Icon Tutorial ::: 001.
Okay, so I'm gonna share with you one of my favoritest colouring techniques. :) Hope you like.
Go from this to this in just a few easy steps! :) BTW, I used GIMP for this, but it's totally translatable.
001) Start off with your 100x100 base. Sharpen to whatever you think looks best. I'll be using this cute Miku picture.
002) Depending on your base, you might want to copy the base layer and screen it. [I didn't bc my base is so bright already.]
003) Make a new layer and fill it with #F5CA97. Set to Multiply at 65%.
004) Make another new layer and fill it with #09A7A5. Set to Screen at 40%.
005) Make yet another new layer and fill it with #FFCCDD. Set to Overlay at 27%. Doesn't seem like much impact, but that's how I did it. XD
006) Merge layers/flatten image.
007) Go to Layer > Colors > Color Balance.
-midtones-
cyan/red = -27
magenta/green = -29
yellow/blue = 21
-dontchangeshadows-
-highlights-
cyan/red = -16
magenta/green = -23
yellow/blue = -6
008) Copy base, set it to Overlay at 75%.
And there you go! :) I added a brush after step 8.
You can fiddle around it with it some more, and of course, you don't always need to use the exact opacities I tell you to.
Just have fun with it and make it your own.
My Final Result
PS. If you use that icon, remember to credit
muffin_xx
PPS. I'd love to see what YOUR final result is! <3