I usually scan the status icons to see if a thread I've posted in has been bumped. The new icons are a little hard to read, the old ones were easier.

New:
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_hot_new.gif - http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_hot_new.gif - http://forums.slickdeals.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=19348 I adjusted the pencils contrast.

Old:
http://img.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_hot_new.gif - http://img.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_hot_new.gif

beat me to it....

therefore :iagree:

beat me to it....

therefore :iagree:
I agree... the new icons look more dated than the old ones?

Ya....what Lux said.

Thanks for reminding about this, it has been discussed in the other thread, but I will try to see what we can find about it. It's a bit challenging to find good icons which look good and are very clear.

Thanks for reminding about this, it has been discussed in the other thread, but I will try to see what we can find about it. It's a bit challenging to find good icons which look good and are very clear.
Maybe list all the needed icons with dimensions, format, and size requirements...

Some SDer user might donate their talent...

Yes, yes, yes! I agree with Lux. I have been using the Beta so I can get used to the new stuff (like personal stickies) but I always switch back to the old version to check threads that I've replied in. The new little pencil is too hard to see against the red/orange color, plus it lines up perfectly where the envelope line usually is so it's a little deceiving when you skim through.

I adjusted the pencil's contrast (first post was updated)... what do you think?

I adjusted the pencil's contrast (first post was updated)... what do you think?
Well, does that seem better to you this way? It's hard for me to judge, because I don't pay attention to icons most of the time, so people who actually use this would make a better call than I.

I was actually thinking about making the icons more distinct. Envelope would work for threads not read yet, but I was thinking about using something more radically different to mark threads we have posted in, so it's more obvious.

I personally don't scan threads I have posted in, but I see why you would want to do it.

Well, does that seem better to you this way? It's hard for me to judge, because I don't pay attention to icons most of the time, so people who actually use this would make a better call than I.

I was actually thinking about making the icons more distinct. Envelope would work for threads not read yet, but I was thinking about using something more radically different to mark threads we have posted in, so it's more obvious.

I personally don't scan threads I have posted in, but I see why you would want to do it.
well I did it as a stop gap measure... would you be willing to replace the file until we get something better? It's really unusable for me as is. :) Thanks.

I replaced the icon. See how it works out for you. In the meantime, I am still keeping this as My Sticky to make sure I remember about finding a better combination of icons.

I can see the pencil a little better in the one Lux adjusted, but it's still too hard to see. The old ones were much better.

Maybe change the color of the pencil to blue?

Maybe change the color of the pencil to blue?

:iagree: Or red... something that stands out.

:iagree: Or red... something that stands out.
No red or green for us color blind folks:nono2:

No red or green for us color blind folks:nono2:

:comfort:

How about black? Or dark blue? That would match the color scheme.

:comfort:

How about black? Or dark blue? That would match the color scheme.
Dark blue would work. It just has to be enough of a contrast to stand out without actually having to look for it. The old one with the arrow was just so much easier to notice even if you weren't looking right at it.

I agree that the icons are kinda hard to tell. I can barely see the pencil and I've got decent eyes. Please change color? :)

Here are the icons... someone take a shot at it.

Hot versions:
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_hot.gif - Hot thread that you have posted in
<img src="http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_hot.gif"> - Hot thread with no new posts
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_hot_new.gif - Hot thread with new posts
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_hot_new.gif - Hot thread with new posts and you've posted in it
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_hot_lock.gif - Hot thread which is closed
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_hot_lock_new.gif - dot hot lock new

Regular versions:
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot.gif - You have posted in this thread
<img src="http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread.gif"> - No new posts
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_new.gif - New posts
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_new.gif - Thread with new posts and you've posted in it
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_lock.gif - Thread is closed
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_lock_new.gif - dot lock new

Here are the icons... someone take a shot at it.

Hot versions:
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_hot.gif - Hot thread that you have posted in
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_hot_new.gif - Hot thread with new posts and you've posted in it

Regular versions:
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot.gif - You have posted in this thread
- No new posts
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_new.gif - Thread with new posts and you've posted in it


What about something like these? They aren't perfect, because all I have to edit with is Paint, but maybe something similar with the darker colored 'pencils' which would give better contrast/visiblity?

