Tutorial 04 - Harry Potter - Ron Weasley
This is a tutorial made for use with Photoshop 7.0
It requires good knowledge of Photoshop functions, blend modes, etc.
Curves are used but I have included screencaps of settings so hopefully they will be clear.
All I ask is please don't copy this tutorial exactly, but use it as a starting point for your own experimentation.
This is the icon I've chosen to use to demonstrate
this technique.
I began with this screencap that I took from the
film myself.
Obviously the screencap isn't fantastic yet. Begin
by using the marquee tool to select the area you'd
like to use for your icon. Crop creatively! :-)
I chopped Harry out of the picture because I really
liked the side-profile of Ron here, and wanted to
focus on him. Also his profile works well being
put along the edge of the icon. Resize to 100x100.
Ok, now for the colouring, yay! Obviously this
screencap isn't looking too hot right now; it's
dark, dull and muddy brown. Firstly, lighten
your image up by duplicating the layer and
setting it to 'screen' on 100% or whatever
is appropriate to your image. I find it very
helpful when working with curves to use a nice,
light base so you can really see the colour
changes.
Just to quickly mention, I didn't sharpen my
base for this icon. I prefered the soft effect
that the resizing left, but you can always
sharpen your base after applying the screen
layers if you prefer yours pretty perky!
Ok, first curves layer. New > layer > Curves.
Rgb mode.
This helps you increase contrast by
lightening highlights and darkening shadows.
First click - Input 16 Output 2
Second click - Input 194 Output 255
Your base should have brightened up a little
and have more depth. And be generally cooler. XD
Second curves layer.
Choose 'red' from the arrow at the top.
Using red mode, we can bright out the
greens and blues in the icon and pick out
the reds, like in Ron's hair.
First click - Input 187 Output 47
Second click - Input 169 Output 159
See the background go such a nicer green colour?
Yay for negative red! Here's mine.
Third curves layer.
Choose 'green' from the arrow at the top.
Now we can add soft magenta tones to the base, and
pick out detail such as the sweets on the trolley.
Don't over-do the reds, I find the greener end
of the spectrum is the best.
First click - Input 84 Output 61
Second click - Input 175 Output 172
It really helps the lollies pop out and become
vivid. And Ron's jumper looks less of a cacky brown.
Fourth curves layer.
Choose 'blue' from the arrow at the top.
Being the final layer, we can increase blue tones
for a calmer, softer look.
Just one click here, Input 48 Output 65
Here's the result
Finished! Flatten all layers and save as a .png or .jpeg
or whatever. I mean um no, always save your .psd's like I
didn't, or you'll kick yourself later on!
All you need to do is carefully go through each colour
mode in curves, and experiment to see what makes your
image look best. Curves are awesome, as I recently
discovered. Don't run away from them! Plus you can
sound a little more clever when you can say you
understand them. :-)
Here are a few example of icons I made using this technique.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask below.
Please post your own wonderful creations, too!
♥