interview_

interview_ @ 2005-06-28T12:43:00

2005-06-28T16:42:27Z

C L O S E D

All future posts will be at sidledplant

Thank you so much for the wonderful support and memories. ♥

interview_ @ 2005-06-26T10:46:00

2005-06-26T14:47:08Z

hellandbliss
stimpson
mollymorbid
stevielynn
rrreverb
at_the_stars
la_sonnambula

Originally, there was a whole 'if you don't like it, I'll try again with one of your interests' offer. ...But I'll be nice, and hold to that, although if you do want another icon, it'll automatically be shareable.

Those of you not affected by this, please feel free to go about your business. :)

Journal-ish Stuff

2005-06-21T09:29:20Z

Things are going to happening around here, so a heads-up is in order.

First, I'm going to be closing this journal and opening a community. It'll be easier in the long run, and with this particular journal coming up on a year...it seems a good way to start a new year.

Notice I said 'closing'. I'm not deleting it, so any icons you have saved with the name interview_, can be kept as such. I'm just basically transplanting everything over to the new place. That's always my first grumble when people move icon journals, so I figured I'd clarify that.

Affiliates, starting today I'll be leaving comments at your journals and all that jazz, so if you commented around here, you won't need to do so again. (I'm annoying myself with all I'm doing, so I might as well be the only one highly annoyed. *g*)

And that's it. ~~Expect the 10 Things I Hate About You icons sometime this week.~~ July 5th. This journal will be a year old on that date, so those icons will be posted then. I'll probably post teasers here, and then the actual post be at the new journal.

...But if there's anybody wanting to switch over to the community now, you'll want sidledplant. Whatever I've posted here will be posted over there eventually and I'll be doing group posts. One post for CSI, one post for female celebrities...doing the easiest moving/organizing possible. *g* And I won't be spamming; probably a 'new' post whenever I think of it.

Questions, comments, flames...whatever, you know what to do.

ETA: There's also going to be some broken links, since I'm in the process of moving everything, so...yeah. I'll leave you alone now.

Tutorial #7: Jake Gyllenhaal

2005-06-12T10:04:58Z

I'm getting tempted to stop posting here and just start a community. Maybe I'd post more if I didn't have to keep signing in and out of an account. *shrugs* Anyway.

Another tutorial, this time for hadria.

Usual notes apply: this was made using PSP7, but odds are it can translate rather nicely and easily to PS, and this tutorial takes into account you know how to the most basic things with your program already.

Icon being made:

Step 1: Choosing/Cropping Your Picture

Erm. Here's the deal: the icon you see up top? Isn't the first version of that icon. It's more like the sixth. So, um, I didn't save the exact picture; I saved the icon how it was and that didn't include a version of the picture before I mutilated it. But, uh, here's the picture after it was cropped and sharpened (and possibly grey-scaled, but I'm not sure, this tutorial will probably work best with grey-scaled), and obviously I rotated part of it:

Step 2: Getting It Gradient Ready

First, you'll want to take the two images (or however many images if you're going the multiple route), and merge. Then copy and paste as a New Image, but keep the other image around; you may decide to move the placement around and what-not. So, take the New Image and Duplicate five times:

In order from Top to Bottom:

Overlay, 10%
Screen, 100%
Screen, 100%
Screen, 100%
Multiply, 100%

Step 3: Fun With Gradients and Other Various Coloring Methods

Gradients. Man, do I hate using gradients. Too complicated. I prefer easy things. Which is why all my tutorials have more than five steps. Yeah. The following gradients are by crumblingwalls, who makes some amazing gradients.

xxxx

First gradient is set at Screen 100%; second gradient Saturation 100%; third picture is obviously the icky result.

Jake looks very washed out. So, go the bottom-most layer (the one before you started fiddling); Copy, and move to the top of the layers. Set this at Overlay 93%:

...Anyone else notice I do something, and then immediately do something to counter it? Or is it just me? *shrugs* Oh well.

And more gradients:

xxxx

First gradient: trash_graphics, Lighten 100%. Second gradient: sistasouljah99, Multiply 100%, Duplicate. Third image: pretty result.

