Coloring Tutorial

[ongiara]

Go from
to
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For PS CS2 or up. Psd-file included.



1. from
to

We’re on the base layer. Copy it once. Go to
Image > Adjustments > Shadow/Highlight
I used the following settings:

Shadows
• Amount: 35%
• Tonal Width: 10%
• Radius: 2500px

Adjustments
• Color Correction: +60
• Midtone Contrast: 0
• Black Clip: 0%
• White Clip: 0%

For future icons, it is best to do this step last since it allows you to play around with the settings and see the effect on the resulting icon immediately.

2. from
to

We will sharpen the image now.
Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen

Some of the edges got a bit too sharp. Therefore, from your tools bar, choose the blur tool with a round brush of about 5 pixels in size.
Mode: normal and Strength: 20%.
Then go over parts of the image you want to smooth out a bit.

3. from
to

Add a color balance layer.
Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Color Balance
MidtonesHighlightsShadows
-10+9+11
+10+2-4
-10-2-4

4. from
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Change saturation levels.
Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation
Master:+21
Yellows:-16
Greens-42
Blues+20
Magentas-26

5. from
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Add a selective colors layer.
Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Selective Colors

Reds
• Cyan: -100
• Yellow: +70
• Black: +2

Yellows
• Yellow: -58
• Black: +16

Blacks
• Black: +9

6. from
to

Copy the previous selective coloring layer.
Take the eraser tool from the tool bar. Put the opacity to 30% and go over his skin areas to reduce the red in that part of the picture.

7. from
to

Add a new layer.
Layer > New > Layer
Fill it with a light blue (#bae5f2). Choose Overlay as layer mode and reduce the opacity to 40%.

Take the eraser tool and erase everything around Dean.

8. from
to

Add yet another new layer.
Layer > New > Layer
Fill it with a grey (#aaaaaa). Change to layer mode vivid light and reduce opacity to 20%.

And you’re done!

Download the psd-file if you want.

Other icons made using this technique:





Comments and criticism much appreciated!