10 ms·

Show HN: Illustrio – Search, customize and download illustrations

112 points by raphdg 10y ago

andybak 10y ago
Nice. On signup - there is a field labelled 'company' that validates as an email address. I'm guessing the label is wrong.
- raphdg 10y ago
  Indeed thank you! edit: Are you referring to the placeholder "Your company email..." in the signup modal? If it's the case, we're planning on creating a color scheme automatically from the company's logo. Currently, it can be done by picking colors manually from any logo the Clearbit API can find. Try to create a new color scheme :)
  - andybak 10y ago
    Maybe I didn't spot the word 'email' in "Your company email..." but I swear it just said "Your company"...
vblehaut 10y ago
You can get free downloads if you go through product hunt's website
rootlocus 10y ago
> © illustrio 2016 - Patent pending What are you patenting?
- raphdg 10y ago
  We've built a CSS based language to enable designers to easily make their SVG graphics dynamic and customizable. You're right though, it makes no sense to put it there while it's pending, I'm removing it. Thanks for asking!
  - IshKebab 10y ago
    I thought software patents weren't a thing any more...
  - teleclimber 10y ago
    Can you tell us your rationale for patenting this "CSS-based language"?
    - atonse 10y ago
      Wouldn't it be the same rationale for any patent? To protect your intellectual property?
      - teleclimber 10y ago
        Well sure, but obtaining a patent is no small thing (if done seriously). So I'm curious why they feel it's so important to protect this. Basically I'm wondering if it's just a purely defensive move, (maybe an investor asked them to file a patent or whatever), or whether they are aiming for a business model where people create things using a language that they control and can obtain fees for its use. Of course they don't have any reason to share this info with us at this point.
asp2insp 10y ago
Very cool! I initially thought it was just color swapping, but the percentages section in particular is fantastic. Led by the CTA arrow: http://i.imgur.com/odtBsuE.png http://i.imgur.com/odtBsuE.png, I clicked on "Illustrations" first, which I actually think is the weakest example of cool customizability. Percentages and Words are both more compelling IMHO.
- raphdg 10y ago
  Thank you for the feedback. The percentages stuff is my favorite too. And you're right, I'm moving down the arrow CTA :)
throwaway13337 10y ago
This is a very good idea. Are you planning to make it marketplacable? So that there can be creators of SVGs as well. Also, right now, when I look at the pricing section, only an empty modal dialog shows up (el capitan, chrome, ad blocker off).
- raphdg 10y ago
  Thank you! We're currently working with a few designers in private but we're working on tools that would enable designers to upload packs of .svg graphics and make them automatically customizable on our platform. I'm having a hard time trying to reproduce the modal bug although you're not the first one to report the issue. I'm working on it! edit: typo
  - throwaway13337 10y ago
    For what it's worth, I just checked and the pricing dialog works now.
    - raphdg 10y ago
      Weird. Thanks anyway :)
      - scott_hardy 10y ago
        Also ran into the pricing modal issue when I clicked through to one of the designs [1]. Using OSX Chrome 50.0.2661.102 [1] https://app.illustrio.com/detail/percentage/55803bfd7ca4ca2e5c0ded6b https://app.illustrio.com/detail/percentage/55803bfd7ca4ca2e...
        raphdg 10y ago
        It should be fixed by now :)
      - RachelF 10y ago
        Looks good.
ArmandGrillet 10y ago
I can see myself paying for this to improve my next presentations, the value proposition is really good! I'm not sure of the business model for big customers though, the gap between 100 and 5000 downloads being huge. Maybe unlimited downloads would be better, maybe not, only time will give you an answer.
- raphdg 10y ago
  Indeed, we had to came up with a pricing based on the few customers/users we already have. But I agree that the gap may seem inaccurate.
lucideer 10y ago
I'm getting the following very abrupt error (which I assume is caused by a content-blocker) and then the site fails to load. AlgoliaSearchJSONPScriptErrorError: <script> unable to load due to an `error` event on it Tweaking content-blocking fixes this and all works fine, but just to report that the alert() popup is a bit abrupt.
- raphdg 10y ago
  The app still needs a lot of error handling love. Thank you for the report.
arsalanb 10y ago
This is like Clipart, but better, and for the internet. Loving it!
fitzwatermellow 10y ago
Nicely done! Can actually start using this service immediately ;) How easy would it be for Illustrio to take requests for specific illustrations from the community?
- raphdg 10y ago
  Cool! Currently we don't have the tools to accept requests automatically. Still, we're closely monitoring the search terms/expressions users make that return no (or close to no) results. We try to be as reactive as possible, so feel free to contact us (bottom left of sidebar) and ask for what you need!
raphdg 10y ago
We clearly did not expect such a traffic from HN. The download requests are stuck for the moment, sorry for that! We're working on it.
king_magic 10y ago
"All packs are valid for 12 months." What does that mean? Can the illustrations only be used within that 12 month period?
- raphdg 10y ago
  No. If you buy a downloads pack, you have to use them within 12 months. After that period, they expire. But once the illustrations are downloaded, you can use them as long as you want. edit: for clarity
  - biot 10y ago
    Perhaps you should say "Must be downloaded within 12 months; perpetual license lets you use them for as long as you want."
    - sebdursel 10y ago
      Indeed good point, thanks for that!
thaeli 10y ago
I'm not clear on the licensing here. Are all files under the "illustrio license", and why does the summary that pops up seem to say something different than the detailed license text? I would be much more comfortable with a standard license being used - say, the Creative Commons licenses. At least let users filter their search by license terms, unless they're all under the same terms in which case that should be clearer. I like the idea of being able to customize, but is that simply changing the colors? Or is it the ability to commission edits to the work? If it's just color changes I have trouble seeing the value; if it's substantial edits to the work then the pricing looks too low and the license terms are too restrictive. Basically, what does this offer me that the Noun Project doesn't, except far more restrictive licensing terms?
- sebdursel 10y ago
  Thanks for the feedback. The illustrio license applies to all graphics. What differences have you noticed between the pop up and the detailed text? We might need to clarify if anything is unclear right now. Also, you may customize other things than colors by playing with the inputs in the left side-bar under each "product". Try to play with the slider under Percentages for example. You need to click on Percentages first.
  - thaeli 10y ago
    Ah, it's only in some categories. That is definitely a neat feature now that I see it. Unfortunate that the licensing makes this something I can't use. I'd never get your license text past the legal team at my day job, and almost all of my side projects are FLOSS. Plus, having a policy of never using anything that I can't either own the rights to or use and modify under a permissive license makes my IP management so much simpler. The summary license says that you can't redistribute the graphics. Admittedly, I'm used to licenses such as GPL where including the file in an app's package file would be "redistribution" - it looks like you mean "no redistribution of JUST the graphics file" which could perhaps be clearer. Also, the license seems really concerned with not putting any of your graphics in a theme or template. Why is this? I'd consider offering a licensing option which permits this, perhaps on a different pricing structure. You say can't use in/on a paid product, but can use in a paid service. That's confusing because I'd think of my paid website service AS my product - I think you might mean "no use on physical goods for sale" which is another restriction I don't particularly understand but okay. Again that might be something to offer an option for.
jazoom 10y ago
I was interested until I realised you can't get the icons in SVG. Why use raster images for icons? SVGs are smaller, crisper and always the correct resolution.