Step 4: Umm...Pretty Base. Go Extras!

Right. So, the icon's done except for the brushes, text, and border. Which, I didn't use any brushes, text is Georgia, and the border's just a plain rectangle. But feel free to go crazy; it's YOUR icon.

And a quick note: this tutorial almost had six steps, but I didn't see the point in having a step dealing with gradients, a new step dealing with the duplicated original base, and then another new step dealing with gradients. So you get one long step.

Truthfully, here: are these tutorials fine the way they are, or could I cut down on the chatter a bit? I just find the tutorials that are all 'I did this, this, and this. Voila.' a bit...robotic. No offense to anybody; I can't think of anybody's whose tutorials are like that, so it's not as if I have somebody in mind. It's just always nice to see a tutorial with a bit of the icon maker, you know? Or something.

Anything confusing? Let me know! I'll be glad to help if I can.

ETA: And because now's as good a time as any: Look! Jumping on the suggestion post bandwagon! Whee! ...That's all, really.

Tutorials #5 and 6: Sara Sidle and Greg Sanders

2005-05-27T10:40:40Z

...Aren't the multiple postings within one week just making you happy I'm back? Don't worry, the excitement will die down and I'll be back to posting maybe twice a month, or if you're lucky, once. W00t for you.

Next tutorial will be up in a few days, for hadria. Why a few days? I fear my fingers and brain will need a mini-vacation.

stormwind kindly requested I do a tutorial for one of these from my last CSI post, but since they were done using the same techniques, I figured I'd do both.

As always, I used PSP7 (although considering what's involved, it'll probably be easy to translate to PS), and please have an idea of how your program works before attempting this.

Also, these tutorials are a bit more image-intense than my other tutorials, just in case you're using dial-up. Nothing sized over 100x100, but you know, a friendly 'in case' kind of thing.

First icon being made:

Step 1: The Cap

I'll admit it, I'm quite a picky person concerning caps. I like them to be big, and clear, and they dare you to mess with them and their already pretty coloring. (...I'm lazy, I know. *g*) So, using one of dark_soul_lost's caps from Chasing the Bus, I experiment with cropping and decide that while I like Sara, I also like chopping her nose off. So, crop, resize and sharpen once:

Step 2: Random Coloring Adjustments

Now you've a noseless Sara, who's kind of freaky-looking. Duplicate the base three times, and now you're set for the Random Coloring Adjustments:
+ Bottom layer set to Multiply, 100%
+ Middle layer set to Screen, 100%; go to Colors>Adjust>Hue/Saturation/Lightness, and move the 'Saturation' to -25. (Idea borrowed from a tutorial by icon_me.)
+ Top layer set to Overlay, 20%

Step 3: Neverending Fiddling

Now, for confusion's sake: what you've been working on is now Image1. Take Image1: Merge the layers; Copy; Paste as a New Image. New Image is now Image2. Hit the back button on Image1. Go back to Image2: Grey Scale; Increase Color Depth to 16 million; Colors>Adjust>Brightness/Contrast with around 25 for Brightness and Contrast.

Depending on the picture, you may need to adjust that. But there needs to be clear contrast between the black and white.

Copy Image2 and paste onto Image1 at Soft Light, 60%.

Okay, if you have yet to introduce yourself to inxsomniax, now's the time. Not only do her icon-sized brushes rock, so do her larger brushes; they're amazing for textures and borders, and she also has some amazing light textures. Here's the link to the set I used. And here's the mini-version of the one I used; mini because she sizes hers at 200x200.

Copy and paste onto Image1: Hard Light, 100%:

Go back to Image2 and Copy; paste onto Image1; Soft Light, 100%. (Or duplicate the black/white layer already on Image1 and move it on top of the light texture, whichever.)

Choose another light texture from inxsomniax; paste onto Image1 set at Soft Light, 100%:

Now, you have some erasing to do.

