Tutorials x2 Again
These tutorials will cover how to make a certain icon, and also how I usually apply textures. These were requested by
perfectisfake and shalowater . I hope they are useful :)
How to go from this
to
And learn the texture technique used in the latest batch.
The Icon
It's best to remember that the settings mentioned below work for an image with similar colouring, but if your image is a bit different you should play with the settings and be sure the colouring fits your image. That said, here's how I did it.
Start out with the base by duplicating it and setting the new layer to Screen 100%
Now create a new adjustment layer for Hue/Saturation and set the Saturation at +35
Now create a new adjustment layer for Selective Color and adjust to the following settings:
Method: Relative
Reds: -100, +10, +10, 0
Yellows: 0,0, +10, 0
Greens: 0, 0, 0, 0
Cyans: +100, -5, +100, +65
Blues: 0, +50, +100, +10
Magentas: 0, +20, +10, 0
Whites: 0, 0, 0, -50
Neutrals: -30, +10, +5, +10
Blacks: -100, -100, -100, +100
Then set that Selective Color layer at 90% Opacity.
Now take this texture by toybirds and rotate it horizontally. You can now paste it over the image with the settings Darken 100%.
It looks a bit odd with the texture covering the model, so select the parts to the right of the gray line and erase them. The result should be:
To finish off, you can adjust the hue settings or contrast. You can also duplicate layers and choose settings. I made another adjustment layer for hue/saturation and set saturation at -10. My result was:
Tips for Texture Technique
In my opinion, textures can make or break an icon. Too much is overwhelming and detracts from the icon and while nothing at all creates a lovely, minimal style, I prefer Icons with a little bit of texture. Now that's just my opinion and I'm not an expert on texture use-- nor am I the best at it-- but if you like the way I've used it, here's my technique.
I usually try to find a texture that fits the image. If I need to, I will rotate them in all directions to make sure the texture hits the right spots. For example, if I had the icon below (from my upcoming batch :D), I'd choose a texture like the one next to the icon. The texture was one of mine from this set and I set it at multiply 60%.
+
=
multiply 60%
Now the image has a little personality and isn't quite as bright, which I think is better than the original. If I had an image similar to the one below, I would go ahead and use a bit more texture. Sometimes with stocks it's easier to get away with a lot of texture -- there aren't any faces to mess up :) So I'd choose a texture just like the one below and simply set it to multiply 100%. Then I would paste on the second texture by
peachinparis and set it at multiply 25%. Then I'd flatten the image, duplicate the layer, and set the duplicated layer at Soft Light 100%. My result is below.
+
+
=
With black & white icons, textures are much easier to fit in. I think they look wonderful over b&w, too! When working with b&w I usually get pretty bold and brave, using chunkier textures with more spots and black areas. For example, with the icon below I would add the texture next to it at multiply 100%. Then I'd add a light texture to make it a little fancier. The third texture from
iconpile is one of my favorites and should be set at either Lighten 100% or Screen 100%. I usually use Lighten and move it around and erase anything I don't like -- a dot here and there -- it's a matter of taste. My result is below.
+
+
=
To get a look like the one below, I just add a texture at normal 100% and move it off to the side :) If you want the coloring to match, you can adjust the colours of the texture before you add it to the icon. (doesn't look that wonderful on this image because too much is going on, but you get the idea and that's what counts!)
+
=
to the side
Enjoy! If you want, feel free to share any results :) I love that.
- & -
perfectisfake and shalowater . I hope they are useful :)
How to go from this
to
And learn the texture technique used in the latest batch.
The Icon
It's best to remember that the settings mentioned below work for an image with similar colouring, but if your image is a bit different you should play with the settings and be sure the colouring fits your image. That said, here's how I did it.
Start out with the base by duplicating it and setting the new layer to Screen 100%
Now create a new adjustment layer for Hue/Saturation and set the Saturation at +35
Now create a new adjustment layer for Selective Color and adjust to the following settings:
Method: Relative
Reds: -100, +10, +10, 0
Yellows: 0,0, +10, 0
Greens: 0, 0, 0, 0
Cyans: +100, -5, +100, +65
Blues: 0, +50, +100, +10
Magentas: 0, +20, +10, 0
Whites: 0, 0, 0, -50
Neutrals: -30, +10, +5, +10
Blacks: -100, -100, -100, +100
Then set that Selective Color layer at 90% Opacity.
Now take this texture by toybirds and rotate it horizontally. You can now paste it over the image with the settings Darken 100%.
It looks a bit odd with the texture covering the model, so select the parts to the right of the gray line and erase them. The result should be:
To finish off, you can adjust the hue settings or contrast. You can also duplicate layers and choose settings. I made another adjustment layer for hue/saturation and set saturation at -10. My result was:
Tips for Texture Technique
In my opinion, textures can make or break an icon. Too much is overwhelming and detracts from the icon and while nothing at all creates a lovely, minimal style, I prefer Icons with a little bit of texture. Now that's just my opinion and I'm not an expert on texture use-- nor am I the best at it-- but if you like the way I've used it, here's my technique.
I usually try to find a texture that fits the image. If I need to, I will rotate them in all directions to make sure the texture hits the right spots. For example, if I had the icon below (from my upcoming batch :D), I'd choose a texture like the one next to the icon. The texture was one of mine from this set and I set it at multiply 60%.
+
=
multiply 60%
Now the image has a little personality and isn't quite as bright, which I think is better than the original. If I had an image similar to the one below, I would go ahead and use a bit more texture. Sometimes with stocks it's easier to get away with a lot of texture -- there aren't any faces to mess up :) So I'd choose a texture just like the one below and simply set it to multiply 100%. Then I would paste on the second texture by
peachinparis and set it at multiply 25%. Then I'd flatten the image, duplicate the layer, and set the duplicated layer at Soft Light 100%. My result is below.
+
+
=
With black & white icons, textures are much easier to fit in. I think they look wonderful over b&w, too! When working with b&w I usually get pretty bold and brave, using chunkier textures with more spots and black areas. For example, with the icon below I would add the texture next to it at multiply 100%. Then I'd add a light texture to make it a little fancier. The third texture from
iconpile is one of my favorites and should be set at either Lighten 100% or Screen 100%. I usually use Lighten and move it around and erase anything I don't like -- a dot here and there -- it's a matter of taste. My result is below.
+
+
=
To get a look like the one below, I just add a texture at normal 100% and move it off to the side :) If you want the coloring to match, you can adjust the colours of the texture before you add it to the icon. (doesn't look that wonderful on this image because too much is going on, but you get the idea and that's what counts!)
+
=
to the side
Enjoy! If you want, feel free to share any results :) I love that.
- & -