Icon Tut #01
Going from 
to 
mostly using photoshop defaults
The Basics
- Level: Beginner/Intermediate
- Used Photoshop 7.0
- Translatable: All photoshop versions, possibly into PSP
1) Open a new 100x100 document. Add the below icon texture (my own) as your first layer.
2) I pasted the image of Kristen Bell, moved it around until it was the exact way I wanted it, and set the blending mode to Screen
Result:
3) Copy the Kristen Bell Layer twice (Contol J). On the second Kristen Bell layer (the first copy) set the blending mode from Screen to Lighten. Set the third image (the second copy) from Screen to Soft Light. Then desaturate the third image using Contol>Shift>Alt>U.
Result:
4) Add a Gradient Adjusment Layer
5) A box pops up that says "Gradient Fill" Double click on the Gradient and it will take you to the gradient editor. Load your Pastel Gradients by pressing the Load button. It should take you right to your Gradients but if it doesn't go to: My Computer>Local Disk (C:)>Program Files>Adobe>Photoshop>Presets>Gradients. Select your Green, Yellow, Orange Gradient. It looks like this.
6) Press okay and use the following settings where it says "Gradient Fill"
7) Set the gradient layer's blending mode to Overlay
Result:
8) Make a new layer and fill it with gray (#848484). Make sure you're still selected on the gray layer. Go to Filter>Render>Lens Flare. Set the Lens Flare to 105mm Prime. Don't make it too bright. Move it to the a place on the screen where it wont block too much of your image.
9) Still selected on the gray/lens flare layer Go to Filter>Liquify. Liquify the flare a little bit to give it a flourscent, dreamy feel.
10) Set the blending mode of the gray/lensflare layer to Hard Light
Result:
11) I merged what we have so far into a new layer (Control>Shift>Alt>N>E) and sharpened the new layer by going to Filter>Sharpen>Sharpen. Set the blending mode to Multiply.
Result:
12) Copy the top image again and set the blending mode from Multiply to Soft light.
Result:
Your layer pallet should look like this:
13) I made a new layer. On the new layer I used the sparkles from photoshops preset "assorted" brushes. I used white and put a few in the corner of the icon. Then I dotted my pencil tool around the sparkles for a subtle starry glint.
14) I made yet another new layer. On the new layer I drew circles in various sizes in the corner. The color I used was #5DBF8C. Set the shapes blending mode to Screen.
Finished!
