We previously featured an app called Aicon, which changed the standard icons to change the hue, saturation, or transparency of standard icons through a set of filters. A newly released app called Makicon allows users to make icons using their own images along with included themes. The themes can turn ordinary pictures into glossy buttons, short icons, and even round icons, depending on what you think is most appropriate for a theme.
Makicon can deliver good results, but it doesn’t allow for batch conversions, on the fly adjustments, or automatic icon patching.
According to the developers, Makicon is an app for developers and theme designers, as well as an app that can help an end user quickly modify an icon to fit a theme. Unfortunately Makicon doesn’t seem to be able to snag and alter icons on the fly. Ideally I should be able to point it to Angry Birds, have it round off the corners, and be done with it. Instead it requires you to have the images in the photo library and to apply the icon to a skin manually.
This puts Makicon in a weird place for a app. Your typical theme designer is either going to make the edits by hand, or have a method of batch converting the icons through a template. Meanwhile, the average user is going to want the icon to be patched on the fly. There also does not seem to be a way to make minor adjustments to the image without applying a different filter.
For example, it would be nice to be able to vertically center the baseball.
If you have trouble applying the glossy effect to your icons manually, you might be interested in Makicon. You can find Makicon in the BigBoss repository on Cydia for $1.00. However, you will get better results with Photoshop (or a free alternative) and a little practice.
What’s your favorite icon style? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Leave a Reply