Using Stocks & Different Techniques

Icon Tutorial (Stocks, Colors, Etc)

This should be my 2nd or 3rd attempt on doing an icon tutorial, I will cut to the chase! This tutorial utilizes the program Photoshop 7.0, so make sure you have that, or if you're a pro at PSP 7/8 this guide is easily translatable(?)

Our Aim

Images (Lost-Media.COM, Gettyimages Stock)
Stock >> Download 01 / 02
Image >> Download

Step 001
Open up Photoshop and the three images you've just saved, hit Ctrl + N, size 100 x 100

Step 002
Resized the main image (EW.jpg) to 210 x 548, Image > Image Size, make sure both Constrain Proportions and Resample Image are checked, then all you need to do is change the numeral of the width to 210 and the height will follow suit.

Step 003
Still on "EW.jpg" hit Ctrl + A follow by Ctrl + C to copy, go over your 100 x 100 canvas, and hit Ctrl + V to paste, hitting V on your keyboard will activate the move tool and from there arrange your image to get the focal point of your icon, etc! Here's how I positioned mine:

Step 004
Filter >> Sharpen >> Sharpen (do it once)

Step 005
Take "Stock-01" and hit Ctrl + A, follow by Ctrl + C to copy and go over your already cropped icon and hit Ctrl + V to paste the stock, now position everything and choose "Screen" as your blending mode. Here's how my Layer Palette looks like:

You should get something like this:

Step 006
Flatten everything, Ctrl + Shift + E.

Optional
This is optional, you may duplicate the already flatten layer (Layer >> Duplicate Layer) and set the topmost layer to Soft Light/Overlay with reduced opacity to bring out colors/brightness to the icon, but it's optional.

Step 007
Image >> Image Size, set the width to 91 (the height shall follow), open up a new canvas again Ctrl + N 100 x 100, on your freshly opened canvas (100 x 100) make a random selection of your choice by using the Marquee Tool (M on the keyboard), something like this:

But where the selection will be is up to you, and then minimize the window, go over your resized icon (91 x 91), Ctrl + A, then Ctrl + C to copy, minimize the window, and go over your 100 x 100, the selection will still be there, now hit  Ctrl + Shift + V to Paste Into Selection, like what you see above, from here on you may move and adjust the image to your liking by using the move tool (V on the keyboard).

Extra
You may add a stroke to the selection, just go to Edit >> Stroke, choose "inside" for the position and the rest is up to you.

Step 008
Open up "Stock-02" and likewise the same thing Ctrl + A / Ctrl + C then go over your 100 x 100 canvas and hit Ctrl + V to paste, if the stock overlapped the actual icon image, go to your Layer Palette and re-arrange them by dragging. My Layer Palette at the end:

You can be creative and extra element if you would like, I added some scribble by using the pencil tool for fun, and the end result as you've seen right at the top:

There you go, have fun.

And the rest, using stocks and techniques above! They're up for grab

My icon journal - defunct32

Credits:
Lost-Media.COM
GettyImages