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Icon Tutorial
by seems
I've been getting a lot of questions about things, so what are we doing today? I'm showing you how to go from:
This TO
I'm working in Photoshop 7.0, so everything's easily translate-able to other programs and versions.
Experience: Beginner to Intermediate (step by step instructions)
Must have some knowledge of Photoshop/PSP programs.
All sources included.
Now, first thing's first.
1. Go open the image you're wanting to icon.
Now, take the rectangular crop tool, hold down shift and drag your mouse over the area you want the icon to be of. I prefer weird, obscure angles, so I don't even have an entire face in mine.
After you have your area selected, let go of all the keys/buttons, and go up to Edit > Cut. That will take the area you had selected and save it on your "clipboard". You can close your original image (be sure NOT to save changes, otherwise, you'll have a big empty space D:).
Go up to File > New. When the new window comes up, hit "Okay" and you'll have a blank space. Now, go to your menu stuff and get Edit > Paste. Now you have your selection by itself. Way to go, champ.
2. OKAY! Next step! (was that really all one step? WTF, MAN DX)
Go to Image > Resize Image. You'll get a window like this:
Make a few changes by changing the size to 100x100 and you'll have this:
Now your image is the right pixel size for an icon.
3. Okay, now we'll actually start doing things.
By first taking your image layer and copy it. You can do it a lot of different ways, doesn't really matter. Long as there's a copy. HEY! WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT PUTTING YOUR ASS IN THE COPY MACHINE?! DX
Anyway, now that you've got a copy of the original layer, we'll add an effect.
Go up to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur
Then, change the pixel radius to 2.0
Well, that doesn't look too pretty, now does it? So let's go here. On your "Layers" window, where it says "Normal"? Click the drop box and change the Blending Mode to Overlay.
Much better.
4. Well, it'd be better if the details stood out a bit more. SO. Go back to your original layer and go up to Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen.
Doesn't that already look better?
5. Okay, you're still doubting how I can make this look like that finished icon. Let's do this. Go open up a texture from Vered in a new window. Now, take that handy little rectangular select tool and pick out an area of the texture you want. After you have your area, take the Move tool (the black arrow with little directional keys next to the select tool) and drag the selection over to your icon window.
That...doesn't look very nice. Go back over to your layer blending options for your texture layer, and change it to overlay, then move it between the two image layers.
6. Still doubting, eh? Go up to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation.
In the next window, hit "Okay". In the next window, change the Saturation to -35
7. Between the texture layer and top image layer, make a new layer. Now, go take the fill tool and fill the layer with white. Then, change the blending option to overlay with an opacity of 50%
8. Allright, now. Make a new layer under that white layer. Go over to your Color Picker and pick a color. Any color. I chose this blue.
Take that color and fill in that layer.
That..also doesn't look very nice. Go and change the blending options to Vivid Light.
See? It's getting there.
9. OKAY. Since you're obviously still with me, go make a new layer on top of everything else. Then, zoom into the image once or twice. Get the rectangular select tool and get an area that's out of the way. Then, take the fill tool and fill it with white. Here's what mine looks like:
Then, go over to your Layers window and change the Fill to 81%. You'll want to keep it visible for your text to show up.
10. Now. Go and get your Text Tool, get any font you want (I use Times New Roman) and choose a font color that'll stand out against your image.
Go and put the curser at the beginning of that white bar, and put any text you want. I used "W O N D E R L A N D". The spaces always add a nice effect.
That doesn't stand out very much does it? Okay, let's do this:
On your layers window, you see that little circle button with the "f" on the left? Click that, and go to stroke
Now then, the next part goes basically like this. Change this:
to this:
See? I even showed you what to change. For those of you who can't see the image, you're changing the Pixel Size to 2 and the Stroke Color to white. Hit "Okay".
See? So much better.
11. THE HOME STRETCH! YOU'RE TOTALLY ALMOST THERE.
Now, go make a new layer. Anywhere. Doesn't matter where because this is all for your personal taste. Go over to your Brushes and choose an icon border brush set you want to use. I use a set from Hybrid Genesis. Very nice stuff. Choose what border you want to use and go center it over the layer. Then use it. Totally use it.
I don't really like how that looks, so what I'll do is move it around between layers to see what effect I like the best. I kind of like it right above the original image base.
12. LAST THING I SWEAR!
Now. Go zoom into the image two or three times so you're at 300%. Get your eraser tool and go erase around Sakura's mouth and chin. Now that text area bar won't be CENSORING HER GLEE. That and it looks nicer that way.
NOW! Zoom out. On the top of your layers window, there's a little arrow, click it and merge your layers. After that, you just go to File > Save As and save it to whatever filetype you prefer.
AND THAT'S IT! See? I told you I'd show you how to make that icon. NOW GO TRY SOME STUFF YOURSELF! Experiment! Not all of the effects I showed you work with every image, so it's good to experiment with different effects and move layers around to see how different things look. Happy iconning ♥
Also, that icon is free to use. Just be sure to credit either seems or safire-icons. YOU GUYS TOTALLY SAW IT HERE FIRST!
by seems
I've been getting a lot of questions about things, so what are we doing today? I'm showing you how to go from:
This TO
I'm working in Photoshop 7.0, so everything's easily translate-able to other programs and versions.
