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As requested, I'm going to try writing something about how I use textures in my icons and a list of my favourite textures and makers ♥
Let's start!
For this tutorial I had to post two icon tutorials that I can't do, because I lost the psd and I don't really remember much about what I was doing.
So, you can think I'm unable to do any tutorial after my last assertion, but (to cover my incompetence pfft) I can tell the big truth about iconing (and graphic): don't be afraid to use your instinct and experimenting. Don't stay into the tutorials and guides borderlines, try to find your own style.
This is so important, because people tend to follow literaly what tutorial says: this is not math, is art.
Ok, after my ramblings it's time to being serious (?)
First of all, you have to categorize textures: there are many types: grunge, lightning, decorative, textual ecc.
LIGHT TEXTURES
scoobyatemysnax (x2) / fuuurs / innocentlexys
innocentlexys (x2) / midnightroad (x2)
I EVER use light textures because they give depth and vividness to the image.
I usually put them on soft light or screen, choosing them with similar color as my base (to make colors more vivid) or my final coloring (after I make the color with some adjustments).
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DISTURBING TEXTURES (GRUNGE, PAINT ecc)
tinebrella / lookslikerain (x3)
fuuurs / 12feethigh / scoobyatemysnax
I really looove these kind of textures, they're polyhedral, I can put them in many ways.
I usually set them on screen, but - in particular the painted ones - I like to transform them to black and white (with the adjustment) and set on soft light.
I have a lot of fun to combine several of those textures, experimenting!
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DECORATIONS & OTHER
cielo_gris / innocentlexys (x3)
innocentlexys / wolfatmidnight(x3)
They can be patterns, images, decoration, boxes, textuals ecc. I use them only for enrich the final result with some details. I use boxes (and frames) as a container for the image (also decorations can be used for "cutting" the image like boxes - see first example) and patterns/images as a fake background. I try to put in the icons textures consistent with the subject, it makes the icon more meaningful (I can't do it always, however.).
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TIPS ♥
✏ Textures are not in foreground, subject is. Make sure textures don't cover too much the main subject with layer masks- by deleting the parts that are too agressive on the image.
✏ sometimes you need to edit the texture to adapt it, to achieve the final effect you want on the icon (for example a grunge texture set on screen two times is more strong and visible, on multiply is more delicate) - you can also play with opacity, colors, rotation ecc)
✏ Before putting textures you have to figure it out the final coloring and an idea of the composition (you may change in the process, sure :D). So start with adjustments and add most of textures at the end.
✏ Don't use always icon textures...you can try with large textures or elements, or photos, or by editing the icon itself and making it a texture!
✏ If you have a tablet use it also for deleting, blending, contrasting etc. Pen pressure is miracolous in graphics! (can make erasures more soft, blending more harmonious etc.)
✏ Have care when you contrast a texture: it could be too stronger and cover the subject...it's better contrast the image and put a little bit of high pass on textures.
and now the moment you'll be waiting for (?)
IT'S TIME FOR RECS!
innocent_lexys, @ satine_violet
deny1984, @midnight_road
fuuurs, @ bourbonate
raiindust @aintafairytale
lookslikerain. @soaked
mm3butterfly @encorevous
tinebrella @ psychedelicats
fprintmoon @gallicka
cielo_gris @ velvetb0x
lemonpunch @ iconpunch
pandavirus @ welt_herrschaft
12feethigh @paytheboy
rebel @criminal
nokitas @acupofgraphics
messdestruction @ destruction_box
wolfatmidnight
1 unknow - 2 fprintmoon - 3 tinebrella - 4 danseur_lion
5 lookslikerain - 6 lookslikerain - 7 saxify - 8 scoobyatemysnax
9 fuuurs - 10 lookslikerain - 11 lookslikerain - 12 innocentlexys
13 unknow - 14 rebel - 15 innocentlexys - 16 scoobyatemysnax
17 fuuurs - 18 innocentlexys - 19 fuuurs - 20 scoobyatemysnax
21 scoobyatemysnax - 22 unknow - 23 innocentlexys - 24 scoobyatemysnax
25 lookslikerain - 26 raiindust - 27 lookslikerain - 28 lookslikerain
29 nokitas - 30 pbbu - 31 tinebrella - 32 midnight-road
33 innocentlexys - 34 fuuurs - 35 fprintmoon - 36 innocentlexys
37 rebel - 38 scoobyatemysnax - 39 messdestruction - 40 messdestruction
notes
☛ I don't remember the owners of the textures I used in the examples...if you recognize one of them, please tell me and I will immediately add the link!
☛ I'm Italian, so my english could be incomprehensible and full of errors (D:) don't got no scruples to tell me! I will be very thankful if you can fill my gaps! ç_ç