061: tutorials!
Since i'm being part of the "Ask the Maker" meme up @ icon_talk i'm posting two tutorial that has been requested!
You can still ask me stuff so don't be shy and go here to ask!
Soon will come a blending ~guide~ (i'm still trying to get how to write a guide about something i don't know how i do XD) and a list of favourite textures! not sure about the other two tutorial requested because i don't remember anything about those icons, especially about the coloring.
Anyway! TUTS down here!
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Okay, first let me apologize for my english, i know that there will be mistakes and I ask you to ignore them; i will try my best to make everything clear!
♦ One of the most annoying thing i used to do with my original images was: duplicate base » screen 100% » duplicate again » softlight 100%, now i use curves because i prefer them, they're faster and since i've started working directly on 100x100 canvas is useful. but still here i prepared my base caps and then i merged all the layers, copied and pasted it into a new 100x100 canvas.
♦ for the background i've basically used the smudge tool but first i've duplicated my dany layers, just because i make a lot of mistakes and i didn't want to risk anything. i applied a mask to this new layer and i hid it, i'm not really gonna use it, but still, you'll understand why i made it! anyway, the background was ~easy~ to make; it's all smudged.
i've used a round mid-soft brush around 9px, and followed the basic colour: the green grass and the sky (which was a cute light beige) i made you a """""scheme""""
sorry if it's not that good! but it's just for an understanding purpose, you can basically smudge however you want. i just love a lot having lights on top.
no need to say that i didn't smudge over dany BUT if you want, you can do this, smudge her over and get some other colours instead of just two; the layer i duplicated before was because of this! if you want to smudge her, duplicate your base and then mask away the background around the figure, you'll have a well defined subject and very pretty smudged background!
this is something i've noticed while coloring, but still, i'll tell you now, i've added some soft-rounded-brush with #e6edec
on the left side of my icon because the coloring made it dark and dull and i did not like it. this is how the layer looked like. (set on normal fill 86%)
colouring part is pretty funny indeed; as a base i've used a gradient you can made it yourself, pick these colors #e6d9ca and #3e2d18 first one on the left and second on the right; my setting is this one
set on OVERLAY 100%; then i duplicate this gradient fill layer and set the new one on softlight; no need to change angle or whatever.
after i've added a color fill layer with a deep green #009036 and set it on softlight 74%
!! i always edit the "Fill" %%, not the opacity one, not sure why but i prefer this one.
okay then a curve layer, i'm sorry i can't put the numbers of every point, but i made you a stamp, so you can see how it looks
»
it was pretty like this, but in that moment i was kinda raged (LOL) and i wanted it to be fresh and vibrant (and i wanted to make people eyes bleed) so i added a colorfill layer with #009dd7 and
set it on vivid light at 33%
then now it gets a bit messy! since i liked the colour at the curves i wanted to keep some of the warm so instead of using textures (i'm not really good with these!) i've used the brush tool; i'm gonna show you how (sorry it the explanation for these layers sucks)
»
softlight 100%
»
softlight 100%
»
screen 31%
now even this one might be complicated; for the lower pink part i've used the color balance with these setting:
then since this was too much, i had to mask away a bit, and use the gaussian blur on the mask to get a softer edge and a decend blend of colours like this
as you mai notice, i've turned the mask BLACK and then paited on it; you should know better than me how masks works, so basically, i've painted on it and used the gaussian blur; on the layer print you can clearly see that i've added another orange-painted layer:
»
this one is set on overlay at 54%
next is this texture by nokitas
i've rotated it (180°) and inverted then set on softlight 100%
the color was done, but since i didn't quite liked it i've a texture on it (before sharpening):
by innocent_lexys
i just rotated it (180°) and set it on screen.
as it comes for sharpening, i'm still unsure how i did it, so i'm gonna show you how i would do it now.
on the left is the icon not sharpened; pretty and sweet and stuff; on the right is the icon after i've used the high pass filter; basically i don't know how it works but i know that it looks good for sharpening. what you need to do is to merge all layers or copy them all (select the icon and ctrl + c + caps) paste this copy of your icon on top and set it on softlight, then use the filter » others » high pass; then you can play with the value and see what changes, for this icon i've used 1,4.