Hot versions
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/9081/threaddothot1oe2.gif or http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/4770/threaddothot2ev2.gif - Hot thread that you have posted in
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/7725/threaddothotnew1qb8.gif - Hot thread with new posts and you've posted in it

Regular versions
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/11/threaddot1yh3.gif or http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/1915/threaddot2km6.gif- You have posted in this thread
- No new posts
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/4559/threaddotnew1xs8.gif - Thread with new posts and you've posted in it

What about something like these? They aren't perfect, because all I have to edit with is Paint, but maybe something similar with the darker colored 'pencils' which would give better contrast/visiblity?

Hot versions
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/9081/threaddothot1oe2.gif or http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/4770/threaddothot2ev2.gif - Hot thread that you have posted in
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/7725/threaddothotnew1qb8.gif - Hot thread with new posts and you've posted in it

Regular versions
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/11/threaddot1yh3.gif or http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/1915/threaddot2km6.gif- You have posted in this thread
- No new posts
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/4559/threaddotnew1xs8.gif - Thread with new posts and you've posted in it

:iagree:

Those look awesome!

They look good, I even tested it out on Ice for those users who use it, and it looks good.

:iagree:
Those look awesome!
They look good, I even tested it out on Ice for those users who use it, and it looks good.

Thank you both :)

Here are a couple more, again not perfect, but maybe an idea to look at?
http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/402/threaddothotnew2yr5.gif and http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/8373/threaddotnew2tz2.gif


http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_hot_lock_new.gif - dot hot lock new

http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_lock_new.gif - dot lock new

These I like. Nice, lux :thumbup:

I was thinking along the lines of making the icons with pencils a bit more distinct (not similar to ones without them). I will take a look at the available options tomorrow, and will share then with you here, so you can see which ones you like, and which ones you don't.

Here are the icons... someone take a shot at it.
i tried changing a few of them...

Hot versions:
before / after
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_hot.gif / http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/174/threaddothoteditedih9.gif - Hot thread that you have posted in
http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/3439/threadhotts1.gif - Hot thread with no new posts
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_hot_new.gif - Hot thread with new posts
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_hot_new.gif / http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/3048/threaddothotnewedited0er6.gif or http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/2144/threaddothotneweditedpl3.gif (more red) - Hot thread with new posts and you've posted in it
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_hot_lock.gif / http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/3746/threaddothotlockeditedye4.gif - Hot thread which is closed

thoughts?

btw, are all these "hot" icons supposed to be the same color, or are some supposed to be more orange and others more red?

Really nice... they *POP* much more. I think if you up the red outline... you'll have to do it to all of them.

Well done!

Really nice... they *POP* much more. I think if you up the red outline... you'll have to do it to all of them.

Well done!
thanks =)

apparently, there's a limit of 10 images per post, so i'll put these into two consecutive posts
Hot versions:
(before / after)
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_hot.gif / http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/5143/threaddothotedited4ap5.gif (border more red) or http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/7662/threaddothotedited5hs2.gif (more red) - Hot thread that you have posted in
http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/3439/threadhotts1.gif / http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/662/threadhotedited2vd4.gif (border more red) - Hot thread with no new posts
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_hot_new.gif / http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/33/threadhotnewjs7.gif - Hot thread with new posts

Hot versions: (cont'd)
(before / after)
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_hot_new.gif / http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/3332/threaddothotnewedited3ku6.gif - Hot thread with new posts and you've posted in it
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_hot_lock.gif / http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/1089/threaddothotlockedited2ec9.gif (more red) - Hot thread which is closed

I pulled together the ones I liked the best from several posts so we could see them side by side... There are two icons that still need some help (in my opinion).
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/3048/threaddothotnewedited0er6.gif - This one the pencil outline is much darker than the rest.
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_new.gif - The pencil could use a little pop

Thanks to everyone who contributed... Mr. SD makes the final decisions, I'm just stating my preferences.

--Lux


Hot versions:
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/174/threaddothoteditedih9.gif - Hot thread that you have posted in
<img src=http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_hot.gif> - Hot thread with no new posts
<img src=http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_hot_new.gif> - Hot thread with new posts
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/3048/threaddothotnewedited0er6.gif - Hot thread with new posts and you've posted in it
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/3746/threaddothotlockeditedye4.gif - Hot thread which is closed
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_hot_lock_new.gif - dot hot lock new

Regular versions:
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot.gif - You have posted in this thread
<img src=http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread.gif> - No new posts
<img src=http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_new.gif> - New posts
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_new.gif - Thread with new posts and you've posted in it
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/3746/threaddothotlockeditedye4.gif - Thread is closed
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_lock_new.gif - dot lock new

Even these versions are very hard to distinguish, due to the pastel colors. I realize this is all supposed to be "new and different", but in trueth: The old icons were much better and much easier to see, read, tell what was going on. I see they've kept the locked icons pretty much the same as the old ones -- what's wrong with keeping the rest of them? Everything else is different, so we have the fresh new stuff -- but since the old icons are better and easier for everyone to read, why not put them back?