112 points by raphdg 10y ago

Nice. On signup - there is a field labelled 'company' that validates as an email address. I'm guessing the label is wrong.

raphdg 10y ago
Indeed thank you! edit: Are you referring to the placeholder "Your company email..." in the signup modal? If it's the case, we're planning on creating a color scheme automatically from the company's logo. Currently, it can be done by picking colors manually from any logo the Clearbit API can find. Try to create a new color scheme :)
- andybak 10y ago
  Maybe I didn't spot the word 'email' in "Your company email..." but I swear it just said "Your company"...

vblehaut 10y ago

You can get free downloads if you go through product hunt's website

rootlocus 10y ago

> © illustrio 2016 - Patent pending What are you patenting?

raphdg 10y ago
We've built a CSS based language to enable designers to easily make their SVG graphics dynamic and customizable. You're right though, it makes no sense to put it there while it's pending, I'm removing it. Thanks for asking!
- IshKebab 10y ago
  I thought software patents weren't a thing any more...
- teleclimber 10y ago
  Can you tell us your rationale for patenting this "CSS-based language"?
  - atonse 10y ago
    Wouldn't it be the same rationale for any patent? To protect your intellectual property?
    - teleclimber 10y ago
      Well sure, but obtaining a patent is no small thing (if done seriously). So I'm curious why they feel it's so important to protect this. Basically I'm wondering if it's just a purely defensive move, (maybe an investor asked them to file a patent or whatever), or whether they are aiming for a business model where people create things using a language that they control and can obtain fees for its use. Of course they don't have any reason to share this info with us at this point.

asp2insp 10y ago

Very cool! I initially thought it was just color swapping, but the percentages section in particular is fantastic. Led by the CTA arrow: http://i.imgur.com/odtBsuE.png http://i.imgur.com/odtBsuE.png, I clicked on "Illustrations" first, which I actually think is the weakest example of cool customizability. Percentages and Words are both more compelling IMHO.

raphdg 10y ago
Thank you for the feedback. The percentages stuff is my favorite too. And you're right, I'm moving down the arrow CTA :)

throwaway13337 10y ago

This is a very good idea. Are you planning to make it marketplacable? So that there can be creators of SVGs as well. Also, right now, when I look at the pricing section, only an empty modal dialog shows up (el capitan, chrome, ad blocker off).

