First Icon Tutorial
Here is my very first Icon tutorial! Don't judge me too hard. This tutorial is for Photoshop 7,0 but can surely be used by lower versions.
From
to 
After cutting the picture as I want it, I sharpen the icon; Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen. Thenwe have to smooth it, just a little or much if you want to. You can either use smart blur; Filter > Blur > Smart Blur and play around with the settings, or use the blur tool that looks like this:
I use the blur tool with the settings: Brush size: 5 Mode: Normal Strength: 50-60%. Then I go over her face (only her skin, not eyes, lips or eyebrows), her throat and the part of her chest that is shown. Leave the hair as it is. After that your picture should look something like this:
We can work a little on her eyes, and maybe make then a little more "outstanding" and visible. Zoom in to 500% or more if you need to. Duplicate the layer and choose the Dodge Tool and use which brush size you need. For the settings: Range: Midtones Exposure: 100%. Then move it over the eyes. Merge Visible(CTRL+SHIFT+E). Create a new layer; Layer > New Layer > Layer... and set the mode to Overlay or Soft Light. Zoom in to 500% again. Now we take the normal brush tool and choose a color like green or blue, some nice eye color. I've chosen blue for her eyes. Merge Visible. Repeat the first step with the dodge tool.
After that, choose the Burn Tool;
Zoom so that you can see the eyes well and choose a small brush size for the burn tool. You don't have to use this step but it can be good. Just use this brush on the outer edge of the eye to make it darker.
If your picture is dark or you want it lighter you can duplicate it and set the layer mode to Screen or Soft Light and play with the opacity. Then Merge Visible.
Now it's time for all the effects. Choose a gradient you like. In my case I choose this:
by 
crystal_lily
And I set the Mode to Screen and the Opacity to 72% and then Merge Visible. I want the icon darker than it is right now, but first I take the dodge tool Brush Size: 200 and brush it once over the icon. Duplicate the layer and user apply image: Image > Apply Image and use these settings:
Channel: RGB
Blendning: Multiply
Opacity: 100%
Click OK. Then you can play around with the Opacity until you are satisfied with it. Once again Merge Visible. Then there is one last thing which is a texture that I found in a tutorial fromwithaghost:
Copy and paste it onto the icon and use these settings; Mode: Screen Opacity: 100% (or less if you want). Merge it and then just add some text.
I use the word: Beautiful and the Font Georgia with 7PT, Regular and Strong. Then I just add some drop Shadow and play around with the opacity. And then the icon's done.
If you don't understand something, just ask me about it and I'll try to explain it for you.
From
to After cutting the picture as I want it, I sharpen the icon; Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen. Thenwe have to smooth it, just a little or much if you want to. You can either use smart blur; Filter > Blur > Smart Blur and play around with the settings, or use the blur tool that looks like this:
I use the blur tool with the settings: Brush size: 5 Mode: Normal Strength: 50-60%. Then I go over her face (only her skin, not eyes, lips or eyebrows), her throat and the part of her chest that is shown. Leave the hair as it is. After that your picture should look something like this:
We can work a little on her eyes, and maybe make then a little more "outstanding" and visible. Zoom in to 500% or more if you need to. Duplicate the layer and choose the Dodge Tool and use which brush size you need. For the settings: Range: Midtones Exposure: 100%. Then move it over the eyes. Merge Visible(CTRL+SHIFT+E). Create a new layer; Layer > New Layer > Layer... and set the mode to Overlay or Soft Light. Zoom in to 500% again. Now we take the normal brush tool and choose a color like green or blue, some nice eye color. I've chosen blue for her eyes. Merge Visible. Repeat the first step with the dodge tool.
After that, choose the Burn Tool;
Zoom so that you can see the eyes well and choose a small brush size for the burn tool. You don't have to use this step but it can be good. Just use this brush on the outer edge of the eye to make it darker.
If your picture is dark or you want it lighter you can duplicate it and set the layer mode to Screen or Soft Light and play with the opacity. Then Merge Visible.
Now it's time for all the effects. Choose a gradient you like. In my case I choose this:
by crystal_lilyAnd I set the Mode to Screen and the Opacity to 72% and then Merge Visible. I want the icon darker than it is right now, but first I take the dodge tool Brush Size: 200 and brush it once over the icon. Duplicate the layer and user apply image: Image > Apply Image and use these settings:
Channel: RGB
Blendning: Multiply
Opacity: 100%
Click OK. Then you can play around with the Opacity until you are satisfied with it. Once again Merge Visible. Then there is one last thing which is a texture that I found in a tutorial from
withaghost:Copy and paste it onto the icon and use these settings; Mode: Screen Opacity: 100% (or less if you want). Merge it and then just add some text.
I use the word: Beautiful and the Font Georgia with 7PT, Regular and Strong. Then I just add some drop Shadow and play around with the opacity. And then the icon's done.
If you don't understand something, just ask me about it and I'll try to explain it for you.