TUTORIAL #1: "Harry on the train" for Photoshop 7
So this tutorial is fairly simple, doesn't have *that* many layers, but plays a lot with subtle changes. The most important part is the beginning, so listen up! :)
We're going to be making this:
NB: This tutorial is for Photoshop 7. I expect you to know the tools on the toolbox, but will guide you to the right filters and adjustment-settings.
First, I started with this capture (it's my own, original is much larger but I resized it for convenience). I cropped it to 100x100px.
Then I went to Image >> Adjustments >> Levels, and pulled the bar for white till it was slightly over the histogram edge.
Next, I went to Image >> Adjustments >> Curves, brightened up the image by pulling a point upwards, then muted the contrast of the image by pulling another point slightly below the other, making a lovely reverse "S" curve. This took some of the excessive black out of the image. Don't worry, we'll be getting the contrast back by other means. :)
I also went in under Channel: RED in the "Curves" dialog box, pulled the line slightly upwards, and warmed the tone of the picture. If your cap is really blue, I also suggest going in under "Channel: BLUE" and pulling the line downwards, adding a bit of yellow to the image. Adding the red and yellow tones will make the picture more warm and realistic in colours.
When you're happy with the tone, click OK.
Now, go to Filters >> Sharpen >> Sharpen. I like the preset Sharpen filter because it makes images look really crisp and fresh. If your image, however is really grainy, the sharpen filter will only make it more so. To avoid this, use the Unsharp Mask instead, which will only sharpen the clear edges in the image (pull the amount bar up, radius around 1,0 px and adjust the Threshold to fit your liking).
My icon now looks like this:
Now duplicate the base twice. Desaturate the bottom base, leave the layer on Normal 100%. Set the second and third layer on Soft Light 100%.
The next step is more infamous than famous, but I feel that it looks quite nice on the icon. :) Add two new layers, fill the first with a beige colour (#D4C094) and the second with a dark blue (#001756). Set the beige layer on Overlay and around 30% opacity. Set the blue layer on Exclusion and opacity 30% (or less).
Next, add a new layer. Fill it with a gradient that goes from green to a slightly lighter green. The one I used is by crumblingwalls, I believe. Set the layer to Color Dodge and around 30%. If the icon is too bright, make it around 20%.
The icon now looks like this:
Now, add another layer with a green gradient, but a darker shade. (Mine is by crumblingwalls, again) Set the layer on Lighten, and pull the opacity down to 50%. (Sometimes I feel the magic number of 30% is enough. :) )
We now have this:
Well, that is spiffy, eh? but kind of bland, so I'm adding some texture to it. I used two light textures, one by gender, and the other by me.
I put both textures IN BETWEEN the two soft light base layers, the "arc" texture going above the other one. I desaturated the blue light texture, shifted it to be positioned over the background instead of Harry, and set it to Screen, 70% opacity. I set the second texture on Screen, too, 50% opacity. Then I added a layer mask on it, and blackened out the parts covering Harry.
We're almost done. I only added some text, in a light green colour, set in on Color Burn. It wasn't enough, so I duplicated it, took the duplicate below the original, and set it on Multiply 70%. I did some blibber-tiny-text and did the same settings as on the bigger text. Then I added a small brush effect below the text, on a new layer, set it to Soft Light 100%, and then I felt it was done!
Here's my final Layer Palette:
Any questions or did I leave something unclear? Feel free to ask.
We're going to be making this:
NB: This tutorial is for Photoshop 7. I expect you to know the tools on the toolbox, but will guide you to the right filters and adjustment-settings.
First, I started with this capture (it's my own, original is much larger but I resized it for convenience). I cropped it to 100x100px.
Then I went to Image >> Adjustments >> Levels, and pulled the bar for white till it was slightly over the histogram edge.
Next, I went to Image >> Adjustments >> Curves, brightened up the image by pulling a point upwards, then muted the contrast of the image by pulling another point slightly below the other, making a lovely reverse "S" curve. This took some of the excessive black out of the image. Don't worry, we'll be getting the contrast back by other means. :)
I also went in under Channel: RED in the "Curves" dialog box, pulled the line slightly upwards, and warmed the tone of the picture. If your cap is really blue, I also suggest going in under "Channel: BLUE" and pulling the line downwards, adding a bit of yellow to the image. Adding the red and yellow tones will make the picture more warm and realistic in colours.
When you're happy with the tone, click OK.
Now, go to Filters >> Sharpen >> Sharpen. I like the preset Sharpen filter because it makes images look really crisp and fresh. If your image, however is really grainy, the sharpen filter will only make it more so. To avoid this, use the Unsharp Mask instead, which will only sharpen the clear edges in the image (pull the amount bar up, radius around 1,0 px and adjust the Threshold to fit your liking).
My icon now looks like this:
Now duplicate the base twice. Desaturate the bottom base, leave the layer on Normal 100%. Set the second and third layer on Soft Light 100%.
The next step is more infamous than famous, but I feel that it looks quite nice on the icon. :) Add two new layers, fill the first with a beige colour (#D4C094) and the second with a dark blue (#001756). Set the beige layer on Overlay and around 30% opacity. Set the blue layer on Exclusion and opacity 30% (or less).
Next, add a new layer. Fill it with a gradient that goes from green to a slightly lighter green. The one I used is by crumblingwalls, I believe. Set the layer to Color Dodge and around 30%. If the icon is too bright, make it around 20%.
The icon now looks like this:
Now, add another layer with a green gradient, but a darker shade. (Mine is by crumblingwalls, again) Set the layer on Lighten, and pull the opacity down to 50%. (Sometimes I feel the magic number of 30% is enough. :) )
We now have this:
Well, that is spiffy, eh? but kind of bland, so I'm adding some texture to it. I used two light textures, one by gender, and the other by me.
I put both textures IN BETWEEN the two soft light base layers, the "arc" texture going above the other one. I desaturated the blue light texture, shifted it to be positioned over the background instead of Harry, and set it to Screen, 70% opacity. I set the second texture on Screen, too, 50% opacity. Then I added a layer mask on it, and blackened out the parts covering Harry.
We're almost done. I only added some text, in a light green colour, set in on Color Burn. It wasn't enough, so I duplicated it, took the duplicate below the original, and set it on Multiply 70%. I did some blibber-tiny-text and did the same settings as on the bigger text. Then I added a small brush effect below the text, on a new layer, set it to Soft Light 100%, and then I felt it was done!
Here's my final Layer Palette:
Any questions or did I leave something unclear? Feel free to ask.