3D Icons and 2D Icons in web graphics nowadays

Basic differences between 2D and 3D icons design

Speaking about 3d Icons we should point out that the light source plays a really important role for creating authentic three-dimensional images. It's appropriate and even recommended to use several light sources in web design today but they should follow basic rules of physics and be truthful. So if you need to make 3D web icons look softer and more realistic - use several lights.

The purpose of 2D and 3D icons is to represent the volume found in the three-dimensional world but 2D and 3D icons obtain this illusion by using diverse means. 2D Icons can surely represent volume to less extent than 3D Icons. More often the images are flat and show just one perspective. Detailed highlights and imperceptible soft shadows are missing as a rule. The shades usage is restricted as well.

3D web icons have all these functions instead. Nevertheless won't forget that 3D is nothing but mathematical replication of the data that unfortunately limits its usage. In some case 3D objects like 3D Icons may be successfully replaced by 2D ones or by the videos with the sounds. The sounds give some extra dimensionality to the videos that actually use 2D images.3D dimension can be produced with the software used for 3D modeling. It is recommended to show 3D icons in correlation with the other objects in the neighborhood and the environment they are placed into.