Adobe CS replacement icons

What are these icons?

This is the replacement of Adobe Creative Suite 4 default icons. Some time ago, when Adobe released CS3 (and then CS4), many designers around the world were not happy with the new style of application icons and came up with their own ideas (example, example, example, example). I know I am a couple of years late :-) but you might like my icons as well.

Why did I design them?

I was mostly inspired by this article by Mike Hopkins, and I agree that:

the icons of creative applications should inspire, and default icons do not
the use of name abbreviations is arguable - ideally, icons should reflect what the app does, not how it is called

There were, however, some ideas in default icons that I liked:

colors (if you use my icons you will notice you can easily recognize them, because they use the same colors)
consistent shape (boring square, but you can quickly idenfity any icon form Adobe CS family by its shape).

I also felt that Mike Hopkins' icons were too much work of art, too complex. I tried to keep them simple but at the same time I put as much meaning as I could into each icon, using apps' interfaces as inspiration. Most icons have "rulers" on top and left, Photoshop icon means "pixels", Illustrator means "vector", Lightroom means "histogram" etc.

Are my icons better?

I don't think so! For me this was just a quick spare-time project, and Adobe surely spend more time and efforts. But my approach is different and so far, I like it more. If time permits I will polish the icons. Meanwhile, your feedback is welcome!

How to change icons in Windows?

Open Windows Explorer, locate the program file (usually in C:/Program Files/Adobe/...)
Right-click the icon you want to change and choose Properties.
The Properties window will open. Click Customize tab.
Click Change Icon button; new window opens, click Browse button.
Select downloaded ICO file, click OK, then OK, then Apply.

How to change icons in Windows?

Select the file whose icon you want to stamp onto another, just click the icon to select it.
From the File menu, choose Get Info or press Command-I to open the Info window.
Click the icon in the upper-left corner of the Info window to select it.
From the Edit menu, choose Copy or press Command-C.
Select the volume, application, folder, or file whose icon you want to replace.
From the File menu, choose Get Info or press Command-I.
Click the icon in the upper-left corner.
From the Edit menu, choose Paste or press Command-V to replace the icon.

Comments {24}

Kaz · 26 August, 2009: How wonderful! I've always hated Adobe's "Periodic table" iconsMy only complaint is that I love all of them except Photoshop! They all clearly communicate their function at a glance (especially Dreamweaver, Lightroom, Illustrator); I know it's very hard to embody Photoshop because it does so much, but the pixels and selection tool don't seem to do it justice.I'm not as creative as you, and can't think of a suitable metaphor... but otherwise very well done!

Haz · 26 August, 2009: I actually like default Adobe icons, as they are simple, yet distinct from the icons of other programs, what makes fast identification (in dock, for example) possible.But I like your icons too. Your idea is not another variation on "let's take default Adobe icons and add them more GLOSS", it's not an overkill as these by Mike Hopkins (seriously, they're super-detailed, but is it possible to actually USE them?). You did really good work there, making something original, but also practical.

Robert Marton · 26 August, 2009: Great work, Vlad! Great-great work!

Karl Yeurl · 26 August, 2009: Agreed, your final Photoshop icon is the best one.Like Kaz said, they're well-made, they communicate quite well the various functions of the programs (maybe a bit less AE, I would say, I use to use AE more to do some fx than to make a proper video, but anyway, tha work's great).And even though Mike Hopkin's icons are… well, let's say way more complicated, I think yours are more usable.Great work, good idea !

Avalars · 26 August, 2009: Simply gorgeous. One thing tho. Why is After Effects the only icon that has the glossy curved cut in the middle, whilst the others' background is consistently and only a radial gradient?

Jana · 30 August, 2009: Je to dobrá stránka...

Slobodan Milovanovic · 2 September, 2009: Thanks Vlad for sharing this! Great job!!!

payam · 4 September, 2009: thank u , very very good

omnium · 7 September, 2009: Vlad, i really should say it is something i would not like to see on my PC.. some kind of 3d effect would be much better..

Alexis Brille · 10 September, 2009: Dude, great job. I liked how you kept the colors so that they're still distinctive in the dock.

Vlad Gerasimov · 26 August, 2009: Kaz: yeah it was not easy. I always knew I wanted Photoshop icon to show pixels (as this is pixel-based editor, opposite to Illustrator), and after many Photoshop icon designs thrown in trash, this is the best I could achieve!

Vlad Gerasimov · 26 August, 2009: Just in case you wanted to see Here are variants of Photoshop icons I tried:

Pete · 26 August, 2009: Marching ants would be the PS-trademark, I guess.

Dwane Arthur · 26 August, 2009: I love these. Now I learned how to change them. You do "Good Work".Thank YouDwane

Darin Snyder · 27 August, 2009: Great job! These are cool. What about making a "CS4" icon. I place the suite in a folder and place it in the dock. A "CS4" icon for the folder would be awesome. Thanks.

Item · 31 August, 2009: I don't know what to say? AWESOME? Cool!

Omer Uzun · 3 September, 2009: Wow. Great job. Thank u.

Oomu · 7 September, 2009: I prefer the other version of the photoshop icons. The second in fact. I would love to have them in 512x512 pixels.

keisuke · 8 September, 2009: Just beautiful!! I always admire ur works..

Cec Medin · 6 October, 2009: Vlad, I just try to download Icons for Win and I'd following msge: Fatal error: Call to undefined function mystringfilter() in /home/vladstud/domains/vladstudio.com/public_html/adobe_cs4_replacement_icons/download.php on line 8 I've got Adobe Master Collection CS4. Any reason(s) why? Love to have them on my comp. Thanks heaps