Ever wonder how people get the cute RSS, Share and OPML (Outline Processor Markup Language) icons? Ok, so I haven’t wondered about the last one, but the mystery for all three is solved because, thanks to the Share Icon Project, now we can all get and use these icons. I’m sure you recognize the orange RSS feed icon and you’ve probably seen the green share one or even the blue OPML.
Since the share icon is becoming “the de facto standard visual representation for sharing content from any source to multiple destinations” the Share Project is making it freely available for anyone to download & use. The Project has suggested guidelines for use and gives instructions for using the share button with users, for bloggers, and for developers who want greater ability to customize the button. All this for the good of icon overload reduction!
Look for it to be added here soon!
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It’s nice to the reigns loosened, so to speak, as per the history if this icon… however ,unlike the RSS icon, there is a very demanding group that is requiring stipulations to it’s use. This is not acceptable in the interest of open graphical standards as we enjoy with the ubiquitous RSS icon shown in the post. i think more conversation about not just this icon, but an open icon library for many representations of social media… RSS is paving the way… and that symbol is free of any and all restrictions. It can be used by anyone for anything, bar none. We, as a community, need this same freedom with the rest of any “standard icon” set, i think. This is based on the assumption that we all agree with the need for graphical symbolism in social media… i think the way the RSS icon has shattered all language barriers is evidence of this topics importance. We simply shouldn’t allow “rules” to become a part of any “ubiquitous” graphic. these pictures are a language, and language ought not be stifled.
Great thoughts Matt, thanks for posting! Fortunately we are in a time when open source concepts are widely respected so if a graphical symbol was proprietary then others could invent a new -open-symbol. I especially like your comment about graphics as language and not stifling language.