Sacre Bleu!

TUTORIAL 4: "Dark" icons

2005-06-15T22:55:05Z

Requirements: Photoshop
Info: How to make "dark" icons like the ones that's been floating around.

There's been some tutorials on how to make "dark" icons like this Veronica Mars one from brokenrecord__:
.
It obviously doesn't come out exactly the same, but if you're lazy like me, then this'll be helpful to you! ;)

Going from:

To:

Note: You can technically skip all of this until it says "Now this is the dark part!". The first few steps are just to make it look all pretty. :)

Open up your picture, crop it, sharpen it, blur it, smooth it, shoot it, do its nails...do whatever you want with it until you've got it at 100x100.

Then, duplicate the base three times. Yes, 3 times. We'll name it dlayer 1, dlayer 2, and dlayer 3.
On dlayer 1, set it to "screen" at 50%, or whatever you feel looks good.

On dlayer 2, set it to "soft light" at 100%. This'll kind of add an "oomph" to the base by making the dark and light stand out.

On dlayer 3, desaturate it, and set it to soft light at "50%".

Now this is the dark part! Select a brownish/tanish color (I used #B49A61) and flood fill a new layer with it. Then set it to "multiply" at 100%. If it's too dark, adjust the opacity of it. By adjusting the color of the flood fill layer, you'll end up with different results, so experiment!

And just for decoration purposes, I added a tiny text brush by daughterofsnape, and you're done!

Textures: 25 light textures

2005-05-23T05:38:37Z

Requirements: Any

+ Comments are nice, but not required (but do you really want coal for Christmas? ;)).
+ Credit is a must.
+ I'd appreciate feedback, but if you've got nothing to say, tell me a joke! I've got one: Why did the turkey cross the road? It was tired of the chicken getting all the publicity! :D Hahahaha.

This was my first attempt at making light textures. Most of the pictures are from Getty Images (there's one that used to be a glowing pumpkin/snowman), and others are from when I was on the freeway at night coming back from LA (Los Angeles, not Louisiana. And man, what a long and boring ride that was).

SendSpace Link
FileFront Link

Caps: Crossing Jordan Season Finale

2005-05-23T05:17:59Z

I don't know how many people here are fans of Crossing Jordan, but if you're not, you really, really, REALLY should watch it! Anyway, I have 193 caps from the season finale, but only the last part of it, starting from when Woody gets shot.

Photobucket: here.
Zip file: YouShareIt link

Let me know if the zipped file doesn't work, as I'm trying out a new hosting site. Comment and credit if you do take, please. :)

Brushes: It's blooby-tacular! ;)

2005-04-29T05:24:04Z

Program: Photoshop

+ Comment is appreciated, but not required (but why not stroke my ego a bit? ;))
+ I'd appreciate feedback - I don't know if I'll come across as a mad genius, or just plain mad for spending 30 minutes drawing blobs in Photoshop.
+ Credit is required, por favor!
+ Right click and "Save As..."

SendSpace Link
FileFront Link
~~No image pack because I'm lazy like that. But if you ask nicely, I might. ;)~~
Image Pack: SendSpace

Background on the "blooby": In Tutorial #3, there was one part that required drawing a blob. And as I mentioned, it was not as easy as it seems! So, in a pure fit of ~~boredom~~ inspiration, and while watching CSI, I made 25 of these blobs.

For those of you who don't know what these brushes are used for, here are some examples:

TUTORIAL 3: CHARLIZE THERON

2005-04-28T05:46:57Z

Requirements: Photoshop
Info: Desaturation, light texture, and gradients.

I originally started out doing a tutorial on desaturation, but then I realized that there wasn't much to go on about (and since it was raining outside), so I just made an icon and did a tutorial on it.

NOTE: When I talk about adding a gradient, text, or ANYTHING, assume that I am talking about adding a new layer before you add the gradient/text/etc. Having a new layer for everything that you do prevents you from making "unerasable" mistakes. Instead, you can just delete the layer and start over.

We will be going from this:

to this:

This will be the image we start off with. Use the Unsharpen Mask (if you don't know how, refer back to tutorial 2 or 2.5), crop/resize it to 100x100, and then use the smudge tool to smooth out the skin, if necessary.

