2D icons are actually well known for their flexibility. This versatility is achieved by rendering them at various resolutions suitable for various output devices.
2D Icons items:
- raster pictures (digital graphics);
- styled text as a typeset for 2D Icons;
- vector models (geometric graphics).
All these items can be managed by 2D transformations such as rotation, scaling or angular position etc. Meshing basic models you will get more advanced ones.
2D web icons aren't like the real three-dimensional objects but as a result of layers technique they are able to create the illusion of all 3D characteristics like shadow, reflection or highlighting. The layers really should maintain the certain hierarchy and order carefully. This makes modifying 2D icons and related objects easier.
2.5D Icons as the pseudo 3D kind of 2D Icons
The layered 2Dicons are usually known as 2.5D models. This technology allows web designers to work with any layer without the need of touching the others. This type of 2D object creation is preferred by the most of the famous graphics editors.
2.5D is a synonym to pseudo 3D and is interpreted as "two-and-a-half-dimensional" graphics. Models created with 2.5D technology appear to be tridimensional while in fact they're not.
This technology used for designing 2D icons is often attained by the special lighting effect. 3D illusion can be reached as a result of virtual light source to the left or to the right side and above the users monitor.