As seen above, the full texture dulls the gorgeous pinks/purples/blues, which I'd rather not do. First picture: what I didn't erase, before set on Soft Light; Second picture, erased and set on Soft Light. The colors are now more subtle, but also richer. (...Just pretend that makes sense, okay? :P)

Now, go ahead and yawn. Wait, that's me. Nevermind. Okay, now's the time to become acquainted with awmp, responsible for some of the most gorgeous sunspotty textures around. Not only are they gorgeous, but available in both 100x100 and 200x200. I have no immediate link available, but they're not hard to find at her journal. Pick one, and copy/paste it onto Image1, Hard Light at 100%:

Also, note that the texture was originally 200x200; I just shrank it. But trust me, that's the exact texture I used.

Step 4: Do Whatever the Heck You Want To It

No, serious. The icon is basically done; now you do whatever you want to it. You can put brushes on it, textures on it, leave it alone...no more work's involved. This is where YOU get creative. But I did use some of inxsomniax's brushes for the white borders.

Second icon being made:

Okay. Basically the same process here, only obviously there were some changes. Oh, and the screencap is also from dark_soul_lost's Chasing the Bus collection.

Repeat Steps 1 and 2 from Sara Sidle Tutorial

Step 3: Return of the Neverending Fiddling

Remember that long drawn out process of doing the Grey Scale? Well, do it again for Greg.

Since I use PSP, I have quite a few image packs, of which I'm too lazy to define into brushes. This will come in handy.

In another step borrowed from icon_me, I take one of withaghost's brushes, and just paste it on Greg; set at Overlay, 100%:

He needs to be dirty constantly, because Eric Szmanda's just sexy when he's grungy. *coughs* Anyway! Now for another texture, this time from joli_papier; copy/paste; set at Hard Light:

Copy the black/white layer from earlier and place on top of the textures, set at Soft Light:

...Eric also needs to wear eyeliner more often. What is it about guys in eyeliner anyway? It may sound a bit odd, guys wearing make-up (ugh, can my uncle go on for hours about how wrong that is), but you gotta give them credit for looking damned hot in it. But you're here for the tutorial, not to pay attention to me waxing poetic on the hottie.

Pick another sunspotty texture from awmp; these things, I swear to you, you'll use them more than you think. And the brushes...guh. Copy/Paste onto Greg; Hard Light, 100%:

Again, texture was shrank from 200x200.

Step 4: Once Again, Do What You Want

Yep, again the icon is done; all that's left are finishing touches. Brushes, white space, black/white images...whatever. It's YOUR icon. Although in case there's somebody wondering about the colored stripes...they're just selections from the finished 'base'. *shrug* Hey, I've heard weirder questions.

Now then. Questions, comments...view to share on whether you think Eric's hot in eyeliner, whatever the case may be, you know what to do.

And now...*is ded*

Tutorial #4: Kate Beckinsale

2005-05-26T09:04:18Z

And here's the first tutorial of the week, (which is actually the fourth one of the journal), for sadako_chan. Within the next two days, I'll be following it up by doing a two-for-one deal kindly requested by stormwind. See? You request and you get your name mentioned. Spiffy. *nods*

Two catches. One: I assure you, this icon came out of pure luck. The key was using an extremely hi-res picture, which...I'll be hunting down in a minute and then supplying the size of the picture and a link to the site so you can see just how hi-res it actually is. The second catch but one that probably won't matter is that I'm stuck in the Stone Age using PSP7. But it's the 'anniversary edition'. Oooooh. *eyeroll*

Also! This tutorial takes into account that you already know how to do the basic steps using your program: please don't be asking me how to create new layers or anything like that. I do have a life outside this journal, contrary to popular belief.

Anyway, we are making this icon:

Step 1: Choosing a Picture/Cropping

Right, well, we all know how this works. Browse a gallery, 'ooh, pretty picture', manuever the picture into whatever program you're working with, and crop. Granted, sexy picture, there's a lot that could be worked with, but I'm focusing on part of her hair and face; because she always has gorgeous hair and I'm quite envious of that fact:

(Also, note picture has been sharpened.)