I pulled together the ones I liked the best from several posts so we could see them side by side... There are two icons that still need some help (in my opinion).
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/3048/threaddothotnewedited0er6.gif - This one the pencil outline is much darker than the rest.
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_new.gif - The pencil could use a little pophow about these...?

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/927/threaddothotnewedited4sf8.gif

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/1803/threaddotnewedited2av9.gif or http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/7568/threaddotnewedited1rt3.gif

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/7605/threaddotedited2mk7.gif or http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/1662/threaddotedited1wz3.gif

Even these versions are very hard to distinguish, due to the pastel colors. I realize this is all supposed to be "new and different", but in trueth: The old icons were much better and much easier to see, read, tell what was going on. I see they've kept the locked icons pretty much the same as the old ones -- what's wrong with keeping the rest of them? Everything else is different, so we have the fresh new stuff -- but since the old icons are better and easier for everyone to read, why not put them back?hi callpocket, i can see what you mean. the previous icons were more pronounced. these more pastel ones are somewhat difficult to distinguish (at least as far as i can tell on my PC). i wonder how mac users are seeing these...?

I have replaced 4 of the icons:

http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot.gif - You have posted in this thread
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_new.gif - Thread with new posts and you've posted in it
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_hot.gif - Hot thread that you have posted in
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_hot_new.gif - Hot thread with new posts and you've posted in it

I did not replace any of the locked icons - mainly because they do not seem significantly different from the existing, and most of the time if the thread is locked, it really does not matter too much if it's hot :).

I will still try to find a better icon set though, so it's not over, but see how these look.

I have replaced 4 of the icons:

http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot.gif - You have posted in this thread
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_new.gif - Thread with new posts and you've posted in it
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_hot.gif - Hot thread that you have posted in
http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_hot_new.gif - Hot thread with new posts and you've posted in it

I did not replace any of the locked icons - mainly because they do not seem significantly different from the existing, and most of the time if the thread is locked, it really does not matter too much if it's hot :).

I will still try to find a better icon set though, so it's not over, but see how these look.

The icons by granolagirl in post 37 are better that what was posted in post 38. Still, the pastel colors are washed out and hard to see. Not trying to be a "hate new layout" subscriber, but the OLD icons were much easier to read, see, and tell what was going on. Again, what's wrong with bringing them back?

The icons by granolagirl in post 37 are better that what was posted in post 38.
:iagree:

I would still like to see the bolded items below updated with the "new" Icon. The first icon is the current one, the second icon is the proposed one.

Hot versions:
Old New
<img src=http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_hot.gif> http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/174/threaddothoteditedih9.gif - Hot thread that you have posted in
<img src=http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_hot.gif> <img src=http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_hot.gif> - Hot thread with no new posts
<img src=http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_hot_new.gif> <img src=http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_hot_new.gif> - Hot thread with new posts
<img src=http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_hot_new.gif> http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/927/threaddothotnewedited4sf8.gif - Hot thread with new posts and you've posted in it
<img src=http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_hot_lock.gif> http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/3746/threaddothotlockeditedye4.gif - Hot thread which is closed

Regular versions:
Old New
<img src=http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot.gif> http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot.gif - You have posted in this thread
<img src=http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread.gif> <img src=http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread.gif> - No new posts
<img src=http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_new.gif> <img src=http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_new.gif> - New posts
<img src=http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_new.gif> http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/7568/threaddotnewedited1rt3.gif - Thread with new posts and you've posted in it
<img src=http://i.slickdeals.net/images/statusicon/thread_dot_lock.gif> http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/3746/threaddothotlockeditedye4.gif - Thread is closed
I will still try to find a better icon set though, so it's not over, but see how these look.I'm not wedded to the current crop of icons, so I would totally support a substantially better set. I'm just trying to get something functional until that day arrives. Thanks!

YEAH! they look a ton better already!

granolagirl you rock! :woot: