Making this icon from scratch using APS
Okayyy...lets get this show on the road. We'll create our own texture, because we'll feel oh so very creative and...uh...because I say so.
Open a new 100x100 document
#F5D8B7 foreground colour
#7DA7D9 background colour (you don't like the colours, just choose others)
filter > render > clouds
(Clouds 1)
(fairly easy so far, isn't it?)
Duplicate the Clouds 1 layer and change the blending mode to Overlay
filter > brush strokes > accented edges
filter > sharpen > sharpen
(Clouds 2)
New layer: Choose a soft edged brush (size about 50px), change the flow to 35%
Then...uh...apply brush *g* (some dots or lines, whatever takes your fancy)
(Brush 1)
Remember to change the flow back to 100%. I'm telling you this, because I didn't and could then be heard complaining about what the hell was wrong with my brushes.
filter > noise > add noise (use whichever settings you like, I used 5)
(still Brush 1)
Duplicate the Brush 1 layer. Name it Brush 2 (Isn't that original? Huh, isn't it?)
Now...you get to play with this layer. Just try a few things. (Oh yes, it's fun!)
Here's what I did
filter > pixelate > crystallize (3)
Change the blending mode to Linear Burn
Duplicate Brush 2, flip it horizontally
New layer: Choose any brush you like, apply
Merge all layers. (Yay, your texture layer is finished!)
Now it's time to choose your pics. Crop them down to 40x40, sharpen, auto-contrast...just do whatever it takes to make them pretty ;) Copy and paste, arrange to your liking. Merge the pics down to one layer.
(Texture with Pics on top)
While holding Ctrl, click on your Pics layer in the layers palette
Invert the selection, then feather (2) and hit the delete key two times
Do not deselect!
Duplicate the Texture layer, drag it on top. Hit the delete key.
Change the blending mode to Lighten at 50% opacity. (two Soft Light layers work, too)
Duplicate your Pics layer, change the blending mode to Soft Light
free transform > hit the down arrow 15 times, do the same with the left arrow (Hitithitit...oh dear, so much violence)
Erase parts which cover up the Pics layer
Duplicate the Pics layer again, then drag this copy under the Pics layer and set it to Soft Light.
free transform > up arrow 15 times, right arrow 15 times
(Yes, we're almost finished. Stop whining!)
New layer: Brush in black, set to Overlay (brush from
moraya)
Aaaand finally, text. I used Spat Crumb (8pt). Black, set to overlay. (Or not. Didn't work on this icon, so I choose a dark blue)
Tadaaa! Hello? *pokes* You awake?
Examples of this technique:
...
...
This is my first tutorial, wanna comment? Concrit's really appreciated:).Also, feel free to point out (and laugh at) any mistakes (English isn't my mother tongue).
Awesome texture tutorial HERE. It helped me *a lot*.
Okayyy...lets get this show on the road. We'll create our own texture, because we'll feel oh so very creative and...uh...because I say so.
Open a new 100x100 document
#F5D8B7 foreground colour
#7DA7D9 background colour (you don't like the colours, just choose others)
filter > render > clouds
(Clouds 1)(fairly easy so far, isn't it?)
Duplicate the Clouds 1 layer and change the blending mode to Overlay
filter > brush strokes > accented edges
filter > sharpen > sharpen
(Clouds 2)New layer: Choose a soft edged brush (size about 50px), change the flow to 35%
Then...uh...apply brush *g* (some dots or lines, whatever takes your fancy)
(Brush 1)Remember to change the flow back to 100%. I'm telling you this, because I didn't and could then be heard complaining about what the hell was wrong with my brushes.
filter > noise > add noise (use whichever settings you like, I used 5)
(still Brush 1)Duplicate the Brush 1 layer. Name it Brush 2 (Isn't that original? Huh, isn't it?)
Now...you get to play with this layer. Just try a few things. (Oh yes, it's fun!)
Here's what I did
filter > pixelate > crystallize (3)
Change the blending mode to Linear Burn
Duplicate Brush 2, flip it horizontally
New layer: Choose any brush you like, apply
Merge all layers. (Yay, your texture layer is finished!)
Now it's time to choose your pics. Crop them down to 40x40, sharpen, auto-contrast...just do whatever it takes to make them pretty ;) Copy and paste, arrange to your liking. Merge the pics down to one layer.
(Texture with Pics on top)While holding Ctrl, click on your Pics layer in the layers palette
Invert the selection, then feather (2) and hit the delete key two times
Do not deselect!
Duplicate the Texture layer, drag it on top. Hit the delete key.
Change the blending mode to Lighten at 50% opacity. (two Soft Light layers work, too)
Duplicate your Pics layer, change the blending mode to Soft Light
free transform > hit the down arrow 15 times, do the same with the left arrow (Hitithitit...oh dear, so much violence)
Erase parts which cover up the Pics layer
Duplicate the Pics layer again, then drag this copy under the Pics layer and set it to Soft Light.
free transform > up arrow 15 times, right arrow 15 times
(Yes, we're almost finished. Stop whining!)
New layer: Brush in black, set to Overlay (brush from
moraya)Aaaand finally, text. I used Spat Crumb (8pt). Black, set to overlay. (Or not. Didn't work on this icon, so I choose a dark blue)
Tadaaa! Hello? *pokes* You awake?
Examples of this technique:
......This is my first tutorial, wanna comment? Concrit's really appreciated:).Also, feel free to point out (and laugh at) any mistakes (English isn't my mother tongue).
Awesome texture tutorial HERE. It helped me *a lot*.