Icon Tutorial
EDIT: You will notice all the pictures are removed. But the tut still stands. If you need the pictures back let me know. This tut should still be good w/o them though! Sorry to everyone who added this to mems.
I present to you a very simple 13 step icon tutorial…
Going from
to
First things first.
Crop your image to 100x100 pixels. I used a picture of Avril Lavigne. (I actually dislike her however she is very pretty and has wonderful facial features to work with…)
Next we are going to make this sad excuse for an icon into a base.
It is good to sharpen the eyes and soften the skin. Simply click on the soften/sharpen brush and go over where needed.
Now, duplicate the image twice. Set the first layer to screen 100% and the top layer to soft light 60%.
Merge everything.
Go to Adjust Automatic Contrast Enhancement. Input the setting to “Darker” / “Normal” / “Bold”. Then click Unsharpen Mask (the little blue cube at the top) Set the Radius to 100 Strength 20 and Clipping 25
You should have something like this:
Next we add come color.
Make a new layer and fill it with purple. I used this color:
Set that layer to Soft Light 50%. Then add another layer and fill it with blue. I used:
Set that layer to Darken 18%
Then copy the background image and drag it to the top. Set it to screen 70% and merge all.
Your icon will look something like this:
Now we add the boarder. I used a polorid frame from Absolutetrouble
To add this, make new layer and put it on your icon. Click the magic wand selection tool and click the center of the frame. This will select all of the black parts. Hit the “Delete” button on your keyboard. The black is now gone and you can see your icon!
If needed, resize your background to fit inside the frame. To do this, select the background layer and use either your raster or the automatic resizer.
You should get something like this:
Now, if you like, add text or any paintbrush you want to. Then Merge all. You will have something like this:
(I used font Amazone BT size12)
Now for the animation. Have your animation program ready.
Duplicate your icon.
Select the area within the frame with your select square (or free hand if you please). Go to Adjust > Add/Remove Noise > Add Noise. Set your noise to 45 with Gaussian selected. Click okay.
Now youricon looks fuzzy…
Then, go to Adjust > Blur > Motion Blur . I set my angle to 335 and strength to 60.
Now your icon is allblurry,andthat simply will not do!
Set that layer to Hard Light at 100%. You should have something like this now:
Merge all and paste that into your first square in your animation program.
Repeat, each time giving 10% less noise.
I.e.
Go to Adjust > Add/Remove Noise > Add Noise. Set your noise to 35 with Gaussian selected. Click okay.
I did this 3 times. (or making only 3frames.) Shown here:
Then save your Animation and you will have your new icon!
I hope this may be somewhat helpful to someone…
(if you use any of the icons in this tutorial, please comment and credit me!!!)
Forever,
~Mèredianna
I present to you a very simple 13 step icon tutorial…
Going from
to
First things first.
Crop your image to 100x100 pixels. I used a picture of Avril Lavigne. (I actually dislike her however she is very pretty and has wonderful facial features to work with…)
Next we are going to make this sad excuse for an icon into a base.
It is good to sharpen the eyes and soften the skin. Simply click on the soften/sharpen brush and go over where needed.
Now, duplicate the image twice. Set the first layer to screen 100% and the top layer to soft light 60%.
Merge everything.
Go to Adjust Automatic Contrast Enhancement. Input the setting to “Darker” / “Normal” / “Bold”. Then click Unsharpen Mask (the little blue cube at the top) Set the Radius to 100 Strength 20 and Clipping 25
You should have something like this:
Next we add come color.
Make a new layer and fill it with purple. I used this color:
Set that layer to Soft Light 50%. Then add another layer and fill it with blue. I used:
Set that layer to Darken 18%
Then copy the background image and drag it to the top. Set it to screen 70% and merge all.
Your icon will look something like this:
Now we add the boarder. I used a polorid frame from Absolutetrouble
To add this, make new layer and put it on your icon. Click the magic wand selection tool and click the center of the frame. This will select all of the black parts. Hit the “Delete” button on your keyboard. The black is now gone and you can see your icon!
If needed, resize your background to fit inside the frame. To do this, select the background layer and use either your raster or the automatic resizer.
You should get something like this:
Now, if you like, add text or any paintbrush you want to. Then Merge all. You will have something like this:
(I used font Amazone BT size12)
Now for the animation. Have your animation program ready.
Duplicate your icon.
Select the area within the frame with your select square (or free hand if you please). Go to Adjust > Add/Remove Noise > Add Noise. Set your noise to 45 with Gaussian selected. Click okay.
Now youricon looks fuzzy…
Then, go to Adjust > Blur > Motion Blur . I set my angle to 335 and strength to 60.
Now your icon is allblurry,andthat simply will not do!
Set that layer to Hard Light at 100%. You should have something like this now:
Merge all and paste that into your first square in your animation program.
Repeat, each time giving 10% less noise.
I.e.
Go to Adjust > Add/Remove Noise > Add Noise. Set your noise to 35 with Gaussian selected. Click okay.
I did this 3 times. (or making only 3frames.) Shown here:
Then save your Animation and you will have your new icon!
I hope this may be somewhat helpful to someone…
(if you use any of the icons in this tutorial, please comment and credit me!!!)
Forever,
~Mèredianna