Liv Tyler Tutorial!

Hello! This is my first post and tutorial. I found this community a few days ago and I have been OBSESSED! [also posted atnifty_icons ] I use Photoshop Elements, but it should be easily converted to another program.

You shall learn to make this icon:

*clears throat* First of all, if you want to use something of mine, go right ahead! Just comment! And I like credit, but it isn't necessary.

So, I found a gorgeous image from liv_stillness :  and I cropped and resized it to my liking, and I got .

Then I made a new layer and added a gradient which was made by moi:  and set the Blending Mode to Screen and left the opacity at 100%. This layer added some colour and texture to the icon, just enough to make me happy!

Nextly I made a simple gradient that I made on a new layer, ,  and set it to Exclusion, Opacity 54%. This kind of softened and smoothed out the previous layer, but if you leave this layer out it looks pretty spiffy too! Be creative!

Then I duplicated the base layer, which was , remember? Anyway, Screen, 92% Opacity. If you leave this layer out, you have this icky green coloured thing. *shudder*

Then I added another gradient on a new layer: and set it to Soft Light, Opacity 100%. This lightened the icon quite a bit, and made Liv look gorgeous! Though she already is, haha.

Next I decided that the main image was done. So I flattened/merged, and then border time! I figured that for this icon the border could be simple, so I selected all [Control + A] and went to Edit>Stroke and my settings were 1 px, and black [#000000}. Icons look so much more pulled together when they have borders!

Text time! I pulled a purpley colour out of her hair [#6D5FB1]. Basically any colour will work so long as you can read it! It's fun to pull colours out of the image, though. First I typed 'liv' in Vivaldi, 48 point, anti-aliased selected, and set the opacity to 67%. Then I made a new text area and typed 'T Y L E R' in Franklin Gothic Medium Cond, 12 point, anti-alias selected, and put the opacity at 62%. Finally, I moved the text around until I found a good spot for it, and I rotated 'liv' to my liking. Then flattened again.

Final product:

I hope you enjoyed! Yeah, that was my first tutorial so I would appreciate feedback. And again--if you are taking anything, then at least comment. And don't claim anything to be yours!

Hope you likey!