Buffy icons

[chic_c]

In the stifling August heat I've put together a small batch of icons all about Buffy, mini guest @ nekid_spike.
Most are challenge entries for the awesome comm otherworldlyric, please have a look and join the fun!

Teasers:

Comments

[red_satin_doll]

LOVE THESE BUFFY ICONS! My favorites: 1 - 4 (gorgeous use of fonts in these), 5, 8, 10, 12 (how do you achieve that luminosity?), 19 & 20. (I tried to make one of my own with the image in 20 but couldn't get it to come out the way you have.) I will probably be snagging some of these babies.

[chic_c]

Thank you heaps my dear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love iconing Buffy and I'm so happy you like my efforts. ♥

As you probably know I use PS and there are several ways to brighten the dark caps: first I try auto levels, stamp the result, duplicate and set the new layers to screen and to soft light. Alternatively I use a brightness adjustment layer which is useful for contrast too.
After adding textures and colouring I usually finish with a curves adjustment layer for the final hues and brightness.

In the selfie icon I used the vibrancy adjustment layer a couple of times to increase saturation (masking the skin) and coloured the hair in various separate layers (set to multiply and soft light). I hope you find this helpful.

There are so many options and I'm no expert, as always I experiment and see what works better with the pic. I just wish I knew more about the technicalities, but I lack both time and patience to study. :)