justfreefallin requested a quick tutorial for an icon of my last icon post. Now, I don't know how quick it'll be, but I hope you find it usefull nevertheless.
 1. I started out with the above of my screen caps from Simon Said, copied it on a new 100x100 canvas and moved it around so that I got my base |
2. from  to  We’re on the base layer. Go to Image > Adjustments > Shadow/Highlight I used the following settings:
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3. from to  From your tools bar, choose the blur tool with a round brush of about 5pixels in size. Mode: normal and Strength: 19%. It should look like this:  Go over those parts of his face with the brush which you want to smooth out a little. This is really a matter of personal preference but it does make subtle differences in the end product ;) |
4. from to  We will sharpen the image now. Filter > Sharpen > Smart Sharpen
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5. from to  We'll be adding a curves layer now. Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves We only make alterations on the RGB level so as to increase brightness in the brighter parts of the image and to lower brightness in the darker parts of the image. Your settings should look like this:  Lower point: Input: 82 Output: 83 Upper point: Input: 175 Output: 202 Leave the layer mode at normal and the opacity at 100%. |
6. from to  Time to add a selective colors layer. Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Selective Colors The following values are the result of countless arbitrary editing and don't follow any reason.
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7. from to  We add yet another selective colors layer. Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Selective Colors
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8. from to   Copy this nifty gradient (by wonderland__, I think) on top of your layers, set the layer mode to overlay and the opacity to 30%. |
9. from to  Now, we want to make some other small changes and add another curves layer. Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves This time we make changes on the RGB and Blue level. Your settings for RGB should look like this:  Lower point: Input: 27 Output: 14 Upper point: Input: 194 Output: 197 Your settings for Blue should look like this:  Lower point: Input: 20 Output: 24 Upper point: Input: 209 Output: 216 Leave the layer mode at normal and reduce opacity to 30%. |
10. from to  Now, the icon needs some more contrast. Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Brightness/Contrast Up the contrast to +7. |
11. from to  To top the icon off I added a few scratches/abrasions. I used this texture by lovelamp copied it atop all layers and set the layer mode to screen. Drag and rotate this texture to your liking. Erase the scratches from parts of his face with the help of the erase tool from your tools bar. |
And you’re done! I hope you all enjoyed. The layer palette for this icon looks like this. Other icons made using this technique:    Comments and criticism much appreciated! |
Current Mood: 
drunk
drunkCurrent Music: Bush - Out of This World
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