»
i hope everything is clear, if not, feel free to ask! =) other tuts will come!
»
»
Once again, forgive whatever mistake i might make and let me know if the tut's clear enough, i will try to make images of what i think it's too difficult.
First thing first, i've snagged two caps from the amazing emmahyphenjane
@ disparue; both caps had a black background so it was easy to blend them; i've used the doctor one as a base, i masked the layer and painted over the lower bottom (it has the border, and i didn't want it to show up!)
then i've pasted rose on top and set her on screen
i copied both layer (ctrl+caps+c), pasted the copy and set it on screen too; because i need to light te colours up!
next i picked the gradient map black white and i set it on softlight 40% (fill, not opacity)this gave the black more deepness.
some pimping for the colors with the vibrance tool with these numbers: +75 / +9
another colour fill layer #420a27 set on screen 100% (this is something i like very much!)
then gradient map again, using the violet, orange this time, set on softlight 100%
another gradient map this time i made an image of what the gradient looks like because it's one of my self-made one! for the colour code use the drop tool on the little quares!
this gradient need to be set on softlight 100%
this is what you'll get.
then again another gradient map layer, this time will be a black and white one set on softlight 50%
a new levels adjustment like the image (you need to edit only the rgb part)
now a black/white adjustment with these numbers
next is the texture part! i've used
this texture by ?? (i forgot, because it has been on my hard drive for a while now, if you know the maker please let me know!) i've rotated it (90°) and set it on screen, after this i've use da gradient map layer to give the texture a orange/vintage colour; the gradiend was the violet, orange one and, after creating the layer i clipped it to the texture.
to finish things up, i made a new levels adjustment like this one to give the icon a dirty look.
DONE!
let me know if something's not clear and forgive my way too long rants =)
You can still ask me stuff so don't be shy and go here to ask!
Soon will come a blending ~guide~ (i'm still trying to get how to write a guide about something i don't know how i do XD) and a list of favourite textures! not sure about the other two tutorial requested because i don't remember anything about those icons, especially about the coloring.
Anyway! TUTS down here!
»
»
»
»
Okay, first let me apologize for my english, i know that there will be mistakes and I ask you to ignore them; i will try my best to make everything clear!
♦ One of the most annoying thing i used to do with my original images was: duplicate base » screen 100% » duplicate again » softlight 100%, now i use curves because i prefer them, they're faster and since i've started working directly on 100x100 canvas is useful. but still here i prepared my base caps and then i merged all the layers, copied and pasted it into a new 100x100 canvas.
♦ for the background i've basically used the smudge tool but first i've duplicated my dany layers, just because i make a lot of mistakes and i didn't want to risk anything. i applied a mask to this new layer and i hid it, i'm not really gonna use it, but still, you'll understand why i made it! anyway, the background was ~easy~ to make; it's all smudged.
i've used a round mid-soft brush around 9px, and followed the basic colour: the green grass and the sky (which was a cute light beige) i made you a """""scheme""""
sorry if it's not that good! but it's just for an understanding purpose, you can basically smudge however you want. i just love a lot having lights on top.
no need to say that i didn't smudge over dany BUT if you want, you can do this, smudge her over and get some other colours instead of just two; the layer i duplicated before was because of this! if you want to smudge her, duplicate your base and then mask away the background around the figure, you'll have a well defined subject and very pretty smudged background!
this is something i've noticed while coloring, but still, i'll tell you now, i've added some soft-rounded-brush with #e6edec
on the left side of my icon because the coloring made it dark and dull and i did not like it. this is how the layer looked like. (set on normal fill 86%)
colouring part is pretty funny indeed; as a base i've used a gradient you can made it yourself, pick these colors #e6d9ca and #3e2d18 first one on the left and second on the right; my setting is this one
set on OVERLAY 100%; then i duplicate this gradient fill layer and set the new one on softlight; no need to change angle or whatever.