Duplicate the layer, and desaturate it (Shift + Ctrl + U). Then set the layer on screen.

It looked okay, but her face and neck looked too red for me, so I added a new layer, and flood filled it with a peachy/creamy color (#DFC48A). I erased the parts I didn't want to change (basically everything but her face and neck), and set the layer on overlay. It was a little too much, so I used a round blurred eraser, set the opacity to about 20%, and then started erasing the layer until her skin looked natural (about 4-6 times...ish).

Add this gradient (I believe they're by crumblingwalls. Anyone know for sure?), set it on screen at opacity 66%, and fill 66%.

I saved my PSD, then merged my layers (if you don't, then when you do this step, you will not get the coloring of the icon as it looks now). Using the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M), I selected a strip from Charlize's face horizontally, then copy and pasted the trip into a new document. Then I rotated it so now it was diagonal. Next, I picked a region from her face and went through the same thing.

At this point, you can either choose to unmerge your layers or keep them merged. I unmerged them so I could look through my steps for this tutorial, but you don't need to. DECIDE!

Okay, decided? Good. Now paste those strips back into the icon, and position them anywhere you want. For each layer, I added a "stroke" of 2 pixels. To do this, go to Layer --> Layer Style --> Stroke. I generally like to have different "tones" for each strip, so I duplicated each layer, and set the duplicated long strip layer to screen, and the duplicated rectangle to overlay.

Add a layer flood filled with a creamy color (#F7DBA0), and set it to soft light. Then add our old buddy the blue/pink gradient a few steps up, set to pin light. Then, add a red gradient set to soft light.

We're almost there! The color of the rock was a bit too dark, so I used a round blurred brush with a low opacity, and using a creamy color (#F7DBA0), just went over the rock (on a new layer set on screen).

(black background just to show the blob)
Next, I created a white blooby brush thingymajiggy using a small square brush, and a small round brush. It may look just like a blob, but it was really hard to make! There's a certain artistic skill to it! (I'm not kidding. It took me 10 minutes before I found a blob I liked).

I wrote out "CHARLIZE" in Arial Black, size 6, color #CC9A82. Underneath that, I wrote out "without you i'm incomplete" (what? I had the BSB song stuck in my head :P) in Arial, size 2, color #CC9A82.

I added a light texture by ingrid set on overlay, but the black made her face too dark for the icon, so I took my eraser, set the opacity on about 45%, and erased all the area except the strips, and the text (I liked the effect the light texture had on them).

And you're done! Here's my palette layout, in case this whole thing seemed like Greek instead of English:

I did add a border by sistahsoul99, but I'm kind of "eh" about it. I generally don't like borders, mostly because I can never pick one that "fits" the icon.

Anyhoo, I'd love to see any icons that you make with this tutorial, if you do. Give me some feedback! :D I wasn't that boring, was I? ;)

#AFFILIATES#

2005-04-25T02:48:09Z

alazysod_icons
sounhappy
circulatory
secondhandicons

I'd love to have affiliates! Leave a comment if you're interested. No requirements, except that your journal be an icon making one (and you've updated sometime in the vicinity of the last six months, and plan on updating soon). :)

TUTORIAL 2.5: B&W/COLOR

2005-04-24T06:42:12Z

Requirements: Photoshop
Info: Black and white pictures, adding color to certain spots. Essentially the same as tutorial #2 (hence, #2.5!), but cool enough to deserve its own entry. ;)

We'll be going from this:

to this:

Let's start off with this picture of Penelope Cruz (again).

Sharpen it using the Unsharp Mask (Filter --> Sharpen -- Unsharp Mask). Play around with the settings, although mine is usually set to: amount = 35%, radius = 1.0 pixels, and threshold = 0. Once you're done with that, crop it down to 100x100. If it looks kind of grainy, use the smudge tool with a small sized brush and low strength (e.g. size 11, 13% strength) and use it over her face. Make sure you don't blur the lines of her nose etc. otherwise it'll end up looking blurry instead of the smooth effect you want.

