#52 - Three Icon Tutorials!
_androgynous_ requested tutorials for the following icons and I was really excited to do so since I've never written a tutorial!! So, read on to see tutorials for the following:
I use Photoshop CS2 so most of my tools are found in most basic graphics programs however, you will need to know how to use your graphics tool for the 2nd icon. Also, all of my tutorials are in icon size however I worked with all these caps using a 500x500 canvas. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment and I'll be happy to clear it up![SPN icon]I'm going to start off with the Crowley icon just because there isn't anything super complicated in it. If you've ever used PS to make icons, there really isn't anything new here. For this icon, all you need to have on your graphics software is some nice text installed (or you can go with a boring Serif font like I did) and a lasso tool to help get rid of the background.
--->
Here's the original screencap that I used. I duplicated the whole screencap and set it to screen to brighten up the image before I did any serious work to it. I then combined the layers by stamping them (CTRL-SHIFT-ALT-E). Then I cropped out Crowley to look like this:
I would suggest that you work with caps in full-size as opposed to working with it icon-sized since you won't be able to get the same precision.
I then played with the curves and brightness/contrast to end up with this:
Unfortunetely, I was not as PS skilled when I made this icon so I can't tell you exactly what values I used. My suggestion is just to fiddle around with the settings until you find something that you like.
I then used paintdaubs with all fields set to one.
+
>>>
Now, we're done with the major process. Next, we need to add the background.
I used the color #601848 for the background because it slightly matches the cushion on the chair in the original cap and it was a nice contrast color.
As you can see, there are still some white spots on the leg of the chair that could be cleaned up. By the looks of the original icon, I never cleaned it up!!! But, you should!!
here's the cleaned up version:
Although the difference is small, it's totally worth correcting just to make sure that your icon looks as polished as possible.
Now, we're finally finished with the base of the icon. I could've left it as is but that's boring so I added some textures and a shadow to make the icon more interesting.
To add the shadow, make sure that you DO NOT add a drop shadow. I'm going to show you how to add a shadow with a very badly cropped image since I'm WAYY to lazy to crop him out again.
NOTE: Yes, the cropping is the most time-consuming thing in this whole icon but NEVER slack on cropping and erasing since white spots and uneven cropping can look terrible! I think cropping this image took me about 10-15 minutes and normally it takes me 2-5 minutes.
Now, to see all the steps to create a shadow, watch the gif below!
Okay, so here's how the finished version WOULD look like if I would've used a well-cropped subject:
I've also set the black layer to 66% opacity on Normal since shadows are never pitch-black :)
Now, let's add textures!!!!
To start off, I added a brown gradient to not make the icon so purple. This gradient was placed above the purple BG and below the subject!
gradient w/ the background below | gradient w/ a white below
Now, here's what it looks like:
As you can see, Crowley is looking a bit dark. Now, I could brighten him up by adding a brightness/contrast layer, some overlay paint splashes, or whatever. But, I decided to add yet another gradient layer:
so basically ----->
+
---->
Now, again, the icon could be stopped here but I decided to add some text since TEXT IS FUN!
To add text, I basically wrote KING OF HELL over and over again and then transformed it so that it would be at an angle. Then, I set the text to 40% opacity under normal. This text was set over the background and the gradient.
---->
Now, my PSD has more contrast than the original icon and I kind of like it better that way. When I made the original icon, I stopped before adding contrast to the icon. But, here's another version:
To make this, all I did was stamp all the visible layers and set it to soft light at 100% opacity. To me, this looks way too contrasted so I played around with the opacities of the layers. I set the new layer that was set to soft light to a 67% opacity. Then, I lowered the text opacity that was set to 40% already to an even lower 23%.
---->
As a summary, this icon is really quite simple. All you need to do is cut out the background, set a new background color that matches, add text, and add some gradients to add more dimension to the icon!!
Original | Remade version
Click here to download PSD (for the original version)
[Sherlock Icon]The Sherlock icon is a bit more complicated than the Crowley icon just because you will need to know how to use Gradient Maps and some layer masks.
To start off, here's the base:
I then cut out John and Sherlock, plus the door for some odd reason. I think I thought it would look cool or something.
I knew that I wanted to use a certain color for the bg so I went ahead and added that as my BG.