after i've added a color fill layer with a deep green #009036 and set it on softlight 74%
!! i always edit the "Fill" %%, not the opacity one, not sure why but i prefer this one.
okay then a curve layer, i'm sorry i can't put the numbers of every point, but i made you a stamp, so you can see how it looks
»
it was pretty like this, but in that moment i was kinda raged (LOL) and i wanted it to be fresh and vibrant (and i wanted to make people eyes bleed) so i added a colorfill layer with #009dd7 and
set it on vivid light at 33%
then now it gets a bit messy! since i liked the colour at the curves i wanted to keep some of the warm so instead of using textures (i'm not really good with these!) i've used the brush tool; i'm gonna show you how (sorry it the explanation for these layers sucks)
»
softlight 100%
»
softlight 100%
»
screen 31%
now even this one might be complicated; for the lower pink part i've used the color balance with these setting:
then since this was too much, i had to mask away a bit, and use the gaussian blur on the mask to get a softer edge and a decend blend of colours like this
as you mai notice, i've turned the mask BLACK and then paited on it; you should know better than me how masks works, so basically, i've painted on it and used the gaussian blur; on the layer print you can clearly see that i've added another orange-painted layer:
»
this one is set on overlay at 54%
next is this texture by nokitas
i've rotated it (180°) and inverted then set on softlight 100%
the color was done, but since i didn't quite liked it i've a texture on it (before sharpening):
by innocent_lexys
i just rotated it (180°) and set it on screen.
as it comes for sharpening, i'm still unsure how i did it, so i'm gonna show you how i would do it now.
on the left is the icon not sharpened; pretty and sweet and stuff; on the right is the icon after i've used the high pass filter; basically i don't know how it works but i know that it looks good for sharpening. what you need to do is to merge all layers or copy them all (select the icon and ctrl + c + caps) paste this copy of your icon on top and set it on softlight, then use the filter » others » high pass; then you can play with the value and see what changes, for this icon i've used 1,4.
»
i hope everything is clear, if not, feel free to ask! =) other tuts will come!
»
»
Once again, forgive whatever mistake i might make and let me know if the tut's clear enough, i will try to make images of what i think it's too difficult.
First thing first, i've snagged two caps from the amazing emmahyphenjane
@ disparue; both caps had a black background so it was easy to blend them; i've used the doctor one as a base, i masked the layer and painted over the lower bottom (it has the border, and i didn't want it to show up!)
then i've pasted rose on top and set her on screen
i copied both layer (ctrl+caps+c), pasted the copy and set it on screen too; because i need to light te colours up!
next i picked the gradient map black white and i set it on softlight 40% (fill, not opacity)this gave the black more deepness.
some pimping for the colors with the vibrance tool with these numbers: +75 / +9
another colour fill layer #420a27 set on screen 100% (this is something i like very much!)
then gradient map again, using the violet, orange this time, set on softlight 100%
another gradient map this time i made an image of what the gradient looks like because it's one of my self-made one! for the colour code use the drop tool on the little quares!
this gradient need to be set on softlight 100%
this is what you'll get.
then again another gradient map layer, this time will be a black and white one set on softlight 50%
a new levels adjustment like the image (you need to edit only the rgb part)
now a black/white adjustment with these numbers
next is the texture part! i've used
this texture by ?? (i forgot, because it has been on my hard drive for a while now, if you know the maker please let me know!) i've rotated it (90°) and set it on screen, after this i've use da gradient map layer to give the texture a orange/vintage colour; the gradiend was the violet, orange one and, after creating the layer i clipped it to the texture.
to finish things up, i made a new levels adjustment like this one to give the icon a dirty look.
DONE!
let me know if something's not clear and forgive my way too long rants =)