Next, I duplicated the layer and desaturated it (Ctrl + Shift + U, or Image --> Adjustments --> Desaturate). Then, duplicate the layer once. DO NOT delete the colored layer! You'll need it later for adding color. Set the duplicated layer to overlay.

Duplicate the colored layer on the very bottom, and bring it on top of the black and white layers. Decide where you want color to show up, and start erasing, focusing on one object. This time, I decided I wanted her dress, lips, and the flower on her dress. So on this layer, I erased everything but the dress.

Duplicate the colored layer on the very bottom again, and set it on top of all the layers. This time, I wanted her lips, so I erased everything on this layer lips. They're pretty small in the picture, so I magnified the picture and used a small round solid brush to erase the area around her lips. Using variations (Image --> Adjustments --> Variations), I changed her lip color to a more red shade.

The flower on the dress isn't that important, but it does have some color to it. So, duplicate the bottom colored layer, put it on top of all the layers, and then erase everything but the flower.

This looks okay, but I think there is too much black and white background. So I duplicated the bottom colored layer, brought it on top, and erased the top part of the background (the sky). Next, I chose a moderatedly sized feathered round brush, lowered the opacity of it, and erased the sky. So now I have a lightly colored sea in the background.

I then added a light texture by inxsomniax, and set it on screen. It looked nice, but it blocked out some parts of her erase, so I took my trusty eraser tool, and erased the parts that covered her face.

Still a bit plain, so I added a new blank layer, and I used a heart brush by jeweledicecream, and a baby text brush by ohpaintbrush in a darker color than her dress (use the eyedropper tool [or "I" on your keyboard] to get the color of her dress). And you're done!

I'd love to see any icons that you make with this! :)

TUTORIAL 2: B&W/COLOR

2005-04-24T06:12:38Z

Requirements: Photoshop
Info: Black and white pictures, adding color to certain spots.

We'll be going from this:

to this:

We'll start off with this photo of Penelope Cruz. The original is too big to display here, so this is a smaller version.

Sharpen it using the Unsharp Mask (Filter --> Sharpen -- Unsharp Mask). It sounds contradictory, but it actually does sharpen the picture. Play around with the settings, although mine is usually set to: amount = 35%, radius = 1.0 pixels, and threshold = 0. Once you're done with that, crop it down to 100x100. If it looks kind of grainy, use the smudge tool with a small sized brush and low strength (e.g. size 11, 13% strength) and use it over her face. Make sure you don't blur the lines of her nose etc. otherwise it'll end up looking blurry instead of the smooth effect you want.

Next, I duplicated the layer and desaturated it (Ctrl + Shift + U, or Image --> Adjustments --> Desaturate). Then, duplicate the layer two times so you end up with three black and white layers. DO NOT delete the colored layer! You'll need it later for adding color. Set the first duplicated layer to screen, and the second duplicated layer to soft light.

Duplicate the colored layer on the very bottom, and bring it on top of the black and white layers. Decide where you want color to show up, and start erasing, focusing on one object. In my case, I decided I wanted her lips, eyes, and the chili to be colored. So, I erased everything but the chili.

Duplicate the colored layer on the very bottom again (see? Told you not to erase it!), and set it on top of all the layers, including the chili. This time, I wanted her eyes, so I erased everything (including the chili, since it already has its own layer) except the eyes and the eyebrows (rather, eyebrow). It seems pointless to "color" the eyes since they're already black, but she had brown eyeshadow and black eyeliner, so when I added it, it actually gave a little "oomph" to the picture (in other words, it made her eyes darker).

Next, the lips! She has gorgeous full lips (not like Angelina Jolie's, but hey, who does?), so once again, duplicate the colored layer on the very bottom again, and set it on top of all the layers. Erase everything but her lips, making sure you don't take off too much or leave too much on (otherwise she'll look like she went through plastic surgery!). It looks nice and all, but her looks are kind of a dull color, so I want to add a little red.

By using variations (Image --> Adjustments --> Variations), you can change the shade. I don't remember what I used, but it was somewhere in the "more red" and "more magenta" family.

