Jennifer ([info]_jems_) wrote,
2005-08-21 23:29:00
  • Mood: drained

Tutorial

Tutorial for this icon:





I specifically chose this icon because the skin looks so smooth. So smooth, in fact, that it tends to bother me. Please note that the blur tool was not used in the making of this icon. Also, I retraced my steps, so not every step is detailed.

I started out with these two screencaps. I cropped the bases and resized to 200x200px:



*Eeek! I could only find one of the original bases.


I adjust the brightness/contrast (Image-Adjustments-Brightness/Contrast). Since I retraced this step this is only an approximation, but it seems I used +6 for Brightness and +38 for Contrast for the first base, and +5 for Brightness and +23 for Contrast for the second one. I get these:




I duplicate the second base, move the two images to the sides and get this:



I add layer masks to two of the bases and use brushes to "paint away" the areas that I don't want visible. This is easiest to see in the layer palette:


As you can see, I also preferred a composition where the first base was moved slightly to the left.

This is the finished base:



This is when I start working on gradient and color layers. I used a lot of them for this icon. And I'm not even going to guess how many I tried out / discarded before the icon was finished. I'm just going to list the layers, the Blending Mode and the Opacity. All my gradient layers are from either [info]oxoniensis or [info]crumblingwalls, but I may have fiddled with them.


Overlay, 46%


Soft Light, 76%


Soft Light, 89%


Vivid Light, 19%


Color Burn, 45%


Multiply, 65%

Color Fill Layers:
#D6D3EB
Color Burn, 70%

#DDD7BB
Darken, 100%

#DADAC0
Soft Light, 40%

#968DB0
Pin Light, 52%

#B8D9E9
Color Burn, 53%

#8EA6B2
Saturation, 53%

#D4D6E7
Color Burn, 55%

#B2B29D
Overlay, 66%


Now we have this:



This is where the retracing makes for fuzziness because I have no clue what brush I used here, I just remember using Transform (Ctrl+t) to stretch it out and tilt it slightly. Then I duplicated the layer and transformed that too, making it more into a cone shape and rotating it almost 90 degrees. Brush color: #EEEEE1. This is the result:



Two more color layers:

Color fill layer:
#FFFFEB
Saturation, 21%


Overlay, 71%


Result:



Time for text. I used Folio Lt BT. Font size: 48 pt. Tracking: -150. Anti-Alias: Sharp. The text reads: mystifying



Folio Lt BT. Font size: 30 pt. Tracking: -150. Anti-Alias: Sharp. The text reads: how we fit



Folio Lt BT. Font size: 36 pt. Tracking: -150. Anti-Alias: Sharp. The text reads: together



All text layers have been duplicated once because you almost always need it when you perform the next few steps.

I create a new layer and stamp the visible layers (Ctrl+Alt+Shift+e). I duplicate that layer and Sharpen (Filter-Sharpen-Sharpen). The reason I don't sharpen the original is because even though this is the first time I sharpen the image at all, it can still be too sharp when I resize it to 100x100, so if it is I can decrease the opacity of the sharpened layer to decrease the overall sharpness. I also create a sharpened blank of the icon so that if the text becomes butt ugly when I resize to 100x100 I can try to fiddle with the settings at the correct icon size. I now have these three different layers:



Since I find that a visual representation can sometimes be beneficial, here are all the layers in the layer palette.

Finally, I resize. In this case the second, sharpened, layer works fine. I save as a .png file.


The end.


Remind me to never do that again.
Tags: icons, tutorials

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[info]blond_bear

August 21 2005, 21:35:40 UTC 6 years ago

Fantastic tutorial! I'm saving in my Memories and will try and see what I can come up with...thank you so much for sharing!

[info]_jems_

August 21 2005, 22:07:56 UTC 6 years ago

You're welcome, glad you enjoyed.

[info]orchestrachik89

August 21 2005, 21:36:33 UTC 6 years ago

i ♥ you. i love how you used big examples

[info]_jems_

August 21 2005, 22:09:55 UTC 6 years ago

Just to be clear: I didn't use big examples just because it was a tutorial, that's how I always make icons. It's one of the reason why I don't need to use the blur tool and it makes it a lot easier to not oversharpen an icon.

I'm glad you enjoyed it, though. =)

[info]whisperwords

August 21 2005, 21:42:54 UTC 6 years ago

Man, Kristin Bell's skin really IS beautiful. *stares*

Also, your sharpening method is very, very interesting -- I think I'd be scared to sharpen anything that much even if I was resizing! It's neat to see that it actually works, though.

