Tutorial No. 5 -- Seth & Summer
As requested, I have a tutorial for this icon: 
This tutorial is written for PSP8 but it can be translated to other versions of PSP and probably Photoshop as well. :) It requires a fairly basic knowledge of the program and blend modes and such.
Fairly image-heavy...basically just 100x100 images.
I really loved the effect of this icon, so be VERY glad I remembered to save the .psp file. :) Otherwise, it would be much more difficult to recreate this icon. :)
Please don't copy this tutorial exactly. I mean, you can to learn how to do it, but for icons you're actually going to use, use other pictures. :)
Anyway, start with these two images of the oh-so-cute Seth and Summer on the coffee table at the kissing booth in the episode "The Telenovela." Screencaps by Screencap Paradise.
1 and 2.
Now crop the first cap into these dimensions: 100x38. (
) Then crop the second one into these dimensions: 100x48. (
)
They look really dull and dark, right? So duplicate each of the layers and set them to Screen at 100% opacity. Merge the layers and then go to Adjust >> Brightness/Contrast >> Clarify. When the dialog pops up set the Strength of effect to 1. Hit okay. See how the caps are just a teensy bit brighter? =D Sharpen both images.
Here's what I have for both images so far:
and
.
Kinda grainy. Take the Soften tool and smooth over all the skin that you can. On the first one you really just need to do Seth's face and on the second a little bit of his face and Summer's arm.
You should end up with this:
and
. Much better!
*Note*
I saved the steps as .jpgs, and that's why they may look a little grainy regardless, depending on your monitor.
*End Note*
Now create a new image, 100x100 with the background color #000000. Paste your smaller images onto it so you get this:
It's time to get to the REALLY fun stuff now, where it starts to look pretty! =D
Take this brush by 77words in #FFFFFF and put it on the icon:
It should fit exactly in between the two images so you can't see the edges. :) The problem is that now, there's white covering the top and bottom of Seth and Summer and it doesn't look too nice. So take your Eraser and erase just the top and bottom white parts.
See? All clear. =D
Now take this gradient by crumblingwalls and put it on a new layer.
Set it to Lighten at 100% opacity.
It now has a soft bluish glow. :)
Take another gradient (also by crumblingwalls) and again, put it on a new layer.
This time, set it to Exclusion, 100% opacity.
OOH! PURDY!! XD
We're all done except for text. I type in "Sethummer" in Century Gothic, 6 pt., anti-alias, bold, with kerning set at 500. Make sure you have the Auto Kerning box unchecked. Set the text layer to Soft Light. It's REALLY subtle, and you can barely read what it says. So duplicate the layer, and voilà! You have yourself a colorful Seth & Summer icon. :)
Remember to save your image as a .png, because the quality on those things just pwns me. My monitor doesn't do .jpgs any justice whatsoever, so I refuse to use them.
Another icon I made using this technique is this one of Ryan and Marissa:
I just flipped the brush and changed the kerning of the text to 300. :)
Hope you enjoyed this tutorial and that you learned some new stuff. If you want to show me what you made using this that'd be cool, but you don't have to.
This tutorial is written for PSP8 but it can be translated to other versions of PSP and probably Photoshop as well. :) It requires a fairly basic knowledge of the program and blend modes and such.
Fairly image-heavy...basically just 100x100 images.
I really loved the effect of this icon, so be VERY glad I remembered to save the .psp file. :) Otherwise, it would be much more difficult to recreate this icon. :)
Please don't copy this tutorial exactly. I mean, you can to learn how to do it, but for icons you're actually going to use, use other pictures. :)
Anyway, start with these two images of the oh-so-cute Seth and Summer on the coffee table at the kissing booth in the episode "The Telenovela." Screencaps by Screencap Paradise.
1 and 2.
Now crop the first cap into these dimensions: 100x38. (
) Then crop the second one into these dimensions: 100x48. (
)
They look really dull and dark, right? So duplicate each of the layers and set them to Screen at 100% opacity. Merge the layers and then go to Adjust >> Brightness/Contrast >> Clarify. When the dialog pops up set the Strength of effect to 1. Hit okay. See how the caps are just a teensy bit brighter? =D Sharpen both images.
Here's what I have for both images so far:
and
.
Kinda grainy. Take the Soften tool and smooth over all the skin that you can. On the first one you really just need to do Seth's face and on the second a little bit of his face and Summer's arm.
You should end up with this:
and
. Much better!
*Note*
I saved the steps as .jpgs, and that's why they may look a little grainy regardless, depending on your monitor.
*End Note*
Now create a new image, 100x100 with the background color #000000. Paste your smaller images onto it so you get this:
It's time to get to the REALLY fun stuff now, where it starts to look pretty! =D
Take this brush by 77words in #FFFFFF and put it on the icon:
It should fit exactly in between the two images so you can't see the edges. :) The problem is that now, there's white covering the top and bottom of Seth and Summer and it doesn't look too nice. So take your Eraser and erase just the top and bottom white parts.
See? All clear. =D
Now take this gradient by crumblingwalls and put it on a new layer.
Set it to Lighten at 100% opacity.
It now has a soft bluish glow. :)
Take another gradient (also by crumblingwalls) and again, put it on a new layer.
This time, set it to Exclusion, 100% opacity.
OOH! PURDY!! XD
We're all done except for text. I type in "Sethummer" in Century Gothic, 6 pt., anti-alias, bold, with kerning set at 500. Make sure you have the Auto Kerning box unchecked. Set the text layer to Soft Light. It's REALLY subtle, and you can barely read what it says. So duplicate the layer, and voilà! You have yourself a colorful Seth & Summer icon. :)
Remember to save your image as a .png, because the quality on those things just pwns me. My monitor doesn't do .jpgs any justice whatsoever, so I refuse to use them.
Another icon I made using this technique is this one of Ryan and Marissa:
I just flipped the brush and changed the kerning of the text to 300. :)
Hope you enjoyed this tutorial and that you learned some new stuff. If you want to show me what you made using this that'd be cool, but you don't have to.