After working on this for months, I’m thrilled to announce the second product released under the MacStories Pixel brand: today we’re launching MacStories Shortcuts Icons (Color), a different version of our icon set that features multi-color glyphs and two background options.
Here’s the gist of today’s launch: MacStories Shortcuts Icons (Color) are a new, separate set available for $14.99 here. What makes the Color set different: while the Classic set comes with monochrome glyphs, the Color version features multi-color glyphs with white or pure black backgrounds.
You can read more details about MacStories Shortcuts Icons (Color) here and buy the new set here.
And here’s a look at the difference between the two sets in practice:
The new Color set (left) features stunning multi-color glyphs. The Classic set (right) now includes black and white icons too.
As part of today’s launch, we’ve also redesigned the MacStories Pixel homepage to accomodate our new suite of products.
MacStories Shortcuts Icons (Color)
Ever since we launched the Classic set of MacStories Shortcuts Icons in September 2019, we hoped to offer a multi-color version down the road. We started with the Classic set (in which each icon maintains the original color of your shortcuts) to keep a certain level of consistency with Apple’s Shortcuts app. However, both Silvia and I felt that while some users appreciated how the Classic icons looked like native Apple ones, others wanted to have something different, more personalized and distinct from the traditional Shortcuts icons.
That’s why we’ve spent the last few months coming up with a consistent color palette we could use in a multi-color version of MacStories Shortcuts Icons. The result is the Color set, in which every glyph has been painstakingly colored by Silvia and adapted to work well on both white and black backgrounds. Just like iOS 13’s dark mode, the color palette changes subtly between light and dark modes in the MacStories Shortcuts Icons (Color) set for an optimal viewing experience.
Besides the multi-color glyphs, which I personally adore, another key feature of the Color set is the option to choose between white or pure black backgrounds. The latter is especially interesting: if you have a pure black wallpaper on your iPhone or iPad Home screen, the icons will blend in with the Home screen seamlessly, allowing you to put together some fascinating custom layouts.
For instance, here’s a “sidebar” of folder shortcuts I created on my iPad Pro (using FS Bookmarks):
And on the second page of my iPad Pro, I created a custom grid with shortcuts in the middle, surrounded by app icons:
Our goal with the new Color set of MacStories Shortcuts Icons is to provide users with more choice – more options that go beyond the standard look of Home screen shortcuts. As you can see, I’ve ended up mixing and matching both the Classic and Color sets of MacStories Shortcuts Icons; I hope that customers interested in the icons will do the same.
Another Free Update to the Classic Set
In addition to the new Color set, today we’ve also released the second free update to the original Classic set of MacStories Shortcuts Icons.
In this free update, we’ve included a stunning new monochrome version of the icons featuring white glyphs on black backgrounds. This black & white version is ideal for those seeking a minimalistic Home screen experience, and it works particularly well on pure black wallpapers.
If you’re an existing owner of the Classic set, check your email inbox for a message from MacStories Pixel, which will contain a link to re-download the updated set for free.
Where to Buy, Bundle Edition, and Discounts
The new Color version of MacStories Shortcuts Icons is available here.
You can find a complete preview of the icon set here and here. Alternatively, use the Buy button below to purchase the Color set directly.
Today, we’re also introducing a new Bundle edition of MacStories Shortcuts Icons.
If you want to own both versions of the icons, you can purchase the Bundle edition at 30% off the combined price of both sets. The bundle is available here, or you can use the Buy button below.
Starting today Club MacStories members have access to another exclusive perk – a discount code to get the complete Bundle edition of MacStories Shortcuts Icons for just $15.99. Club members can find their coupon code in their Downloads dashboard over at macstories.memberful.com.
We’re thrilled with the response to the Classic set of MacStories Shortcuts Icons, and I can’t wait to start seeing how users customize their Home screens using the new Color set.
As always, you can find more details about all the icon sets on the MacStories Pixel homepage, read the FAQ section, or get in touch with us on Twitter if you have any additional comments or questions. You can also email us at [email protected].
