(no subject)
icon q&a:
icons. the way i do it.
Thanks to all of you who asked questions. I've done my best here to answer them in as much detail as possible. Please feel free to comment if there's something here that you don't understand or you want more clarification on. :)
I use Photoshop CS3 to make all of my icons, so some tools and methods mentioned here may not translate to other programs.
01. General
02. Coloring
03. Textures
04. Text
05. Favorite Makers
01. General
1.1. How do you find the time and motivation especially to post good sized batches?
I make small batches of icons over a period of a week or two. I don't sit down and churn out icon batches all in one sitting. Sometimes they'll sit on my hard drive for a week and I'll just keep adding to the folder as time goes on. This largely depends on my muse and the subject matter, of course!
1.2 How do you choose caps? I noticed that you don't seem to choose the same caps that everybody else does.
I prefer galleries over zip files for my caps. I'm not really crazy about saving a bunch of stuff to my computer and I'm far to lazy to go around downloading all the caps I want. There's a nifty little feature that some galleries have. It's called a randomizer. It's usually on the main page of the gallery. You refresh the page and it shows random caps. I love this feature and I use it all the time. If I'm hard up for inspiration, or really want to icon a particular show and don't know what exactly I want to do, I go to the randomizer! Other times, like if I'm watching a tv show or something I'll take inspiration from a scene I've watched or a certain character. I make my own caps too. So if I'm not finding the particular scene I want I'll just cap it myself. And on the same note:
1.3 How do you choose the image you will use for an icon?
When I choose an image, I try to look at it from all angles in terms of a crop or what composition I want for the icon. 99% of the time this is all on the fly. *G* Of course, an image must be good quality before I even start to do anything with it. Then I think about what I can convey with the image in terms of crop and/or composition. Do I want to add text/textures/other effects? Is it even possible to pull off what I want? Sometimes an image won't work no matter how much you fiddle with it. That's when you scrap it and move on. :)
1.4 Where do you draw your inspiration from when you create icons?
Sometimes when I'm looking through caps I'll get ideas. Or a song playing on the radio/on my Ipod will particularly capture my attention if it seems to fit the character and/or scene I'm iconning. And of course, I'm inspired by other icon makers! It helps to jumpstart my muse if I look at icons by other makers and then I get ideas for my own icons. Drawing on others' work that inspires me is a really useful tool. However, I don't aim to outright copy anyone. The point is to draw inspiration not to blatantly copy someone else's work.
1.5 Ever encountered plagarism of your work?
No, not really. I know there are some icons out there that are inspired by mine and others too, but I wouldn't come right out and say that there's been blatant copying going on. My icons are faaaaar from original though, so I'm sure you could say mine are based on inspiration of others' icons too. *shrug* It's a fine line, really. There are some makers who are quite talented and can come up with their own signature style for icons. I keep hoping I get to that point someday. *G*
1.6 Do you use psd's or do you tend to experiment?
A little bit of both, I guess. I'll use a psd as a starting point for where I want to go with an icon (mostly for coloring), but after that I'll add my own touches. I like psd's, but I don't use them to create an entire icon. It's only a jumping off point for me. Combining the two really defines my style much better than if I straight out copied the psd without adding anything. I don't copy psd's. It's a cop-out and it's not original.
1.7 What way to sharpen your icons do you use most/think is best? What steps do you take to get what you find to be the perfect sharpness?
I alwaysalwaysalways blur before I sharpen! And I don't sharpen right away. I wait until I completely finish the icon to sharpen. I find that if I sharpen too soon in the process the icon ends up looking distorted and yucky, because basically you are repeatedly duplicating the sharpening as you are making the icon. If you add the sharpening to the end result of all your coloring and textures it tends to emphasize rather than distort. I have a couple different approaches to sharpening my icons.
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After coloring & completing the icon -> Filter -> Blur -> Gaussian Blur: Radius 6.0.
Fade the blurring to @ 50-55%.
Filter -> Sharpen >> Sharpen x 2. Fade the second sharpen to @ 30-55%.
I like this method the best for icons with really close crops, such as this Sam icon. For some reason I find that a closer crop looks clear and not over-sharp when I do it this way. I don't know if this is actually true, but it works for me! :)
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After coloring & completing the icon -> ctrl+alt+shift+e (or copy-merge and paste).
Set this to Soft Light @ 20%.
Filter -> Blur -> Gaussian Blur: Radius 10.0.
ctrl+alt+shift+e (or copy-merge and paste) Filter -> Sharpen >> Sharpen x 1.
Lower the opacity of the layer to @ 30%.
I prefer this method for icons with a little distance to them. It not only sharpens the subject's features, but it also sharpens the background and other elements in the icon and eliminates the need to do any sharpening beforehand, it's all done in two steps!
And the icon sharpened using the first method, just for good measure.
