Full Icon Tutorial: Spike
Go from this to
Program: PS, but translateable
Level: Intermediate
*Do not copy the whole icon. Use this technique on other images.
First thing first - to get my base I followed this tutorial from
awmp (@ 
awmpdotnet). I also adjusted the Curves to make the shadows a little darker and the skin a little brighter. You should end up with something like this:
Set this gradient to Screen 65%. Every image is different, so mess around with it until you get something you like. (No idea who made this, tell me if you know).
>
Bring the base to the top and set to Soft Light. You'll get something like this:
Merge your layers.
Now, add a new layer and select a strip on the far left and fill with a pattern. I used a pattern by hybrid-genesis. Pick a pattern that is similar to your color scheme.
Create a new layer underneath that pattern and select a strip on the far left that will overlap and fill it with a similar, but darker color. For this, I used #B46210. Because it's underneath the pattern layer, it won't overlap it. Instead, it'll just look like a thinner strip right next to it. You'll end up with this:
Add this border (by me) and set to Screen.
So now your layers should be: base, gradient, base Soft Light, brown-orange strip, pattern strip, white border.
You're done!
Program: PS, but translateable
Level: Intermediate
*Do not copy the whole icon. Use this technique on other images.
First thing first - to get my base I followed this tutorial from
awmp (@ awmpdotnet). I also adjusted the Curves to make the shadows a little darker and the skin a little brighter. You should end up with something like this:Set this gradient to Screen 65%. Every image is different, so mess around with it until you get something you like. (No idea who made this, tell me if you know).
> Bring the base to the top and set to Soft Light. You'll get something like this:
Merge your layers.
Now, add a new layer and select a strip on the far left and fill with a pattern. I used a pattern by hybrid-genesis. Pick a pattern that is similar to your color scheme.
Create a new layer underneath that pattern and select a strip on the far left that will overlap and fill it with a similar, but darker color. For this, I used #B46210. Because it's underneath the pattern layer, it won't overlap it. Instead, it'll just look like a thinner strip right next to it. You'll end up with this:
Add this border (by me) and set to Screen.
So now your layers should be: base, gradient, base Soft Light, brown-orange strip, pattern strip, white border.
You're done!