newbie, tutorial

Hey, newbie here in terms of posting. I've lurked around the community and really like it. This is my first ever tutorial, so let me know how it is. I think it's pretty simple, but I could be wrong...

Anyway, it's a tutorial for this icon:



I used Paint Shop Pro 8. I don't know if it's do-able in other programs, but I'm sure somebody can figure it out...



First, I cropped this screen cap (courtesy of monack) of Molly Price (portraying Faith Yokas...hence the word Faith). Anyway, I cropped it, and resized it to 100x100.


Next, duplicate the layer and set it to soft light, 82% opacity.


In between the two layers, set a new raster later. Flood fill it with a dark blue. (I used #022853.) Set to exclusion, opacity 100%.


Next, create another new raster layer and flood fill it with this gradient by crumblingwalls:

Or you could copy the picture and paste it on as a new layer. Doesn't really matter. Set the layer to overlay at 100% opacity.


Create another new raster layer, and it's time for another gradient by crumblingwalls:

Set the layer to screen at 50% opacity.


Now, by now, you should have some trouble seeing Molly. Duplicate the original image of her and put it on top. Set the layer to screen at 100% opacity.


After creating yet another new raster layer, I used this brush in the color #87C0FF, and set the layer to burn at 100% opacity

(I have searched and searched but I cannot figure out where I found this brush. It came with a bunch of others and I downloaded the imagepack around January 10, 2005. If it's your brush, please tell me and I'll credit you.)


Next, I created another new raster layer and used this brush by thestalkycop in the color #87C0FF:

Set the layer to burn at 100% opacity, and then blur the layer. (Adjust > Blur > Blur)


Finally, I created a vector layer and added the text "Faith" in the font Poetica RomanSmallCaps, size 9. Set the layer to soft light at 100% opacity, merge the layers, save...

...and you're done!