raphdg 10y ago
Thank you! We're currently working with a few designers in private but we're working on tools that would enable designers to upload packs of .svg graphics and make them automatically customizable on our platform. I'm having a hard time trying to reproduce the modal bug although you're not the first one to report the issue. I'm working on it! edit: typo
- throwaway13337 10y ago
  For what it's worth, I just checked and the pricing dialog works now.
  - raphdg 10y ago
    Weird. Thanks anyway :)
    - scott_hardy 10y ago
      Also ran into the pricing modal issue when I clicked through to one of the designs [1]. Using OSX Chrome 50.0.2661.102 [1] https://app.illustrio.com/detail/percentage/55803bfd7ca4ca2e5c0ded6b https://app.illustrio.com/detail/percentage/55803bfd7ca4ca2e...
      - raphdg 10y ago
        It should be fixed by now :)
    - RachelF 10y ago
      Looks good.

ArmandGrillet 10y ago

I can see myself paying for this to improve my next presentations, the value proposition is really good! I'm not sure of the business model for big customers though, the gap between 100 and 5000 downloads being huge. Maybe unlimited downloads would be better, maybe not, only time will give you an answer.

raphdg 10y ago
Indeed, we had to came up with a pricing based on the few customers/users we already have. But I agree that the gap may seem inaccurate.

lucideer 10y ago

I'm getting the following very abrupt error (which I assume is caused by a content-blocker) and then the site fails to load. AlgoliaSearchJSONPScriptErrorError: <script> unable to load due to an `error` event on it Tweaking content-blocking fixes this and all works fine, but just to report that the alert() popup is a bit abrupt.

raphdg 10y ago
The app still needs a lot of error handling love. Thank you for the report.

arsalanb 10y ago

This is like Clipart, but better, and for the internet. Loving it!

fitzwatermellow 10y ago

Nicely done! Can actually start using this service immediately ;) How easy would it be for Illustrio to take requests for specific illustrations from the community?

raphdg 10y ago
Cool! Currently we don't have the tools to accept requests automatically. Still, we're closely monitoring the search terms/expressions users make that return no (or close to no) results. We try to be as reactive as possible, so feel free to contact us (bottom left of sidebar) and ask for what you need!

raphdg 10y ago

We clearly did not expect such a traffic from HN. The download requests are stuck for the moment, sorry for that! We're working on it.

king_magic 10y ago

"All packs are valid for 12 months." What does that mean? Can the illustrations only be used within that 12 month period?

raphdg 10y ago
No. If you buy a downloads pack, you have to use them within 12 months. After that period, they expire. But once the illustrations are downloaded, you can use them as long as you want. edit: for clarity
- biot 10y ago
  Perhaps you should say "Must be downloaded within 12 months; perpetual license lets you use them for as long as you want."
  - sebdursel 10y ago
    Indeed good point, thanks for that!

thaeli 10y ago

I'm not clear on the licensing here. Are all files under the "illustrio license", and why does the summary that pops up seem to say something different than the detailed license text? I would be much more comfortable with a standard license being used - say, the Creative Commons licenses. At least let users filter their search by license terms, unless they're all under the same terms in which case that should be clearer. I like the idea of being able to customize, but is that simply changing the colors? Or is it the ability to commission edits to the work? If it's just color changes I have trouble seeing the value; if it's substantial edits to the work then the pricing looks too low and the license terms are too restrictive. Basically, what does this offer me that the Noun Project doesn't, except far more restrictive licensing terms?

sebdursel 10y ago
Thanks for the feedback. The illustrio license applies to all graphics. What differences have you noticed between the pop up and the detailed text? We might need to clarify if anything is unclear right now. Also, you may customize other things than colors by playing with the inputs in the left side-bar under each "product". Try to play with the slider under Percentages for example. You need to click on Percentages first.
- thaeli 10y ago
  Ah, it's only in some categories. That is definitely a neat feature now that I see it. Unfortunate that the licensing makes this something I can't use. I'd never get your license text past the legal team at my day job, and almost all of my side projects are FLOSS. Plus, having a policy of never using anything that I can't either own the rights to or use and modify under a permissive license makes my IP management so much simpler. The summary license says that you can't redistribute the graphics. Admittedly, I'm used to licenses such as GPL where including the file in an app's package file would be "redistribution" - it looks like you mean "no redistribution of JUST the graphics file" which could perhaps be clearer. Also, the license seems really concerned with not putting any of your graphics in a theme or template. Why is this? I'd consider offering a licensing option which permits this, perhaps on a different pricing structure. You say can't use in/on a paid product, but can use in a paid service. That's confusing because I'd think of my paid website service AS my product - I think you might mean "no use on physical goods for sale" which is another restriction I don't particularly understand but okay. Again that might be something to offer an option for.

jazoom 10y ago

I was interested until I realised you can't get the icons in SVG. Why use raster images for icons? SVGs are smaller, crisper and always the correct resolution.