I liked the burnt edge that the original photo had (less work I have to do!), so I duplicate the bottom colored layer AGAIN, brought it to the very top, and erased everything but the burnt edge.

And it's done! But a bit boring, if you ask me, so I added this light layer by disappearicons, set on Lighten.

It was covering some of her face, so I erased the parts that were in the way! :) Next, I added the word "Spicy" using Anglo Text, size 18, tracking at 500. And voila!

I'd love to see anything that you make with this tutorial! :)

#REQUESTS/SUGGESTIONS#

2005-04-24T05:21:47Z

Exactly as the title says! I generally don't make many icons except for tutorials, so if you want to make requests or suggestions, feel free to let me know! :)

FAQS/RESOURCES - STICKY!

2005-04-24T05:10:55Z

I'M A STICKY! STICK ME!

Easiest way to keep track of my updates would be to add me to your friend's list. However, every entry is public in this journal, so if you'd prefer not to add this journal, you'd still be getting all the updates. :)

The following is a list of resources that I've used, or ran across. The list'll be continually updated. Feel free to add any that I've missed. :)

Icons/Tutorials
teh_indy
icon_tutorial
icontutorials
inxsomniax
jewledicecream
icon_textures
saava

Textures/Gradients
crumblingwalls
Lifelines
teh_indy
wickedripeplum

Fonts
fontaddcits
DaFont
Commonly Used Fonts Guide (teh_indy)
Pixel Font Reference (crumblingwalls)

Brushes
100x100_brushes (specifically for making LJ icons)
touchoftext (text brushes)
ohpaintbrush

LJ Coding
howto
everything_lj

Premade Layouts
layouts_for_lj
any_requests
layout_zone

Can you make a tutorial for this particular icon?
If it's one I made? Sure, as long as I didn't trash my PSD file! :)

How do I do (insert effect name) in PSP/GIMP/PS/AS3/IR?
Depending on the effect/coloring effect, I might be able to figure it out. If not, then you'd have better luck trying icon_tutorial or something similar.

I like this icon, but the lyrics on it suck. Can I take it and maybe just change the text?
NO. Drop the Photoshop eraser! If you really don't like it, you can try and make it yourself from scratch. Until then, tough luck. ;)

Can I add you as a friend?
Please do! :) I'll add you back, as well, but I probably won't comment in your entries.

Your downloading link expired/Your pictures aren't showing up. WTF?
If things aren't working, let me know by leaving a comment. I'll get around to fixing it if I'm not feeling lazy. ;)

Can I make requests?
Yep, please do. In fact, I encourage it. After a while, everything (and everybody) starts to look the same to me, so requests for something new are great!

AAARRGGGH, #*$&! I can't get step X in Tutorial #X!
Okay, not really a question, but if you're feeling this way, you're welcome to leave a comment in that particular entry, and I'll get back to you. If all else fails, you can leave another entry and spam that sucker until I finally reply (or have you reported for spam, haha). No, but really, I'll reply to all questions, promise.

I have a question...
...feel free to comment to this entry and ask. :)

These are no longer questions...
...I know, humor me. :D

You're welcome to post icon-making related questions here, or just icons in general. :)

TUTORIAL 1: EXCLUSION

2005-04-24T04:32:28Z

Requirements: Paint Shop Pro 7
Info: How to create the "vintage-y" look to icons, AKA exclusion layers.

We'll be going from this:

to this:

1. We'll be starting from this screen cap.

Sharpen, clean it etc. do the necessary steps to make it all pretty and neat-looking. :)

2. Resize it 100x100.

A bit dark, don't you think? So I duplicate the layer, and set the top layer to screen.

3. Create a new raster layer and name it whichever you want (in this case, I chose "exclusion").

4. Choose the flood fill tool (or simply press "F"), and flood the "exclusion" layer with a dark blue color (e.g. #000040).

5. In the layer palette, change the blend mode to "exclusion".

6. Voila!

Now you can change it however you want - add text, brushes etc.!

Other icons made using exclusion layers filled with navy color:

NOTE: The exclusion effect is not limited to dark blue only (darker the blue, more "drastic" the effect). You can use any color, and you'll end up with different effects for each color.