Step 2: Making the Base

You have your picture, all cropped and sharpened, and the work begins. Copy the base image five times: set the bottom layer to multiply, the next three layers to screen, and the top one (which would be on top and farthest away from the Multiplied layer), to Overlay. Leave all at 100%:

Step 3: Gradient Fun

Ohhhh yeah, that's just stunning. Now to get the icon to where it's tolerable to look at. I, personally, am addicted to Saturation. And, of course, Saturation the hard way: by not using levels. Instead, I use one of crumblingwalls' gradients. Then, I use...I think it's a PSP default gradient, or I came up with it all on my lonesome. Either way, I may also have stretched it a bit. (If it looks familiar, feel free to send a name and a link my way, if possible. Credit given where credit due and all that.) Either way, first gradient set to Saturation 100%, and second gradient to Overlay 100%. (It's also supposed to be transparent.) Oh, and put each gradient on a new layer; it's easier in the long run.

G1: G2: Finished Product:

Step 4: Brushes

Finally, the finish line is in sight! Yay. For this, I used just one brush, by booster_rocket, and it's mainly used to enhance the red of the wall behind Kate. I...have no clue what color I used, except it looks to be a grey, set on Overlay, and since I also erased the parts of it on Kate, I don't know exactly which brush I used. But, I can tell you the color seems to be in the #5E332B range. Umm...an after, if you can tell the difference:

Step 5: Text

Text isn't mandatory. The icon's basically done, except for a final layer of texture (the one I chose was made by inxsomniax, who is basically a genius for all things artsy). But, I was listening to Peter Gabriel at the time, and 'Sledgehammer' was playing.

Using the Georgia font: 'Sledgehammer' in size 8; 'I kicked the habit' in size 3, and 'been feelin the rhythm' in size 2, in what I'm assuming is a shade from her face. A yellow shade, probably.

Toss on a texture layer in black, left at Normal with the texture over her face erased, and voila. There be the icon at the top of the page:

And I promised picture dimensions? The picture itself is from KBeckinsale.net, the GQ:UK gallery (don't overseas magazines have the best pictures?), and the dimensions are: 1502x2050x16 million, and equals 8.8MB. Very hi-res indeed.

As usual, any questions, comments...disparaging remarks, go ahead and leave a comment and I'll answer it as best I can, although I'm far from an expert on how to use the program.

Tutorial #3: Brad Pitt

2005-02-10T06:41:06Z

Yes, another one! No worries though; this is the last one for a bit because I need to figure out how to do the next one first. *snort* Lovely, I know.

Usual notes: I use PSP7, so I'm not sure how this translates to other programs. If you have any questions, or want something cleared up, ask! I promise not to bite your head off.

Tutorial being made: .

Step 1: Choose your photo. I adore black and white, because there just seems to be so much more that can be done with them. So, I chose a b&w Brad from All Stars Online.

Step 2: First, obviously you crop + sharpen. Now, there's two other steps I normally do, and that's duplicate the base twice, and then set the bottom-most layer to multiply, and the top to screen. With this photo, 'screen' at 100% is way too much, so I lowered it to 70%. Before and after, even though there doesn't seem to be a huge difference.

Step 3: Started a new layer, then picked a color. It was random which is how most of these things are done. Color picked was #FFDCC6, and I set it to 'burn'.

Step 4: Duplicate that layer, and set it to 'multiply'.

Step 5: Start a new layer, pick a gradient, any gradient. I chose one ranging from a...dark brownish to a light tan, belonging to crumblingwalls. Then, set the layer to 'hard light'.

Step 6: Start a new layer, and pick a texture brush. Any will do, it just depends on what color you use, which I chose...I have no clue, but it looks like a light/pale yellow, probably chosen from the icon somewhere.

Step 7: Again, start a new layer (even I'm getting tired of doing that now *sigh*), and pick a border brush. I chose one of the ever-popular ones by dark_soul_lost (seriously, download them. They're so handy and versatile, and just rock beyond belief.) Use the color of the last brush, and then set it to 'exclusion'.

Step 8: Duplicate that layer twice more, exactly as it is.

Step 9: New layer, again. Texture brush, again. Same color brush you've been using...you get the picture. Set it to 'soft light'.

