Icon Tutorial 2
Learn how to create the icon below in Photoshop. This tutorial MAY translate into other programs. A basic knowledge of Photoshop tools and filters is required. This tutorial is a guideline only in which I will give you some ideas, tips/hints. Please do not make a duplicate of my icon.
1. First off, crop your base.
2. Duplicate (Ctrl + J) your Background layer so that you have 'Copy of Background' and 'Background'.
3. Set your top layer (Copy of Bg) to screen and lower the opacity slightly. I lowered mine to about 75%.
4. Then, sharpen that top layer. You may need to lower the opacity a little more if you find that the image is too sharp.
5. Flatten your layers.
6. Now, you should have one layer, Background. Next to that layer on the layer palette should be a miniture padlock icon. Double-click it and a box should come up. Press OK. You should notice afterwards that your layer has now been named to Layer 0.
7. Add a new layer (Ctrl + Alt + N). You should now have 2 layers: layer 1 and layer 0.
8. On your layer palette, drag Layer 1 underneath layer 0. You should now have layer 0 above layer 1.
9. Make sure layer 0 is selected on the layer palette and move it with the move tool to an area of your choice. My icon so far looks like this:
10. Now, duplicate layer 0 (the layer you just moved).
11. Drag the copy of layer 0 underneath the original. The order of your layers should now be: layer 0, layer 0 copy, layer 1.
12. Select layer 0 on the layer palette and like in step 9, move it to another area of your canvas. I moved it to the opposite corner to layer 0. My icon now looks like this:
13. Click on your bottom layer (which should be layer 1) and fill it with a color of your choice. I filled mine with black. It doesn't really matter what color you fill with (since we're going to paste a texture on top later), but I recommend you fill with a color that is closely matched to the colors in your image. This is just in case you don't add a texture over the top or whatever.
14. Take a brush of your choice and erase the edges of layer 0. I used a grungy brush that I made, but it's up to you. My icon so far:
15. Repeat the above step, this time with layer 0 copy.
16. This next step doesn't need to be carried out. But if you find that your icon's background looks a little plain and boring then you can do this. Find a texture you like; it can be one you made or one made by someone else and paste it above layer 1. The texture I used aswell as my result are below:
You may use the above texture on your own icon if you wish to.
17. If it's necessary to do so, then you can edit the texture layer slightly or add more to it. It's up to you. Once you're finished, flatten your layers.
18. Duplicate your Background layer.
19. On your Background copy, go to Filter > Blur > Motion blur. Set the blur amount and angle to whatever you want and then set the motion blurred layer to screen.
20. If you need to, grab the eraser tool and (still on Background copy) erase any areas of your icon that you want to stand out more. I recommend that you erase the facial areas to make them more noticeable.
21. Flatten your layers and you're done! Now all that's left is to add some brushes, text, borders, etc if you want to. I added some text to my icon as well as a couple of brushes to spruce it up. I also went into Image > Adjustments > Color Balance and played around with the settings to see if I could make the colors more interesting.
To refresh your memory of my result:
I hope this tutorial was helpful. And don't forget to experiment around with your program and see what else you can come up with!
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