Tutorial+PSD ♥
wandererjulia asked for a tutorial of Split and I couldn't resist, so here I am!
This icon is easy to do and no Vibrance is involved, so any PS version is fine.
From 1 and 2 to
Step 1) Composition
wandererjulia was very curious about the blending. Well, there is no blending at all: my idea was to make a division that could remind a paper torn (it seemed to me so dramatic, I don't know :D), so I just cut one of the pictures with a Layer Mask.
Anyway, let's start from the beginning!
Open a new 100x100 px canvas and paste the picture with Sawyer (the hot guy :D). Resize it and extend the background using the Smudge Tool ( here is a lovely tutorial about the background extension, if you need).
>
Paste and resize the second picture (the one with Kate) until the icon looks like that:
Now, let’s make the rip!
I made it with this brush (well, it's a texture but I made it as a brush. If you have a similar brush, you can use it, but if you want this one, just open the texture in PS then Edit > Define brush preset).
Using a Layer Mask and that brush, erase the part of Kate's picture that cover Sawyer; don't exaggerate with the eraser and try to keep Kate's face clean. Anyway, my Layer Mask looks like that:
And the composition is done!
Step 2) Sharpen
I recently found another little trick to improve the sharpening without lose any quality (thanks to my lovely tinebrella, as usual ♥♥) and I use it before I do anything else because I think that in this way the quality is quite preserved even if I use a strong coloring.
Duplicate the copy-merged layer (select all the icon then Edit > Copy Merged and Paste), then use the Gaussian Blur (Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur) with 2,3 px of radius and drop the layer opacity until the icon appears just a little blurry (my opacity is at 53%).
Copy-merged again and use the High Pass filter to improve the sharpening (Filter > Other > High Pass) with 3,6 px of radius. Set the layer on Soft Light, opacity 100%.
>
Copy-merged for the last time and use the Sharpen (Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen). Drop the opacity if you like (I didn't touch it).
Step 3) Brighteness and Background
Create a Curves layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves). Click on Auto and play a little with the RGB Curve to improve the brighteness (here is my Curves layer):
Now it's time to even out the backgrounds. I just covered the sea and the sky with two colors that I picked in the icon itself with the Eyedropper Tool, but you can do that in any way you like. There's no need to be accurate: just pay attention to not cover Sawyer and Kate.
Step 4) Black&White and Final Steps
Add a B/W Gradient Map (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map) set on Normal (opacity 100%).
As you can see, one background is brighter than the other, but not so much. To improve that Chiaroscuro, use a soft brush (I chose the same brush I used before) in a new layer set on Soft Light and add some white on the left and some black on the right. Drop the opacity of the layer as you like.
>
The B/W is done and the Chiaroscuro too, but the icon seems a little flat. With a soft white brush, add some lights on Kate's cheek, on Sawyer's head and on everything you want brighter. Set the layer/s on Normal/Soft Light (your choice) and drop the opacity/fill as you like (I usually drop them a lot). In the same way, add some shadows on the rip using a black or a dark grey brush.
Now, texture time! I liked the idea of a "painted effect" so I added two textures that could give me that idea. (both texture are made by fuuurs @ aquatilitis)
Set this one on Esclusion (opacity 21%) and erase the part that covers the rip.
Set this one on Soft Light (opacity 33%) and erase the parts that cover Sawyer and Kate.
The icon is almost finished but it needs some contrast.
Create a new Curves layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves) on Auto and drop the layer opacity on 64%. Add another B/W Gradient Map (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map) and the icon is done!
(download PSD)
caps © rawr-caps
Well, I hope that the tutorial is quite easy and understandable, but if you have any questions/comment/everything please let me know!
And if you want any PSD or tutorial (seriously? :D) just ask: I'm very glad to share! ♥
This icon is easy to do and no Vibrance is involved, so any PS version is fine.
From 1 and 2 to
Step 1) Composition
wandererjulia was very curious about the blending. Well, there is no blending at all: my idea was to make a division that could remind a paper torn (it seemed to me so dramatic, I don't know :D), so I just cut one of the pictures with a Layer Mask.
Anyway, let's start from the beginning!
Open a new 100x100 px canvas and paste the picture with Sawyer (the hot guy :D). Resize it and extend the background using the Smudge Tool ( here is a lovely tutorial about the background extension, if you need).
>
Paste and resize the second picture (the one with Kate) until the icon looks like that:
Now, let’s make the rip!
I made it with this brush (well, it's a texture but I made it as a brush. If you have a similar brush, you can use it, but if you want this one, just open the texture in PS then Edit > Define brush preset).
Using a Layer Mask and that brush, erase the part of Kate's picture that cover Sawyer; don't exaggerate with the eraser and try to keep Kate's face clean. Anyway, my Layer Mask looks like that:
And the composition is done!
Step 2) Sharpen
I recently found another little trick to improve the sharpening without lose any quality (thanks to my lovely tinebrella, as usual ♥♥) and I use it before I do anything else because I think that in this way the quality is quite preserved even if I use a strong coloring.
Duplicate the copy-merged layer (select all the icon then Edit > Copy Merged and Paste), then use the Gaussian Blur (Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur) with 2,3 px of radius and drop the layer opacity until the icon appears just a little blurry (my opacity is at 53%).
Copy-merged again and use the High Pass filter to improve the sharpening (Filter > Other > High Pass) with 3,6 px of radius. Set the layer on Soft Light, opacity 100%.
>
Copy-merged for the last time and use the Sharpen (Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen). Drop the opacity if you like (I didn't touch it).
Step 3) Brighteness and Background
Create a Curves layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves). Click on Auto and play a little with the RGB Curve to improve the brighteness (here is my Curves layer):
Now it's time to even out the backgrounds. I just covered the sea and the sky with two colors that I picked in the icon itself with the Eyedropper Tool, but you can do that in any way you like. There's no need to be accurate: just pay attention to not cover Sawyer and Kate.
Step 4) Black&White and Final Steps
Add a B/W Gradient Map (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map) set on Normal (opacity 100%).
As you can see, one background is brighter than the other, but not so much. To improve that Chiaroscuro, use a soft brush (I chose the same brush I used before) in a new layer set on Soft Light and add some white on the left and some black on the right. Drop the opacity of the layer as you like.
>
The B/W is done and the Chiaroscuro too, but the icon seems a little flat. With a soft white brush, add some lights on Kate's cheek, on Sawyer's head and on everything you want brighter. Set the layer/s on Normal/Soft Light (your choice) and drop the opacity/fill as you like (I usually drop them a lot). In the same way, add some shadows on the rip using a black or a dark grey brush.
Now, texture time! I liked the idea of a "painted effect" so I added two textures that could give me that idea. (both texture are made by fuuurs @ aquatilitis)
Set this one on Esclusion (opacity 21%) and erase the part that covers the rip.
Set this one on Soft Light (opacity 33%) and erase the parts that cover Sawyer and Kate.
The icon is almost finished but it needs some contrast.
Create a new Curves layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves) on Auto and drop the layer opacity on 64%. Add another B/W Gradient Map (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map) and the icon is done!
(download PSD)
caps © rawr-caps
Well, I hope that the tutorial is quite easy and understandable, but if you have any questions/comment/everything please let me know!
And if you want any PSD or tutorial (seriously? :D) just ask: I'm very glad to share! ♥