I really love the text you've chosen and how you've placed it. I keep meaning to tell you that, I think it looks really chaotic and nifty and it really fits with the mood of the scene. :)

[info]_jems_

August 21 2005, 22:14:13 UTC 6 years ago

The benefits of making an icon at double the size is that even though you can see a lot of flaws in the large versions, the decreased versions are almost flawless.

The sharpening thing usually works pretty well, but since I resize after I sharpen I can't fade it, hence the reason I always duplicate the layer before sharpening so I have something to soften it up with.

I really love the text you've chosen and how you've placed it.
Thanks! I still have "issues" with text, but I really liked how it came out in this icon.

[info]adolwyn

August 21 2005, 21:43:09 UTC 6 years ago

OMG. Awesome tutorial!! Thank you _so_ much!!! You've been memorized :)

[info]_jems_

August 21 2005, 22:14:50 UTC 6 years ago

Glad you enjoyed it.

[info]plumcheeks

August 21 2005, 21:52:01 UTC 6 years ago

So detailed...and thanks for including a pic of the whole layer palette.
Saving to mems...can't wait to try!

[info]_jems_

August 21 2005, 22:16:26 UTC 6 years ago

I often find layer palettes very useful when trying to figure out how everything fits together, so I'm glad you liked that little addition. =)

[info]fiesty_red

August 21 2005, 21:55:39 UTC 6 years ago

I love the color effects on this. Adding to memories. ^_^

[info]_jems_

August 21 2005, 22:16:53 UTC 6 years ago

Thanks!

[info]funkybaby

August 21 2005, 22:12:19 UTC 6 years ago

oh gosh, so many layers...i can barely handle 2 gradients on mine. great tutorial :)

and haha i only JUST noticed Buster at the bottom of your banner. Heeeeeey, brother!

[info]_jems_

August 21 2005, 22:18:35 UTC 6 years ago

Hey! Not just Buster! Buster/Roomba. Since it's an OTP header and all. ;-)

And yeah, I'm addicted to color and gradient layers. So much fun to fiddle around with.

[info]funkybaby

6 years ago

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[info]ignited

August 21 2005, 22:34:42 UTC 6 years ago

Thanks for the tutorial! It was very informative. I need to get the hang of using gradients and color layers again. It also makes me happy to see it on a 200 x 200 scale as well. I've been using that size for well over a year now so it's nice to see tutorials that show how that size can be beneficial (especially when it comes to sharpening then resizing). Definitely adding this to the memories! :)

[info]_jems_

August 21 2005, 22:52:52 UTC 6 years ago

Well, I learned the technique from you, so thank you for that. =)

I find that making the icon at a larger size makes the image look so much better. The only thing that can be hit or miss is the text, which is why I make a blank before resizing, just in case.

[info]ignited

6 years ago

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[info]passionflows

August 21 2005, 23:13:45 UTC 6 years ago

Ooh, what an awesome tutorial! Thanks very much for this.

[info]_jems_

August 22 2005, 13:09:09 UTC 6 years ago

Glad you enjoyed it!

[info]ex_stormwin

August 21 2005, 23:22:47 UTC 6 years ago

No wonder your coloring is so amazing... you use like 20 layers of it! :P

Seriously, though, fantastic tutorial. I've never really given the 200x200 method much thought, but I'll have to give it a try... it might work well with my text problems.

Thanks so much for sharing this!

[info]_jems_

August 22 2005, 13:11:15 UTC 6 years ago

Well, I don't always use so many layers, but even my black and white icons have at least five gradients on them. Usually because I don't decide to make it black and white until the very last second, and I find that the gradients make the image come to life.

Like I told Stef upthread, the text can be hit or miss, so making a blank is always a good idea.

[info]ex_stormwin

6 years ago

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[info]kinaesthesia

August 21 2005, 23:49:56 UTC 6 years ago

OoooooOOO that is a gorgeous icon, and I think I might actually be able to follow the tutorial. Thanks much!!

[info]_jems_

August 22 2005, 13:11:54 UTC 6 years ago

Thank you. Glad you liked it.

[info]mrsbellamy

August 22 2005, 00:21:53 UTC 6 years ago

Adding to memories :D

[info]_jems_

August 22 2005, 13:12:16 UTC 6 years ago

Glad you enjoyed.

[info]i_______loveyou

August 22 2005, 02:20:46 UTC 6 years ago

how pretty! added to memories.

[info]_jems_

August 22 2005, 13:12:41 UTC 6 years ago

Thanks!

