Best Sources for App Artwork, iCons, and Logos

Finding artwork for apps can be time consuming, but there are a lot of resources available that can help you get your app to market faster. Using a distinctive App icon helps people understand what your App does at a glance, which can make the difference between an app selling well or not.

In addition to the app icon itself, you'll need artwork for your screens and navigation icons within your app. If you know photoshop, gimp, or another graphics editing program, you have an edge on other app developers, but even with graphics application expertise, it's useful to know how to speed up your app artwork deveopment.

Fortunately, there are many Web sites that sell what's called "stock" or "royalty free" artwork. These graphics and photos can be used by purchasing the "right" to use them in your app, Website, or other publication. You get professional creatives, and are able to use them legally for your app.

Here's a list of some of my favorites, it's worth looking at all of them before buying as the choices are constantly updated:

Photos:

• iStockphoto - millions of extremely high quality photos, graphics, and icon sets
• Adobe Stock - has one of the best selections because of integration with Adobe photographer software and purchase of the Fotolia stock photo service
• Big Stock Photo - another good choice for photos

Icon sets

• gylphish - free set of 200 standard icons and a $25 price for 400 icons with standard and 2x images
• icon shock - a set of 15000 iPhone icons for $19, does custom design also for b&w and color icons

If you're new to using graphics, you might be tempted to take a photo or graphic from the Web and use it in your application, but don't. Unless you have permission to use the photo or graphic from the site or owner, you're potentially violating a copyright of the orginal content creator. Doing this could result in legal action or your app being removed from the app markets for violating a copyright.