Step 10: New layer, texture brush, this time...duh duh duh...in WHITE! Yes, you get to use a new color! *bounces* Ahem. Set to 'soft light'.

Step 11: Ehh, I like small text, so I just typed something random, like..."he's a hottie and he knows it", or something else mature. I think I used Palatino Type, size 1 or 2, lowercase. And after applying it, you're done! Text is, of course, optional, same with other brushes and effects.

So. There we have it. A...relatively colorful icon of a hot guy, in a hot position. (I think it's hot anyway. Maybe I have a neck fetish. Who knows.) Either way, any questions? Comments? Example of what you did? Whatever the case, go for it!

Tutorial #2: Robert Goren, of LO:CI

2005-02-08T11:44:59Z

Yep, another tutorial. You know the drill: if you don't understand something, ask and I'll clear up what I can. I don't give exact numbers because experimenting...half the fun of being creative. If you're not having fun, something's wrong.

Oh, and I use PSP7, so I have no idea how this would translate to Photoshop or any of the other programs floating around.

Icon being made:

Step 1: Find a relatively hi-res screencap. In this case, mine came from the lovely and generous dark_soul_lost, and it's of Vincent D'Onofrio AKA Robert Goren from Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

Step 2: Crop, and then sharpen your base. With me, I have two steps I almost always do: duplicate the base twice, and then set the dupes, in order, to 'multiply', and 'screen'. After that, it's still dark, so I duplicate the 'screen' layer again, and then reduce it to 60%. He needs to be seen, but I don't want him blinding. Results before and after:

Step 3: Figure out your borders. Personally, I love the narrow look, with white bands at the top and bottom. So, I did those:

Step 4: Pick a texture brush that looks good on 'darken'. I picked one by braggadocio_org, and using black, applied on a new layer. Then, I set the layer to 'darken':

Step 6: I also adore black and white pictures. So, I merged the layers, used 'Grey Scale', copied that image, pasted as a new image, then went back to the merged image, and used the back arrow to before I merged. Take the b&w copy, and paste it as the topmost layer, deleting where the borders and brushing is.

Step 7: So, now you add color. Add a new layer, fill in with whatever gradient you choose, and then erase where it touches the subject. (I set mine on 'darken', but for the sake of showing what I mean, I'll set it on 'screen'. (I stretch out my gradients, pulling them every which way until I'm completely happy with the color. Actually a good tip, somehow.)

Step 8: Add a new layer, and using whatever gradient you used last time, fill it in. (Since I stretched the last layer, I'm not stretching this one, since I like the look when it's not matched 100%.) Set this layer to 'Soft Light', and then erase where the borders/brushing are.

Step 9: Now, duplicate one of the colored Goren's, and move it to the top, setting it on 'saturation'. If done right, it should give that lovely and kind of complicated look where some things are colored, others not. (This might not work with all pictures; to be blunt, I'm surprised it worked for me. But, hey, who am I to argue. *g*

Step 10: Brushes! Which means...all together now..."We're almost done!". Yes. I'm not giving which exact brushes I used, because not only can I not remember, but also...this is your icon. *nudges you* Use the brushes you like. But, I did use brushes by dark_soul_lost, and braggadocio_org. (I highly suggest you check them out; the former has some seriously cool border brushes, and the latter rocks textures.)

Starting a new layer, apply one brush using white, and set it on 'overlay'. Start another new layer, apply a different brush, and set it on 'soft light'. Now, using one of dark_soul_lost's cool border brushes in white, I started another new layer, and fiddled. After fiddling, I set it on 'soft light' and duplicated it.

Most people will generally be done by this point. This is mainly a coloring tutorial anyway. :P If you're into the double-image thing...just merge the layers so far, copy, go back and paste a new layer. Then just fiddle with the placement. Text...optional. The only thing left is another brush, this time by inxsomniax. Another person for great textures, and if you pick the right one, you'll get a great grainy effect.

Whew. Kind of long, I know, but I may have become...slightly anal-retentive with this one. *g* This icon's my baby. *pets icon* One of my favorites, which is why.

