Tutorial 003
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This is the second tutorial for likealight from the Ask the Maker meme at icon_talk. I'm so late with all of them and I'm sorry about that. I'll try to write the rest really soon! :)
Step 1
I added a new curves layer to brighten the base. I brightened all the colored channels, this layer brightens from the highlights. I added another curves layer that brightens the mid-tones.
layer 1:
layer 2:
>>
Step 2
See, now it's nice and bright, but it also looks a bit washed-out. It needs color and debt. I added a bightness/contrast layer with +13 on both scales. I set it on soft light and lowered the opacity to 22%. I added another brightness/contrast layer with contrast +35.
>>
Step 3
Soft light layers. And lots of them :P It looks a bit pale now, and I want to add more color.
This is how it looks on a white background:
It looks a bit silly XD This is actually 4 soft light layers. Adding the different details and colors on separate layers allows me to play with the opacity. Here I added purple where the light hits the dark and some on her face. I also added orange to her face to make the coloring a bit more natural and dark pink to her lips.
>>
Step 4
A new color balance layer with these settings:
SHADOWS
Magenta/Green: -3
Yellow/Blue: +6
HIGHLIGHTS
Magenta/Green: -2
Yellow/Blue: -6
Just to add a bit more color
>>
Step 5
I added a Hue/Saturation layer with saturation on +27
>>
Step 6
Curves: The best tool :) I only used it to add a bit of red to the highlights. I only used the red channel and moved it like 2 points. It's mostly me being nitpicky :P
>>
Step 7
At this point I copy/merged all the layers. Just select all, Edit>Copy/merge, Edit>Paste. I used an unsharpen mask at Amount: 33 and Radius: 3.1 on the layer and lowered the opacity to 25%. I like to sharpen this way, sharpening more, and then lowering the opacity allowed me more control :)
>>
Step 8
At this point I liked the sharpness on her face, but I thought her hair and the edges was a bit to sharp. And the side of her face is a trouble-zone ^^ So I added the copy/merged layer from before again, used a gaussian blur on 6.7 and lowered the opacity to 21%. Then I erased the parts that didn't work (her face mostly).
>>
Step 9
I pasted the copy/merged layer again and set it on soft light. I lowered the opacity to 20% and used gaussian blur on 8.7. This makes the whole icon softer and gives it more contrast.
>>
Step 10
At this point I felt that something was missing, and I decided to add a bit more color in the shadows. I created a new layer below the blurred layer and painted on it with a dark purple. I can't remember who made the brush I used, but you can download it here if you like. It's a bit grungy/paint-ish. I really like it ^^ I mostly played around with what would work.
>>
Step 11
I added a levels layer to increase the contrast again. With the middle point to 1,07 and the dark one to 6.
>>
Step 12
Last step! this is really just a nitpicking step, but the side of her face is to sharp in my mind so I blurred it a bit on a new layer, remember to check the box for sample all layers.
>>
And it's done! :) I hope you got something from that, feel free to ask! Layers list on the finished icon.
to
This is the second tutorial for likealight from the Ask the Maker meme at icon_talk. I'm so late with all of them and I'm sorry about that. I'll try to write the rest really soon! :)
Step 1
I added a new curves layer to brighten the base. I brightened all the colored channels, this layer brightens from the highlights. I added another curves layer that brightens the mid-tones.
layer 1:
layer 2:
>>
Step 2
See, now it's nice and bright, but it also looks a bit washed-out. It needs color and debt. I added a bightness/contrast layer with +13 on both scales. I set it on soft light and lowered the opacity to 22%. I added another brightness/contrast layer with contrast +35.
>>
Step 3
Soft light layers. And lots of them :P It looks a bit pale now, and I want to add more color.
This is how it looks on a white background:
It looks a bit silly XD This is actually 4 soft light layers. Adding the different details and colors on separate layers allows me to play with the opacity. Here I added purple where the light hits the dark and some on her face. I also added orange to her face to make the coloring a bit more natural and dark pink to her lips.
>>
Step 4
A new color balance layer with these settings:
SHADOWS
Magenta/Green: -3
Yellow/Blue: +6
HIGHLIGHTS
Magenta/Green: -2
Yellow/Blue: -6
Just to add a bit more color
>>
Step 5
I added a Hue/Saturation layer with saturation on +27
>>
Step 6
Curves: The best tool :) I only used it to add a bit of red to the highlights. I only used the red channel and moved it like 2 points. It's mostly me being nitpicky :P
>>
Step 7
At this point I copy/merged all the layers. Just select all, Edit>Copy/merge, Edit>Paste. I used an unsharpen mask at Amount: 33 and Radius: 3.1 on the layer and lowered the opacity to 25%. I like to sharpen this way, sharpening more, and then lowering the opacity allowed me more control :)
>>
Step 8
At this point I liked the sharpness on her face, but I thought her hair and the edges was a bit to sharp. And the side of her face is a trouble-zone ^^ So I added the copy/merged layer from before again, used a gaussian blur on 6.7 and lowered the opacity to 21%. Then I erased the parts that didn't work (her face mostly).
>>
Step 9
I pasted the copy/merged layer again and set it on soft light. I lowered the opacity to 20% and used gaussian blur on 8.7. This makes the whole icon softer and gives it more contrast.
>>
Step 10
At this point I felt that something was missing, and I decided to add a bit more color in the shadows. I created a new layer below the blurred layer and painted on it with a dark purple. I can't remember who made the brush I used, but you can download it here if you like. It's a bit grungy/paint-ish. I really like it ^^ I mostly played around with what would work.
>>
Step 11
I added a levels layer to increase the contrast again. With the middle point to 1,07 and the dark one to 6.
>>
Step 12
Last step! this is really just a nitpicking step, but the side of her face is to sharp in my mind so I blurred it a bit on a new layer, remember to check the box for sample all layers.
>>
And it's done! :) I hope you got something from that, feel free to ask! Layers list on the finished icon.
