can be multiplied and parametrized in the process. This can be used to create things like grass.
-Usability improvements in 3D editor - new rotation method, better working component selection in 3D window.
-Translations - the application user interface can be translated into any language and shared by the community.
-Smarter wizards - creation of new images and icons is faster and simpler (no more useless popup windows).
-Improved Undo - undo multiple steps at once. Steps have names based on the performed action or used tool.
-Media library panel - a panel with the contents of the media library is accessible when editing images or 3D objects.
-Redesigned Online page - the Online page now contains tutorials, downloadable media and plug-ins.
-Bottom of an image.
-Numerous minor bugfixes.