A SIDE NOTE before we proceed:
If you're not sure as to what a layer mask and/or a gradient map is, check out the pic above and the following tutorials. This tutorial really goes into detail about just how to find the gradient map tool and how to use it. Here's another one that is just as good but is not as basic.
Okay, back to what we were doing. After cropping Sherlock and John, I then used the gradient map below to add the blue to the door and used the layer mask to mask away all of the excess blue.
The gradient map I used:
Here's a (sloppily) remade version that's larger than icon sized
Notice the jagged edges and the unclean corners of the door on this remade version. That's how the original cap looked but I'd suggest trimming the dorr and making everything look even. Another cool thing about using layer masks on gradient maps is that you can repaint a part that you messed up on, such as the spot I missed under Sherlock's arm.
Then, I added a pink gradient map on top of Sherlock and John so that they would be more blended in or something. Same steps as last time but with a different gradient.
+
---->
Now comes the fun part. Let's add some textures!
+
+
----->
I added just a few textures to add some body to the background and some shadowing. The pink texture was actually b&w but it would not shop up right in b&w. (also, I think I made both textures but I can't be sure about that). the first texture was set to color dodge @ 47% and the second texture was set to screen @ 24%.
A TIP: ff you're going to add textures to any of your icons, play around with them. Don't just add a gradient and be done. Download some cool textures or even make your own. I've found that just using some textures really spices up a simple icon and makes it look really fancy and hard ☺
Okay, then I added one of the following textures but I'm not so sure which:
=
or
or
texture I used = textures made by unknown maker or unknown maker or lookslikerain
Then, I did edit the following texture by llevamealbaile:
to look like this --->
+
+
+
+
---->
(all set to screen @ 100%, last icon by iconxraven)
Okay, now I'm ALMOST done, but not quite. I added a transparent rainbow gradient map (one of PS' defaults) set to saturation at 21% for some odd reason but you probably don't need to. Then I stamped the layers and added paint daubs to it and erased away the parts that I thought were too sharp. Again, in hindsight, not necessary but one of the last things I always do is resharpen the icon so it was more of a habit thing than anything. Lastly, I stamped the visible layers again, added a gaussian blur set to 4, and set it to soft light @ 60% to add some depth and create a more glowy look!
---->
As a summary, this icon is just all about playing around with textures and gradient maps. To create an icon similar to this, you'd need to use some cool gradient maps and textures, and you're all set! Cool composition that doesn't take up too much time!
Original Screencap | Finished Product
Click here to download PSD
[White Collar icon]
Okay, so I gots no PSD for this. So, this is totally not going to look the same *cringes*
This icon was created with a premade base. kanarek13 had cropped this for something and had posted the PSD to her f!list and I totally saved it ☺
Here is the PSD (or more like transparent layer), guys!! It's huge (and look at her cropping, it's so perf!) so click for full-size.
Then, I added a black layer behind Neal and readjusted him so that he was off-center and went crazy with my brushes (these are the blood splatter ones!!). You can find them (or ones similar to them) on Good Old Google.
--->
I love gradients so I totally added this one:
to create this look:
I again erased part of his face off using the layer mask, similarly to what I did in the Sherlock icon.
Then, I added the same gradient map and set it to soft light @ 100% and added this gradient set to multiply @ 17%:
As you can see, now his body is blended into the bottom of the cap and a lot of the preliminary paintwork is over! Now, I've played around with the brightness/contrast and the color balance:
Now, I added a texture by raiindust that was edited and erased so that it wouldn't cover
---->
+
to yield
(second icon by elizacunningham)
Now, I'm going to do some simple editing. I adjusted the color balance to look like the screenshot below. I did not do anything to the shadows or the highlights.
+
---->
Note that while the difference isn't stark, it does help bring out some color and make the icon more reddish.
Then, I added another version of raiindust's texture (that was used above) to make the icon look a little bit more like the original.
+
---->
Then, I stamped the icon and duplicated the stamped layer. I set the first stamed layer to overlay @ 32% after gaussian blurring it with the radius set to 2px. Then, the dupicate was set to overlay @ 14%. Now, we're all done!!
A quick summary: Basically, this one's all about using your brushes!
