Okay, folks, let’s dive into how I messed around and finally created a Polaroid icon.
So, I wanted this cute little Polaroid icon for a project, and I figured, “How hard could it be?” Famous last words, right? I started by sketching out a rough idea on a piece of paper. Just a basic square with a smaller square inside, you know, the classic Polaroid look.
Then, I opened up my go-to design software. Nothing fancy, just something I’m comfortable with. I started with a big white square for the Polaroid frame. Rounded the corners a bit to make it look a little less… harsh.
Next up, I made a smaller, black square and plopped it inside the white one. This is supposed to be where the picture goes. I played around with the size and position of this inner square until it looked about right – leaving enough space at the bottom for that iconic Polaroid white strip.
Now, to make it a bit more realistic, I added a subtle gradient to the black square. Made it a little darker at the top and lighter at the bottom, just to give it some depth, you know? Like there’s actual light reflecting off it.
- First, made a white rectangle. Rounded the corners!
- Then I added a smaller rectangle with the color black. This is for the picture part.
- Made a shadow, the angle and the x, y axis is something you need to feel a little bit.
- Added gradient.
I also added a very slight drop shadow to the entire Polaroid frame. This is key! It gives it that tiny bit of lift off the background, making it look more like a physical object. I kept the shadow super subtle, though. Didn’t want it to look like the thing was floating in mid-air.
I, then spent way too long tweaking the colors and the shadow. You wouldn’t believe how many shades of white I tried before settling on one that looked “just right.”
Finally, I went in the center and made it look realistic, so I used gradient.
And there you have it! My very own, homemade Polaroid icon. It’s not perfect, but it’s mine, and it does the job. I guess the key takeaways are: start simple, use basic shapes, and don’t be afraid to experiment. And most importantly, have fun with it!