Looks just as good, if not better. There's even a little extra glow to the icon courtesy of the gaussian blur. I say this quite a bit, but it bears repeating. EXPERIMENT EXPERIMENT EXPERIMENT! That's really the only way you're going to find methods and tools that you are comfortable with. :)
1.8 What exactly is your 'process' when you make icons? What steps do you take to create an icon from start to finish?
Basically, I start out the same. Paste my image at it's original size into Photoshop. Resize the image in it's largest state to @ 400-600px. Copy + Paste the resized image into a 100x100 and move it around a little before I crop. I then grab the Free-Transform tool in Photoshop to size the base down further and finally, crop the image.
I don't use the crop tool ever. I always use Free-Transform when I crop. I find it preserves the quality of the image best and achieves better crops than the actual crop tool. Also, I always resize the image before I crop and paste it straight into a 100x100. I'm most comfortable working with 100x100 rather than on a larger canvas. Don't know for sure why I do it like this. It's just the way I've been doing it for many years and if it ain't broke... ;)
After cropping, comes adjustments! I use Auto Levels, Auto Color, and Auto Contrast if the base requires any initial brightening or improvement. Sometimes I need to clear up any graininess that might affect facial features and whatnot. For that, I'll zoom in closely on my icon and use the smudge brush (a small soft round brush works best!) on a lowered opacity (around 4-6%) to smooth out any imperfections. Next, comes coloring. I try out some different methods and approaches for coloring until finally settling on the one that I like best. Then comes textures, effects and lastly, sharpening and text.
02. Coloring
1.1 How do you achieve good coloring in an icon? You're one of my favorite icon makers when it comes to coloring.
Soft light layers are my friends, LOL. 99% of my coloring these days is achieved by using Soft Light, Color Balance, Levels & Hue/Saturation. I tend to stay away from Curves and Selective Color when I color my icons. Mostly because I don't really have a grasp on how those features work, so I stick with the basics. :)
I like using Soft Light layers on my icons. I believe a good amount of contrast can really help achieve a nice vibrant color. A soft light layer on an icon achieves two things - contrast and color. And even if the image is too dark, you can always improve it with Screen layers or light textures. An example using a base from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
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(Duplicated once and set to Soft Light)
Yes, it got kind of dark there. But see how much more contrast has been added to the shadows and light in the background? And also the general tones of the image have gotten warmer and a little more vibrant. However, it's just too dark. I need to brighten it up.
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(Duplicate Base x 4 & set them as follows: Soft Light + Screen x 2 + Soft Light)
And there ya have it. A nice contrasted icon with good color!
But let's go a little further. I want to add more color and light. To achieve this, I add another screen layer, but lower the opacity to @ 30%.
So now my layers are like so -> Soft Light x 1 + Screen x 3 + Soft Light x 1.
Below the top Soft Light duplicate I add a black & white light texture (similar to this one by drankmywar), also set to Soft Light.
If the texture overwhelms the icon or washes it out, just lower the opacity.
Above the top Soft Light duplicate I add my adjustment layers -> Color Balance + Hue/Saturation + Levels for richer colors and more contrast.
And finally -> Gaussian Blur + Sharpening to complete the icon. And we end up with this:
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(my layers)
A little tip: If a color overpowers the icon (say the yellow in this Buffy icon)? Try decreasing Hue/Saturation to -10. Or add another Color Balance layer and subtract the yellow by adjusting the Midtones to +22 on the Yellow/Blue channel. Even better, eliminate one of the Soft Light duplicates and add another Screen layer at a lowered opacity.
And this is our result:
(my layers)
1.2 How did you achieve the glow-like effect on this icon?
Basically, I used the same method I demonstrated above. A combination of Soft light and Screen layers and a light texture. I like to use black and white light textures on my icons rather than light blobs. I really don't care for how intense light blobs are. I like the subtlety that a light texture provides, how it can blend more into the background of an icon rather than stand out. Light blobs are nice, but I prefer a hint of light rather than overwhelming the image with too much of it. Also, adding a slight blur to the image using Gaussian Blur can achieve a nice glow effect, as long as the blurring is minimal or the layer's opacity is at a rather low level. For added warmth and vibrancy in an icon, I will sometimes add a solid color fill layer in yellow or red set to Normal @ 10%. This can also slightly brighten the icon a bit. A useful tip I picked up from the amazing imaginary_lives. :)
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(Base duplicated to Soft light twice + two Screen layers added)
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(Underneath the second Soft Light duplicate I added a black and white light texture + color fill layer)
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(Added 2 Color Balance layers + Hue/Saturation + Levels + Gaussian Blur & Sharpening)
I use light textures from the following makers:
drankmywar @ defaultsettings
hybridmagic
unalike
03. Textures
1.1 I was actually wondering what textures you used in the following icons:
and what you set them to, if that's not too broad a question. :)
For the first icon, I used a cloud texture similar to this by southern_train (I couldn't find the original texture I used for that icon, but this one is close) and set to it Multiply, erasing the parts that got too dark. I'm pretty sure I used the cloud texture in combination with this texture by lookslikerain. I set it to Soft Light, again erasing the parts I didn't like. I then copy-merged & pasted the entire icon at the top of my layers and set it to Soft Light @ 20% (again, erasing parts that didn't work). There might have been another Screen layer thrown in there too for more brightness. I find that adding an additional Soft Light layer at the end can, in some sort of way, 'set' the effects a little better.