Original | Remade Version
click here to download PSD (for the remade version)
PS. Please do not COPY these tutorials, although you are free to use any textures, tips, or screencaps though!
I use Photoshop CS2 so most of my tools are found in most basic graphics programs however, you will need to know how to use your graphics tool for the 2nd icon. Also, all of my tutorials are in icon size however I worked with all these caps using a 500x500 canvas. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment and I'll be happy to clear it up![SPN icon]I'm going to start off with the Crowley icon just because there isn't anything super complicated in it. If you've ever used PS to make icons, there really isn't anything new here. For this icon, all you need to have on your graphics software is some nice text installed (or you can go with a boring Serif font like I did) and a lasso tool to help get rid of the background.
--->
Here's the original screencap that I used. I duplicated the whole screencap and set it to screen to brighten up the image before I did any serious work to it. I then combined the layers by stamping them (CTRL-SHIFT-ALT-E). Then I cropped out Crowley to look like this:
I would suggest that you work with caps in full-size as opposed to working with it icon-sized since you won't be able to get the same precision.
I then played with the curves and brightness/contrast to end up with this:
Unfortunetely, I was not as PS skilled when I made this icon so I can't tell you exactly what values I used. My suggestion is just to fiddle around with the settings until you find something that you like.
I then used paintdaubs with all fields set to one.
+
>>>
Now, we're done with the major process. Next, we need to add the background.
I used the color #601848 for the background because it slightly matches the cushion on the chair in the original cap and it was a nice contrast color.
As you can see, there are still some white spots on the leg of the chair that could be cleaned up. By the looks of the original icon, I never cleaned it up!!! But, you should!!
here's the cleaned up version:
Although the difference is small, it's totally worth correcting just to make sure that your icon looks as polished as possible.
Now, we're finally finished with the base of the icon. I could've left it as is but that's boring so I added some textures and a shadow to make the icon more interesting.
To add the shadow, make sure that you DO NOT add a drop shadow. I'm going to show you how to add a shadow with a very badly cropped image since I'm WAYY to lazy to crop him out again.
NOTE: Yes, the cropping is the most time-consuming thing in this whole icon but NEVER slack on cropping and erasing since white spots and uneven cropping can look terrible! I think cropping this image took me about 10-15 minutes and normally it takes me 2-5 minutes.
Now, to see all the steps to create a shadow, watch the gif below!
Okay, so here's how the finished version WOULD look like if I would've used a well-cropped subject:
I've also set the black layer to 66% opacity on Normal since shadows are never pitch-black :)
Now, let's add textures!!!!
To start off, I added a brown gradient to not make the icon so purple. This gradient was placed above the purple BG and below the subject!
gradient w/ the background below | gradient w/ a white below
Now, here's what it looks like:
As you can see, Crowley is looking a bit dark. Now, I could brighten him up by adding a brightness/contrast layer, some overlay paint splashes, or whatever. But, I decided to add yet another gradient layer:
so basically ----->
+
---->
Now, again, the icon could be stopped here but I decided to add some text since TEXT IS FUN!
To add text, I basically wrote KING OF HELL over and over again and then transformed it so that it would be at an angle. Then, I set the text to 40% opacity under normal. This text was set over the background and the gradient.
---->
Now, my PSD has more contrast than the original icon and I kind of like it better that way. When I made the original icon, I stopped before adding contrast to the icon. But, here's another version:
To make this, all I did was stamp all the visible layers and set it to soft light at 100% opacity. To me, this looks way too contrasted so I played around with the opacities of the layers. I set the new layer that was set to soft light to a 67% opacity. Then, I lowered the text opacity that was set to 40% already to an even lower 23%.
---->
As a summary, this icon is really quite simple. All you need to do is cut out the background, set a new background color that matches, add text, and add some gradients to add more dimension to the icon!!
Original | Remade version
Click here to download PSD (for the original version)
[Sherlock Icon]The Sherlock icon is a bit more complicated than the Crowley icon just because you will need to know how to use Gradient Maps and some layer masks.
To start off, here's the base:
I then cut out John and Sherlock, plus the door for some odd reason. I think I thought it would look cool or something.
I knew that I wanted to use a certain color for the bg so I went ahead and added that as my BG.