[info]i_______loveyou

6 years ago

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[info]cathartic_prose

August 22 2005, 02:47:58 UTC 6 years ago

awesome tutorial! thank you! *saves to memories*

[info]_jems_

August 22 2005, 13:13:12 UTC 6 years ago

Thank, glad you liked.

[info]candybarsodapop

August 22 2005, 03:23:06 UTC 6 years ago

Very cool :) Adding to my memories :)

[info]_jems_

August 22 2005, 13:13:30 UTC 6 years ago

Thanks.

[info]elenyaolor

August 22 2005, 03:33:37 UTC 6 years ago

wow.. that's gorgeous! thanks so much :)

[info]_jems_

August 22 2005, 13:13:54 UTC 6 years ago

Thanks.

[info]astralis_lumen

August 22 2005, 05:51:08 UTC 6 years ago

Fantastic tutorial, love the colouring :) Memory-izing.

[info]_jems_

August 22 2005, 13:14:45 UTC 6 years ago

Thanks, glad you liked.

[info]_vogued

August 22 2005, 08:51:25 UTC 6 years ago

I was just thinking yesterday, i hope someone makes a tutorial for that icon. Gorgeous. Will try it out later : D

[info]_jems_

August 22 2005, 13:15:14 UTC 6 years ago

Thanks, glad you enjoyed.

[info]seal3dwithakiss

August 22 2005, 14:44:57 UTC 6 years ago

wow. i. love. you. that tutorial's REALLY good. and i love the icon too.

hmm. maybe i should try starting my icons as a bigger size next time. and if people ask, i got that trick from you. ;) thanks again!

[info]_jems_

August 22 2005, 18:47:02 UTC 6 years ago

Thanks! And really, I didn't invent the technique, no need to credit me for it.

[info]eowyn797

August 22 2005, 17:46:18 UTC 6 years ago

wow///awesome. i never even thought to do my work at a bigger size first...i always start wth 100x100. thanks so much for all the effort you put into this tutorial. it's very clear and helpful :)

[info]_jems_

August 22 2005, 18:48:55 UTC 6 years ago

I picked up the trick from Stef a while back and I've been using it ever since. It makes it much easier to get a better looking image because you don't have to be super vigilant of every tiny flaw - when resized it will hardly even be visible.

[info]lunacat

August 22 2005, 22:52:11 UTC 6 years ago

Wow. Excellent tutorial, I am adding it to my memories, thanks!

Also, big thanks for the 200x200 advice. I started doing so after reading an earlier tutorial by you (the X-Files one, I believe) and it really does make a noticeable difference in quality.

[info]_jems_

August 23 2005, 10:54:02 UTC 6 years ago

Glad you enjoyed it.

And yes, the 200x200 thing really makes a big difference. One of the best tricks I've learned all year.

[info]sabrinanymph

August 23 2005, 03:21:27 UTC 6 years ago

I just want to say 'WOW' that's a lot of colour and gradient layers. And I thought I sometimes was bad with five or six. However, I really had never used 'saturated' before and I find that I liked the effects here so I'm going to have to use it.

Thanks for posting!

[info]_jems_

August 23 2005, 10:55:54 UTC 6 years ago

The Saturated blending mode is just a way of decreasing or increasing color saturation, so it's really no big deal. The only reason I use it is because with so many color layers that brighten the colors, they can get overwhelming real fast.

Glad you enjoyed.

[info]sabrinanymph

6 years ago

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[info]devilwrites

August 23 2005, 16:25:16 UTC 6 years ago

Wow, that's impressive! I didn't understand half of it (I really need to learn what masking is and why people use it), but very impressive! I love the coloring of that icon!

[info]_jems_

August 23 2005, 17:15:25 UTC 6 years ago

Masks are just a better way to erase than using the eraser tool because anything that you "erase" by painting black you can also make appear again by painting it white.

Thanks!

[info]sexycereal

August 24 2005, 10:37:07 UTC 6 years ago

Ohh, great tutorial. And I think you may have just inadvertantly pointed out one of my biggest problems when making icons. I start with a 100 base from the get-go. No wonder I'm always fiddling with stuff, I'm working on a teeny impossibly small canvas!

[info]_jems_

August 24 2005, 11:15:27 UTC 6 years ago

Almost everyone starts with the small base. I think Tissa and Angie still do. I've just found it very beneficial to do it this way. And I bet you would too, what with all the intricate details your icons always have.

[info]sexycereal

6 years ago

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[info]__scarxlet

August 26 2005, 21:20:58 UTC 6 years ago

this is such an awesome tutorial and i love the icon, i'm definitely adding this to my memories.
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