New Icon Package

[BinaryBandit]

G'day Folks'
I am planning to create a new Icon Theme Package for open distribution, however before I waste too much time I need to answer a few questions.
First of all I plan to create an Icon theme that applies to as many applications as possible.
My intent is that when you apply a 'Theme', it does not just apply to your desktop but for instance also apply to Firefox, Opera, Chrome,
Rythmbox, Vlc, and so on.
I don't want to just create a few symbols but all buttons and window decorations etc... and so on,
in other words a complete global theme, this involves several hundred icons and specific themes :(
The purpose is, for instance, if i download a theme called 'Space Invaders' I want my desktop to have a space invaders retro look,
but if I install say Cairo dock or AWN I want them to have the same theme and matching icons.

My first question is: Is it possible to generate such a package? I already know how to create themes for Opera and so on,
and I know I can generate a theme package, but can I put them in a package that applies them with all other icons and appropriate themes?

My second question is: When do I have to credit someone for their contribution if I use their art work as a base but
make many changes to it. I don't plan to create them all from scratch but they will all be unique.

I will have more questions soon, but It will depend on responses to these questions.
Thanks all for your input.

The Bandit.

[DBelton]

Not sure about most of your questions, but the one about crediting other peoples work is one of just common courtesy.

If you use someone else's work, then give them the credit. Some people put images, etc... up on the net for use, and all they ask is to be credited if you use them. (it is also a good idea if you send them an email and let them know you are using their work, too, if possible)

If you don't know who did the work, then obviously you can't give them credit, so you may want to include a note like "source unknown" or something like that.

In the case of copyrighted works (which includes ALL images not specifically released for use) then you would need to contact whomever the copyright holder is (usually the author) and ask their permission to include them.

In the case of using an image as a base, but making changes to it, the above still applies, however the copyright issues enter a grey area depending upon how much you change them.

Either way, if you use someones work as-is, or make changes to it, it is still just common courtesy to give them some credit for their part.

[BinaryBandit]

Thanks DBelton,
I do understand common courtesy but there must be a limit, I am after all talking about several hundred icons,
many of which have a standard look as in say a Stop sign.
I did create an Icon from scratch the other day for Opera and when I put it in the appropriate folder
I discovered there was already one that looked almost identical to what I created ( I don't know why it wasn't used)
and so I gave mine a similar label and use it, the existing one is so close to mine I don't know if I should find who
created it or not. In other cases like for instance GIMP I used an existing icon as a background layer while I created my own
so that I had a similar look and then deleted that layer while leaving my own distinctly different icon,
should I credit the creator of that particular icon or not because i could have used any of probably 8 or more different icons
and still got the same result, so should I credit them all or none, or try to find the original creator of that icon? You see my dilemma?

[DBelton]

I do see your dilemma

I would say that simple, common things, there would be no need to give credit. If it is something that looks like it took a lot of work and time to do, then give credit. Sounds good to me, anyway :D

And YES!! do create a lot of new icons so that there are options to the "Desktop by Playskool" in Gnome 3 :D

[BinaryBandit]

I do see your dilemma

I would say that simple, common things, there would be no need to give credit. If it is something that looks like it took a lot of work and time to do, then give credit. Sounds good to me, anyway :D

Thanks, I was thinking along those lines, there is just a grey area I wanted some opinions on
and yours has been helpful. Basically anything that has a signature I will credit if it is a significant
part of my design but something like a folder or arrow or off button I won't bother,
I don't want to breach any laws and I like to give credit where it's due.

[BinaryBandit]

Just as an example I created the Gimp icon by tracing a random sample from a google search but the Opera and Session halt (Shut down) symbols I created from scratch,
all using Gimp :)

[BinaryBandit]

I do see your dilemma

And YES!! do create a lot of new icons so that there are options to the "Desktop by Playskool" in Gnome 3 :D

I will probably leave out 'Big Ted' and 'Jemima' but I will cover just about everything else lol :p

[DBelton]

not too bad there :D

Another thing. If you want to ever think about having your icons packaged and put into the fedora repo's.. You have to follow their guidelines on licensing, etc... which means no copyrighted stuff.. blah blah.. GPL license, etc.. etc... ad nauseum..

[BinaryBandit]

not too bad there :D

Thanks, my 5 kids are the reason I decided to start this project, one wants a 'Leggo' theme one wants an 'Emily Strange' theme, one wants a 'Tron' theme and so on. I rather like the 'Tron' theme hence the neon icon creations (I'm up to about 40 so far) but I can see this project continuing for a year or more. :(
I thought if I go through all the trouble of creating all these icons and themes for my Kids I can't see why the rest of the community shouldn't benefit from it, especially as I learnt how to do this from members of the community.