So. Questions, feedback...and if possible, a sample of what you made are all welcome. Now, I'm off to rest my brain for the next two tutorials.

Tutorial #1: Sarah McLachlan

2005-01-03T08:11:19Z

Okay...my first tutorial. I'm hoping this is clear, but if it isn't...well, just leave me a comment and I'll clarify what I meant. Oh, also, I use PSP7 (yes, that ancient. Can I blame my icons on that fact?), and have no clue on how it would translate to PS7. So...please, keep that in mind when formulating your questions. Also, it is a bit long. But...well, better that than too short and leaving everything unexplained.

Anyway, this tutorial is on how to create the following icon:

1. First, open a new image sized 100x100. Leave it empty and blank.

2. Choose a picture. I chose one of Sarah McLachlan from All Stars Online. (What can I say; my adoration rockets sky-high when favorite artists wear any piece of clothing with a Star Wars character on it.)

3. Try picking out what's interesting about the picture. Personally, I loved her expression, and Chewbacca on the hat. My cropping will revolve around those two things.

4. First up, Chewbacca. It will be the biggest part of the icon, and the easiest to mess with. After sharpening, fiddling, cropping, and sizing it down to 48x95px (my own preference), here's the result:

5. Next, her expression. Reverse Sarah, and crop the right side, the side with the most light and least hat. And then even more sharpening, fiddling, cropping, and sizing to 34x69px (again, my own preference), I ended up with this:

6. Now you can take those two pictures, and place them onto the blank image you first created. Fiddle with the placement. I'm left-handed, and I firmly believe this is why all my icons tend to have some focus somewhere on the left side. Maybe you'll prefer stuff on the right, or, heck, maybe you'll want the icon to appear upside-down. Whatever you prefer, do your placing that way. Here, however's, my way of doing things:

7. Once you're satisfied with their placement, take Sarah and do a general cropping of whatever. I loved the overall picture, so I just cropped around her, and then sized it down to 15x15px, taking that picture and pasting it where the other two were. Then, I duplicated it two more times, spreading out the dupes.

8. Next, I duplicated each layer, and set each dupe to 'Screen', at 40%. I'm not putting a picture, because it was only lightened a very small bit, and you can hardly tell at this point.

9. Finally, the coloring. To do whatever everybody seems to do, a dark blue layer, #0A1237, set to 'Exclusion', at 40%. Leave the color over the pictures, but erase it over what shows of the background. (Example's not exclusioned, to show what I mean. Also, one will notice what a dork I was, and how I didn't erase all the blue over the background.) Example:

10. Gradients are fun, so I used one. I can't remember if it was one by crumblingwalls, or maybe somebody else, or even if I fiddled around and made my own. Either way, I used the following one, set at 'Multiply', and 100%, and then my result was:

11. Now, I wanted more of a difference between the background, and the pictures, so using one of the colors from the icon BEFORE the gradient, I created a new layer above the background, and filled it in with #CBC9C0, creating this:

12. Brushes! Possibly the most fun things about icons. While not showing the exact brushes I used (since it's actually pretty obvious), the small text brush was inexorablyhere's, and the grainy lines brush was subliminalicon's. I created new layers for both, and used plain old white, set both layers on 'soft light', which resulted in this:

13. Granted, it's pretty that way, but needed something. So...text. Text doesn't like me, so I just rotated the entire image 90 degrees and entered 'mclachlan' as the text, using Trixie Plain, size 7. Then, rotated the image back, used Trixie Plain again for 'sarah', size 7, and fiddled with the placement. Merge, and voila!

The icon at the top appears! Hopefully. Maybe. *crosses fingers* I realize it's not the clearest thing ever, but all the fun in icon making, is in the experimenting. Fiddling around and doing your own thing, not just taking other people's ideas and copying them step by step.

Anyway, if you have any questions on this, or maybe I rambled too much, hiding the actual tutorial...just clue me in? I'd rather have everything pointed out at first, than to do another tutorial and then people point stuff out to me, that I did here, but they didn't want to say anything and hurt my feelings. Besides, how else would I learn anything? ;)