Experience: Beginner to Intermediate (step by step instructions)
Must have some knowledge of Photoshop/PSP programs.
All sources included.
Now, first thing's first.
1. Go open the image you're wanting to icon.
Now, take the rectangular crop tool, hold down shift and drag your mouse over the area you want the icon to be of. I prefer weird, obscure angles, so I don't even have an entire face in mine.
After you have your area selected, let go of all the keys/buttons, and go up to Edit > Cut. That will take the area you had selected and save it on your "clipboard". You can close your original image (be sure NOT to save changes, otherwise, you'll have a big empty space D:).
Go up to File > New. When the new window comes up, hit "Okay" and you'll have a blank space. Now, go to your menu stuff and get Edit > Paste. Now you have your selection by itself. Way to go, champ.
2. OKAY! Next step! (was that really all one step? WTF, MAN DX)
Go to Image > Resize Image. You'll get a window like this:
Make a few changes by changing the size to 100x100 and you'll have this:
Now your image is the right pixel size for an icon.
3. Okay, now we'll actually start doing things.
By first taking your image layer and copy it. You can do it a lot of different ways, doesn't really matter. Long as there's a copy. HEY! WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT PUTTING YOUR ASS IN THE COPY MACHINE?! DX
Anyway, now that you've got a copy of the original layer, we'll add an effect.
Go up to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur
Then, change the pixel radius to 2.0
Well, that doesn't look too pretty, now does it? So let's go here. On your "Layers" window, where it says "Normal"? Click the drop box and change the Blending Mode to Overlay.
Much better.
4. Well, it'd be better if the details stood out a bit more. SO. Go back to your original layer and go up to Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen.
Doesn't that already look better?
5. Okay, you're still doubting how I can make this look like that finished icon. Let's do this. Go open up a texture from Vered in a new window. Now, take that handy little rectangular select tool and pick out an area of the texture you want. After you have your area, take the Move tool (the black arrow with little directional keys next to the select tool) and drag the selection over to your icon window.
That...doesn't look very nice. Go back over to your layer blending options for your texture layer, and change it to overlay, then move it between the two image layers.
6. Still doubting, eh? Go up to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation.
In the next window, hit "Okay". In the next window, change the Saturation to -35
7. Between the texture layer and top image layer, make a new layer. Now, go take the fill tool and fill the layer with white. Then, change the blending option to overlay with an opacity of 50%
8. Allright, now. Make a new layer under that white layer. Go over to your Color Picker and pick a color. Any color. I chose this blue.
Take that color and fill in that layer.
That..also doesn't look very nice. Go and change the blending options to Vivid Light.
See? It's getting there.
9. OKAY. Since you're obviously still with me, go make a new layer on top of everything else. Then, zoom into the image once or twice. Get the rectangular select tool and get an area that's out of the way. Then, take the fill tool and fill it with white. Here's what mine looks like:
Then, go over to your Layers window and change the Fill to 81%. You'll want to keep it visible for your text to show up.
10. Now. Go and get your Text Tool, get any font you want (I use Times New Roman) and choose a font color that'll stand out against your image.
Go and put the curser at the beginning of that white bar, and put any text you want. I used "W O N D E R L A N D". The spaces always add a nice effect.
That doesn't stand out very much does it? Okay, let's do this:
On your layers window, you see that little circle button with the "f" on the left? Click that, and go to stroke
Now then, the next part goes basically like this. Change this:
to this:
See? I even showed you what to change. For those of you who can't see the image, you're changing the Pixel Size to 2 and the Stroke Color to white. Hit "Okay".
See? So much better.
11. THE HOME STRETCH! YOU'RE TOTALLY ALMOST THERE.
Now, go make a new layer. Anywhere. Doesn't matter where because this is all for your personal taste. Go over to your Brushes and choose an icon border brush set you want to use. I use a set from Hybrid Genesis. Very nice stuff. Choose what border you want to use and go center it over the layer. Then use it. Totally use it.
I don't really like how that looks, so what I'll do is move it around between layers to see what effect I like the best. I kind of like it right above the original image base.
12. LAST THING I SWEAR!
Now. Go zoom into the image two or three times so you're at 300%. Get your eraser tool and go erase around Sakura's mouth and chin. Now that text area bar won't be CENSORING HER GLEE. That and it looks nicer that way.
NOW! Zoom out. On the top of your layers window, there's a little arrow, click it and merge your layers. After that, you just go to File > Save As and save it to whatever filetype you prefer.
AND THAT'S IT! See? I told you I'd show you how to make that icon. NOW GO TRY SOME STUFF YOURSELF! Experiment! Not all of the effects I showed you work with every image, so it's good to experiment with different effects and move layers around to see how different things look. Happy iconning ♥
Also, that icon is free to use. Just be sure to credit either seems or safire-icons. YOU GUYS TOTALLY SAW IT HERE FIRST!