Posted byUseful tips for creating design for your iPhone application
I have received many eMails asking how we create the design for our iPhone apps. Profartis have been using Apple computers from the beginning – except for web development – so we use Adobe programs for design work. Basically almost all graphics are made in Adobe Illustrator, and when it looks perfect, we use Adobe Photoshop for further enhancement and retouch.
Adobe Illustrator is a vector based program that enables you to draw even TabBar icons perfectly (in real size). It is important for the program icon to look good at different sizes, that is why we use vector graphics to design icons. This way, if you enlarge or reduce the size, you will always get the same smooth and sharp image. If you try this in Photoshop: 1.) the images will fall apart due to the conversion of raster points. 2.) You need to redraw your graphics for each different size version.
Since the program icon is 57x57 pixels in size, and you need to provide a 512x512 pixel size version of the image, it is recommended to draw the icons and illustrations in vector from the beginning so you don't have to work twice... Just a little bit perhaps :-) Bear in mind that rounded corners and 3D reflections are rendered automatically over the icons by iPhone, so you don't need to do that unles you want to preview the final look on your monitor. (If you click the image, you can see samples of our icons which will appear in pmg PassCode.)
Each of the more than fifty icons of our password manager pmg PassCode were created like that. The the basic illustrations are vector based, lighting and backgrounds were added in Photoshop.
The iPhone's interface is 320x480 pixels, RGB color. All six themes in the pmg PassCode were originally designed, so it will be easy for us to create new themes for you for later upgrades, provided there's a need for them of course :-) The application is currently in beta testing phase, several bugs and small glitches were repaired yesterday, however, the basic functions, category handling, settings are completed and fully operational.
