PS: curves/makeup tutorial

I did this effect on a few icons recently, and I liked it, so I'm writing a tutorial so I don't forget how I did it. And so others can use it, too ;)

Go from to

Using only Photoshop; no premade bases or anything (besides the light texture) :)


Crop your base. This image was from a photoshoot that you can find on most Angelina Jolie fansites.



Prepare your base however you normally do... I sharpen twice (Filters ---> Sharpen ---> Sharpen), then use the blur tool to make the skin ultra-smooth. After that's done, I duplicated the base once, desaturated the duplicate (Shift+Ctrl+U), then set it to Soft Light 100%.



The coloring in this image is a little too red for me, so I'm going to tweak the coloring in the Curves menu (Ctrl+M or Image ---> Adjustments ---> Curves). To reduce the amount of red in an image, select "Red" from the dropdown menu, click on the line, and move it to the right. You can click again in a different location to bring in more red if you overdo it. You can also adjust Green and Blue to bring it or remove those colors. Using curves is pretty straightforward, but it takes practice. For the sake of this tutorial, I'm going to give you the number values in the Input and Output boxes I used to get this effect (note: click on the line first, or these values may not work properly).

Curves: RGB: leave as is; Red: Input 188, Output 171; Green: Input 165, Output 176; Blue: Input 122, Output 133.



Now the image is less red and more blue/green tinted. Next, let's add some simple makeup. Create a new layer, set to Overlay 80%, and select color #b53160 on the color palatte. Magnify your image if necessary, then use a small round brush (2-3px)to outline the eyes in the hot pink color (you don't have to use pink, you can use whatever color you want). Next, select color #ba828a, and trace it over the lips. That layer's done. Now create another layer, set to Opacity 40%, and apply #894259 to the cheeks using a 5-9px soft round brush. Flatten the image. If you choose, use the Dodge tool JUST A LITTLE BIT on the inside of the bottom lip to highlight. This adds a little bit more life and color to the previously pale Angelina.



Apply a light texture of your choice (the one used here is by me, available at my journal), set to Screen 100%. Erase any of the texture covering your subject's face.



Create a new layer. The border below isn't actually a brush or base; I literally hand-drew it for this tutorial. It's easy enough: select a 9-15px hard round brush, and draw a curved border covering two sides of your icon. It may take a few tries, but it's not too difficult. You can use the same hard round brush to erase parts if you cover anything you don't want covered. Then select a 5-8px chalk/wet media brush (something with rough edges) and hand-draw an X in the corner. Then just add some tiny text, and you have your own fun curvey border.



Add a lens flare (Filters --> Render --> Lens Flare) and you're done :)