For the second icon, I added this texture by lemonpunch. I inverted the texture (CTRL+I in Photoshop) and set it to Screen. I then copy-merged the icon and set to it Soft Light, of course erasing anything that didn't work.
For the third icon, I didn't add any textures. I colored my base, and then used Photoshop's merge-visible feature. I duplicated the new base and set it to Lighten. After that, I used the free-transform tool in Photoshop to resize the copy to something smaller and move it up a little. Adds a very nice texture-like effect which I like and abuse quite often, LOL. I love using Lighten, Hard Light or Pin Light blend modes to blend or add a different visual aspect to an icon. Sometimes I combine the effects of a texture and those blend modes. The result ends up looking really cool. Basically, just play around! Try out some blend modes you've never used before and experiment. The results can be awesome.
1.2 What texture/pattern/effect did you use for the first three Buffy icons in this post?
This effect is not a texture, it's actually a brush! I downloaded this set of brushes (called 'grungy grids') from a website. They were made by uglybusiness. The set (and the website, I think) are not available anymore, unfortunately. ): I don't use brushes that often in my icons, but when I do, the grid/pattern brush is my fave as a lot of you have noticed. *G* I usually add this brush to an icon as a finishing touch. On a new layer, I apply the brush in the color white, invert it (CTRL+I in Photoshop) and set it Soft Light, erasing as needed.
04. Text
1.1 I love your use of text. What are your favorite fonts?
Most of these can be found by using Google or dafont.com, except Alex Brush. That one was given to me by a friend and I won't share it, sorry.
1.2 I also find your text work amazing, so anything you have to say on the subject is awesome.
Below, I've added some of my personal tips and tricks for adding text to icons. These may work for you, they may not. The key is to always experiment.
a. My settings when adding text to icons.
Of course, this is just a starting point. I end up playing around with my settings alot!
b. A slight blurring and sharpening of the text will make it stand out nicely. But don't over-blur your text. A slight blur is ok, but overdoing it just looks sloppy and ugly. I know the blurred text is a trend these days, but I stay away from it. I like my icons to have readable text. *G*
c. Before rotating, resizing or moving text, I always rasterize (right-click on your text layer and select Rasterize type) and merge my text layers into one layer. I find it much easier to work with all the text on one layer rather than each layer separately. I'm lazy like that, LOL.
d. After rasterizing and merging my text, I use the Free-Transform tool to then move, shrink or rotate it.
e.
-> the best way to add text to an icon. Period.
f. Try to mix it up in your lines of text. Use a font on a regular setting for one line and add the same font in something like bold or italic for your next line. Or add one line of text at a small size and add your next line of text in a larger size. Make one word larger than the rest. The possibilities are endless!
g. Use colors in your text! Standard white works fine and dandy for most icons, but adding color to a line of text can really make it stand out and jazz it up. Use your color picker tool to select a color from your icon and use that color for a specific word or sentence.
h. Coming up blank on what your actual text will say? That's no problem. Don't be afraid to use dialogue or song lyrics on your icons
05. My Favorite Makers
1.1 Who are your favorite icon makers?
My top favorites:
arie_turner - She makes excellent BTVS, Veronica Mars & SPN icons - and I love her crossover icons a lot.
cakeholes - My all time top favorite SPN icon maker.
crystalchain - Jas makes the prettiest SPN icons around.
darlingbones - Cody is a fantastic, versatile & amazing icon maker. Her icons aren't just icons, they're art.
deadwillwalk - Jay's icons are breathtaking. He uses textures, light and text in really amazing ways, plus composition to DIE for.
drankmywar - Carla's icons are bright, vibrant and SO FUCKING PRETTY. Her icons are a must to check out.
fullonswayzeed - Jessi is my favorite White Collar icon maker. Loads of pretty colors to be found. She uses negative space in amazing ways too.
geckoholic - An all-around excellent graphics maker who makes fantastic SPN icons. Check out her picspams too!
imaginary_lives - Nathalie is my inspiration. Her coloring is so rich and vibrant and she can crop like nobody's business.
letoist - Lauren excels at composition. Her SPN icons are fantastic.
library_of_sex - Kim makes 100x100 squares of PURE. JOY. She excells at composition and texture use.
starbuck42084 - Steph makes such pretty, vibrant, colorful icons. I love her House and SPN icons the most.
superfire - Amelia is amazing with text, textures and overall compositions. She is among my most favorite SPN icon makers.
syxstring - Cael excells with coloring! An excellent all-around icon maker.
I should also mention:
24_amends
letsey_x
misstress_tink
neversince
neversleeps
nightcomes
prettybutt
skydawnjade
talitha-bee (formerly known as call_me_daisy)
xeyra