Coloring Tuts - The WHY of Coloring
A couple "Quick and Dirty" Tutorials using PSP 9 - I'm pretty sure they translate. :)
001.
Fixing an Overly Green Base//Soft Lighting
TO 
Start with your base. Duh.
New Layer fill with #f5d5f5 and set to Soft Light 100%.
(WHY? - A light purple color set to soft light can really brighten up your image and give it a more "natural" coloring to skin. And it just looks nice. :D)
New Layer fill with #16213b and set to Exclusion 100%
(WHY? - Takes some of the purpleness out of the icon and softens up any leftover harsh colors - also removes any left over green)
Duplicate background - drag to top - set to burn 25%
(WHY? - Removes the misty look that the Exlusion layer brought us, deepens colors and finalizes your image.)
And you're done! :D
002.
Using Color Balance and Exlusion Layers!
TO 
Start with your base (durrr.) Duplicate your base and set to screen 25%
(WHY? - Lightens up your image without washing it out or making it look "misty." This setting will vary GREATLY depending on the darkness of your base. You may find you don't need it at all if you're starting with a light base. :D)
Layer - New Adjustment Layer - Color Balance (settings - varies depending on image!!) 100%
(WHY? - An easy way to bring out certain colors and change your coloring without a ton of layers. :D
My settings SHADOWS - MIDTONES - HIGHLIGHTS. NOTE: This WILL VARY.)
Raster Layer (#00196a) set to Exlusion 100%
(WHY? - Because a) I love exclusion layers and b) it completely changes the colors of your icon. For this icon, it made all the blue colors that nice teal coloring.)
Duplicate base, drag to the top, desaturate and set to Soft Light 100%
(WHY? - Well, for this step, you can either leave it saturated or not. That's up to you. In any event, this is another quick and easy way to get rid of that nasty misty look. It deepens colors and gives your icon a "finished" look. Note how it also removed the harsh redness we got from earlier layers.)
And you're done...again! :)
NOTE: These are just guides. You should know that by now. :) Take the IDEAS and make them your own! Have fun! :)
(x-posted to
leaky_sponge)
001.
Fixing an Overly Green Base//Soft Lighting
TO Start with your base. Duh.
New Layer fill with #f5d5f5 and set to Soft Light 100%.
(WHY? - A light purple color set to soft light can really brighten up your image and give it a more "natural" coloring to skin. And it just looks nice. :D)
New Layer fill with #16213b and set to Exclusion 100%
(WHY? - Takes some of the purpleness out of the icon and softens up any leftover harsh colors - also removes any left over green)
Duplicate background - drag to top - set to burn 25%
(WHY? - Removes the misty look that the Exlusion layer brought us, deepens colors and finalizes your image.)
And you're done! :D
002.
Using Color Balance and Exlusion Layers!
TO Start with your base (durrr.) Duplicate your base and set to screen 25%
(WHY? - Lightens up your image without washing it out or making it look "misty." This setting will vary GREATLY depending on the darkness of your base. You may find you don't need it at all if you're starting with a light base. :D)
Layer - New Adjustment Layer - Color Balance (settings - varies depending on image!!) 100%
(WHY? - An easy way to bring out certain colors and change your coloring without a ton of layers. :D
My settings SHADOWS - MIDTONES - HIGHLIGHTS. NOTE: This WILL VARY.)
Raster Layer (#00196a) set to Exlusion 100%
(WHY? - Because a) I love exclusion layers and b) it completely changes the colors of your icon. For this icon, it made all the blue colors that nice teal coloring.)
Duplicate base, drag to the top, desaturate and set to Soft Light 100%
(WHY? - Well, for this step, you can either leave it saturated or not. That's up to you. In any event, this is another quick and easy way to get rid of that nasty misty look. It deepens colors and gives your icon a "finished" look. Note how it also removed the harsh redness we got from earlier layers.)
And you're done...again! :)
NOTE: These are just guides. You should know that by now. :) Take the IDEAS and make them your own! Have fun! :)
(x-posted to
leaky_sponge)