(no subject)
Requested by deternot at Ask The Maker. :) (Sorry this is late!)
Also, sorry if this looks a bit messy!
Let's begin with image-picking. I tend to pick screencaps that already have a "soft" look like these:
I think it makes the outcome better. :)
And now to the most important part: the coloring!
The keywords to muted coloring are: soft light color fills, gradient maps and keeping it simple!
Take a look at these icons:
They're all really just brightened and with a tiny bit color change.
Before:
This is after some brightening and contrast:
Icon #1 has a white and brown gradient on 20% opacity to mute it a bit more. A Curves layer for brightness and a couple of gradient maps, one on soft light and one normal. The opacity is lowered on both.
Icon #2 only has a couple of screen layers and soft light layers with gaussian blur.
Icon #3 only has one screen layer.
Icon #1, now it's only some brightening, sharpening and a little bit of red added with curves left to do.
Icon #2, A blue/purple-ish color fill layer on soft light. A curves layer to add some pink. A gradient map with #320f2a and #ebe6ce set to 50% opacity. I love this gradient! Last but not least a bit of brightening and sharpening and done!
Icon #3, this is the simplest icon of them all. Just a gradient map on soft light with the same gradient as above. And a curves to add some pink and brighten up a bit.
In general, keeping is simple is the thing. Don't go overboard!
If you need any more explanations or anything, please ask! Hope this was helpful. :)