Bright coloring/masking
Go from 
to
in GIMP.
1.) Duplicate your base, then open up your curves (in GIMP, this is done by going to Layer>Colors>Curves). I love using the following curves:
RGB/Value
Red
Green
Blue
These curves cause the icon to take on a really purpley-blue coloring. Still under the "normal, 100%" layer mode, your layer should look like this:
Set that layer to Overlay, 100%. Then you should have this:
2.) Create a new layer. Using the color #fdd9ff, I made this gradient:
And set it to Overlay 100%. (Oh, just as a side note - there is no real Soft Light in GIMP, which is why I never say to use Soft Light in my tutorials. There is an option for it, but it's the exact same as Overlay. Keep this in mind when following tutorials.) Your icon should look like this:
3.) New layer. Using #bdded2, I made this gradient:
And set it to Burn, 100%. Icon should now look like this:
4.) Duplicate the gradient in step 3. Keep the layer mode as Burn 100%. Icon:
5.) Create a new layer and set this texture (made by me - credit if you use, please) to Grain Merge 60%.
The icon should now look like this:
6.) That's ugly, in my opinion. I just want the sky to be blue, so I erased Orlando Bloom and Johnny Depp by using a layer mask. This way, if I mess up with the erasing I can always go back and paint back over it to undo my mistake. In GIMP, you can do this by right-clicking on the layer (make sure it's the texture layer!) and going to Layer>Mask>Add Layer Mask. It'll then ask you what type of mask you want - pick the white one (full opacity). Then, using your paintbrush tool, paint black (#000000) over the people. Don't forget that if you mess up, you can always paint over your mistake using white. Your layer mask (alone) should look like this (or something similar):
However, as a whole, this is how your icon should now look:
7.) You're done with the coloring! Merge all your layers (Ctrl+M). Then create a new layer and paste this texture (also made by me... please credit if you use) and KEEP the layer mode at Normal 100%.
8.) Duplicate your base and bring it to the top. Once again, we're going to be adding a layer mask! Add a new white layer mask to your duplicated base layer and paste this brush (I can't remember who I got it from - if you know whose it is, please let me know) onto the mask layer.
Then your icon should look like this:
9.) Now I just added text around the borders. I used RedStar Bold in this one, size 4. I just typed out "captain jack sparrow and will turner" and duplicated the text layer 3 times, rotating them all so that they surrounded the icon, like this:
You're done!
Layers
Steps 1-6
Steps 7-9
to
in GIMP.
1.) Duplicate your base, then open up your curves (in GIMP, this is done by going to Layer>Colors>Curves). I love using the following curves:
RGB/Value
Red
Green
Blue
These curves cause the icon to take on a really purpley-blue coloring. Still under the "normal, 100%" layer mode, your layer should look like this:
Set that layer to Overlay, 100%. Then you should have this:
2.) Create a new layer. Using the color #fdd9ff, I made this gradient:
And set it to Overlay 100%. (Oh, just as a side note - there is no real Soft Light in GIMP, which is why I never say to use Soft Light in my tutorials. There is an option for it, but it's the exact same as Overlay. Keep this in mind when following tutorials.) Your icon should look like this:
3.) New layer. Using #bdded2, I made this gradient:
And set it to Burn, 100%. Icon should now look like this:
4.) Duplicate the gradient in step 3. Keep the layer mode as Burn 100%. Icon:
5.) Create a new layer and set this texture (made by me - credit if you use, please) to Grain Merge 60%.
The icon should now look like this:
6.) That's ugly, in my opinion. I just want the sky to be blue, so I erased Orlando Bloom and Johnny Depp by using a layer mask. This way, if I mess up with the erasing I can always go back and paint back over it to undo my mistake. In GIMP, you can do this by right-clicking on the layer (make sure it's the texture layer!) and going to Layer>Mask>Add Layer Mask. It'll then ask you what type of mask you want - pick the white one (full opacity). Then, using your paintbrush tool, paint black (#000000) over the people. Don't forget that if you mess up, you can always paint over your mistake using white. Your layer mask (alone) should look like this (or something similar):
However, as a whole, this is how your icon should now look:
7.) You're done with the coloring! Merge all your layers (Ctrl+M). Then create a new layer and paste this texture (also made by me... please credit if you use) and KEEP the layer mode at Normal 100%.
8.) Duplicate your base and bring it to the top. Once again, we're going to be adding a layer mask! Add a new white layer mask to your duplicated base layer and paste this brush (I can't remember who I got it from - if you know whose it is, please let me know) onto the mask layer.
Then your icon should look like this:
9.) Now I just added text around the borders. I used RedStar Bold in this one, size 4. I just typed out "captain jack sparrow and will turner" and duplicated the text layer 3 times, rotating them all so that they surrounded the icon, like this:
You're done!
Layers
Steps 1-6
Steps 7-9
