157: Stock Tutorial

Feb 20, 2016 21:16





I was asked at this last year’s icon_talk to do a Guide to colouring Stock icons.

esp this one made for basic_icontest

  • Firstly I pick my base, which I have cropped to a 200*200 (or for this contest it was 100*100, but I use the same technique for smaller canvas). Then I place it on a blank canvas of the same size 200*200 (or 100*100) with a transparent background


  • Once on the background I use curves, not to much as it will make it to bright, with stock icons you try to be natural as possible the animal / plant in the natural environment is the star of the show

I use easy Filter - Smart curve which is an add on for Photoshop Elements 11
Firstly I set the RGB Chanel to IN: 122, OUT:137
Then the Red Chanel to IN 132 : OUT: 162

  • Once I have added a curves layer then I had a Brightness/Contrast layer - I se the contrast layer to contrast to 18 and Brightness to 29


  • Then if I feel that the icon needs a little more colour then I add this texture



and set it to Soft light 50% or higher depending on the subject
  • Once I'm happy with the icon, I merge all the layers and re-size to 100*100
  • Well that is the technique I use to colour most of my stock icons, any questions?




Ask The Maker 2015 || My Thread

type:icons, resources:tutorial, stock:flowers

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