Icon tutorial #1
Icons or layout post will up next :)
This is my first tutorial, hopefully it will help someone.
Its really simple/basic, mainly for people who do not want to mess with selective color, Channel Mixer etc. Some steps have pictures in them to guide you along and a resulting icon after each step :D
Program: Photoshop CS4 Extended
Difficulty: Easy
Steps: 6/7
Translatable: Yup!
Psd: Yes
Step 1: I cropped my image to 100 px X 100 px first.
Then, duplicate the image and set to soft light, opacity 50%
This makes Wentworth look more solid as it adds some contrast.
Step 2: Curves. I use to not like curves but they are actually really good!
The thing about curves is, you have to play around until you get what you want :) ( Sometimes, just clicking auto is good too.)
Layer >New Adjustment Layer > Curves
Select Red under the drop down menu:
First point - Output:0 Input:10
Second point - Output: 248 Input: 196
Select Green under the same drop down menu:
First point - Output: 0 Input: 14
Second point - Output: 255 Input: 239
Select Blue under the same drop down menu:
First point - Output: 0 Input: 14
Second point - Output: 255 Input: 238
See the huge difference it gives the image?
The colors are much more enhanced, you can see his cheek color now and he has a more human skin color now. This layer lets you adjust the tones and contrast of a picture.
Step 3: Levels.
I think that it is a little too bright, the blue in the picture is not to my liking.
So we use levels, it will control what is considered “black”, “white”, and “gray” in your photograph.
Layer >New Adjustment Layer >Levels
Make sure the drop down menu reads RGB and your gradient under the graph is from darkest to lightest.
Output levels: 0, 227
Now the background and shirt looks much better.
Step 4 : Depending on your image, you may or may not want to adjust the Saturation and/or Lightness.
Basically I wanted to darken my background a little.
Layer >New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation
Saturation: +9
Lightness: -3
Step 5 : It looks pretty good now but I want to bring out Wentworth’s cheeks more
Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid color
Flood it with #ef8dc9, basically any shade of pink will do, you just have to adjust the Opacity and Fill percentage.
Set the opacity to 30% and Fill 40%
I set them low because I don’t want Wentworth to look like he has makeup on. If use with larger opacity percentage, it can also create a soft look to the image. Of course, depending on the shade of pink and image.
Step 6 (optional) : I added THIS texture. (Sorry, I can’t remember who made it.)
Set it to soft light 70% opacity and Fill 80%.
This softens the image, but it looks great without it as well.
Lastly, Step 7 (Basically a technique to add texture):
I added THIS texture by noyoucantdothat.
Place it all the way at the bottom, just above your duplicated image.
Set it to Soft Light, opacity 100% and Fill 60%.
And erase the parts covering Wentworth.
Textures help to add on to an otherwise dull icon :)
The end!
Or you could add more textures or whatever :D
More icons using this coloring:
So it basically works on every picture! With slight tweekings of course.
Examples are in the psd as well.
If you try this tutorial, show me what you get!
Leave a comment if you grab the psd: HERE
Feel free to comment if you have any problems or questions.
Watch or Join if you like what you see!