A SIDE NOTE before we proceed:
If you're not sure as to what a layer mask and/or a gradient map is, check out the pic above and the following tutorials. This tutorial really goes into detail about just how to find the gradient map tool and how to use it. Here's another one that is just as good but is not as basic.
Okay, back to what we were doing. After cropping Sherlock and John, I then used the gradient map below to add the blue to the door and used the layer mask to mask away all of the excess blue.
The gradient map I used:
Here's a (sloppily) remade version that's larger than icon sized
Notice the jagged edges and the unclean corners of the door on this remade version. That's how the original cap looked but I'd suggest trimming the dorr and making everything look even. Another cool thing about using layer masks on gradient maps is that you can repaint a part that you messed up on, such as the spot I missed under Sherlock's arm.
Then, I added a pink gradient map on top of Sherlock and John so that they would be more blended in or something. Same steps as last time but with a different gradient.
+
---->
Now comes the fun part. Let's add some textures!
+
+
----->
I added just a few textures to add some body to the background and some shadowing. The pink texture was actually b&w but it would not shop up right in b&w. (also, I think I made both textures but I can't be sure about that). the first texture was set to color dodge @ 47% and the second texture was set to screen @ 24%.
A TIP: ff you're going to add textures to any of your icons, play around with them. Don't just add a gradient and be done. Download some cool textures or even make your own. I've found that just using some textures really spices up a simple icon and makes it look really fancy and hard ☺
Okay, then I added one of the following textures but I'm not so sure which:
=
or
or
texture I used = textures made by unknown maker or unknown maker or lookslikerain
Then, I did edit the following texture by llevamealbaile:
to look like this --->
+
+
+
+
---->
(all set to screen @ 100%, last icon by iconxraven)
Okay, now I'm ALMOST done, but not quite. I added a transparent rainbow gradient map (one of PS' defaults) set to saturation at 21% for some odd reason but you probably don't need to. Then I stamped the layers and added paint daubs to it and erased away the parts that I thought were too sharp. Again, in hindsight, not necessary but one of the last things I always do is resharpen the icon so it was more of a habit thing than anything. Lastly, I stamped the visible layers again, added a gaussian blur set to 4, and set it to soft light @ 60% to add some depth and create a more glowy look!
---->
As a summary, this icon is just all about playing around with textures and gradient maps. To create an icon similar to this, you'd need to use some cool gradient maps and textures, and you're all set! Cool composition that doesn't take up too much time!
Original Screencap | Finished Product
Click here to download PSD
[White Collar icon]
Okay, so I gots no PSD for this. So, this is totally not going to look the same *cringes*
This icon was created with a premade base. kanarek13 had cropped this for something and had posted the PSD to her f!list and I totally saved it ☺
Here is the PSD (or more like transparent layer), guys!! It's huge (and look at her cropping, it's so perf!) so click for full-size.
Then, I added a black layer behind Neal and readjusted him so that he was off-center and went crazy with my brushes (these are the blood splatter ones!!). You can find them (or ones similar to them) on Good Old Google.
--->
I love gradients so I totally added this one:
to create this look:
I again erased part of his face off using the layer mask, similarly to what I did in the Sherlock icon.
Then, I added the same gradient map and set it to soft light @ 100% and added this gradient set to multiply @ 17%:
As you can see, now his body is blended into the bottom of the cap and a lot of the preliminary paintwork is over! Now, I've played around with the brightness/contrast and the color balance:
Now, I added a texture by raiindust that was edited and erased so that it wouldn't cover
---->
+
to yield
(second icon by elizacunningham)
Now, I'm going to do some simple editing. I adjusted the color balance to look like the screenshot below. I did not do anything to the shadows or the highlights.
+
---->
Note that while the difference isn't stark, it does help bring out some color and make the icon more reddish.
Then, I added another version of raiindust's texture (that was used above) to make the icon look a little bit more like the original.
+
---->
Then, I stamped the icon and duplicated the stamped layer. I set the first stamed layer to overlay @ 32% after gaussian blurring it with the radius set to 2px. Then, the dupicate was set to overlay @ 14%. Now, we're all done!!
A quick summary: Basically, this one's all about using your brushes!
Original | Remade Version
click here to download PSD (for the remade version)
PS. Please do not COPY these tutorials, although you are free to use any textures, tips, or screencaps though!