PSP 8 Tutorial
Ok, I've never done one of these before, so don't mind if I'm not the best at it :P
I use PSP 8. And I use a plug-in quite often, Aetherize from the Designer Sextet from flamingpear.com, so it may be good to download it (it's very useful).
This tutorial is for this icon:
I started with this cap.
I resized it (image>resize) to 25%. I then copied the image and pasted it onto a blank 98x98 image and moved it until I had it where I wanted it. I then merged all (layers>merge all). An important icon tip is never to center your image - it looks better if you crop it off center, and leaves more room for text.
I then adjusted the levels (adjust>brightness & contrast>levels), with the numbers being 0, 1.8, 255.
I then adjusted the fade correction (adjust>color balance>fade correction), to a degree of 44. Sometimes (as in this case), this provides a really pretty coloring for the icon all on its own.
Then, I picked a dark color from the icon with the dropper tool (6th tool from the top on the toolbar). In this case, I picked a dark green to the right of Willow's shoulder. I then added a new raster layer (layers>add new raster layer) and under Properties, I selected Exclusion. Next, I flood filled (fifth tool from the bottom of the toolbar).
Then, I went to the color balance (adjust>color balance>color balance) and randomly looked for a coloring I liked. I then merged all (layers>merge all). I settled on this.
I like my icons to be vibrant typically, so I use the Aetherize tool quite often. You can get this plug-in from http://www.flamingpear.com under the Designer Sextet plug-in. Once you install that, you go to effects>plug-ins>flaming pear>aetherize. I like the setting Normal, Blur: 0, Hues: 0, Colorize: 0, Haze: 0, Dreaminess: 8 to add some brightness to my icon. I get this.
Now I want to add a brush to the icon to make it more interesting. First, I use the drop tool to get another color for the brush. I'm picking the light green on the right of the icon. I then open up another blank 98x98 image so I can use the brush on there. As for the actual brush, I'm using the star brush from
bluevinyl. I apply the brush to the blank image, then copy the image (edit>copy) and then paste it onto the Willow icon (edit>paste)
Obviously, I have to adjust the opacity. In fact, I don't want the stars over Willow, so I erase all that out using the eraser tool (7th from the bottom on the toolbar).
Now you can't even see the brush, and that's no good! So I go to layers>properties for that layer, and I set it to Screen. I erase the little bit of remnants of the stars that got messed up when I erased them off Willow. I then merge all.
I still want some more texture, so I'm going to add a grid brush byisabellecs. I do the same thing with applying it to a blank 98x98 image, and then copying and pasting it onto the image.
Obviously, have to adjust the opacity of the layer again. So I go to layers>properties and set it to Soft Light (which is good with grid brushes). I change the opacity to 50, and then merge all.
Now I need a border. So I'm using a border brush bylilyblossoms, again applying it to a blank 98x98 image and then pasting it onto the image (in this case, I don't really have to do this since I'm happy with the brush as it is, but it's just habit. You can just apply the border brush to the actual image if you want).
I then add a 1 point border to the icon in the same color as the border brush (image>add borders).
Now I need text. And I'm lazy, so I'm just going to add "Special" to the icon. Cause too totally lazy to think up text now :P Plus, it's what Tara calls her in that scene. So. I use the drop tool to pick up the light blue/green color in one of the stars, and I use Arial Black at Size 5 and add "Special" in all caps.
Now, you can hardly see the text, so I'm going to drop shadow it with black so it stands out more. (effects>3-d effects>drop shadow, with the numbers 1, 1, 100, 2.97. I want it to stand out a little more, so I do it again.
And voila! Finished product.
Ok, so I hope that was a little helpful. Let me know what you think, any questions, etc., etc. :)
I use PSP 8. And I use a plug-in quite often, Aetherize from the Designer Sextet from flamingpear.com, so it may be good to download it (it's very useful).
This tutorial is for this icon:
I started with this cap.
I resized it (image>resize) to 25%. I then copied the image and pasted it onto a blank 98x98 image and moved it until I had it where I wanted it. I then merged all (layers>merge all). An important icon tip is never to center your image - it looks better if you crop it off center, and leaves more room for text.
I then adjusted the levels (adjust>brightness & contrast>levels), with the numbers being 0, 1.8, 255.
I then adjusted the fade correction (adjust>color balance>fade correction), to a degree of 44. Sometimes (as in this case), this provides a really pretty coloring for the icon all on its own.
Then, I picked a dark color from the icon with the dropper tool (6th tool from the top on the toolbar). In this case, I picked a dark green to the right of Willow's shoulder. I then added a new raster layer (layers>add new raster layer) and under Properties, I selected Exclusion. Next, I flood filled (fifth tool from the bottom of the toolbar).
Then, I went to the color balance (adjust>color balance>color balance) and randomly looked for a coloring I liked. I then merged all (layers>merge all). I settled on this.
I like my icons to be vibrant typically, so I use the Aetherize tool quite often. You can get this plug-in from http://www.flamingpear.com under the Designer Sextet plug-in. Once you install that, you go to effects>plug-ins>flaming pear>aetherize. I like the setting Normal, Blur: 0, Hues: 0, Colorize: 0, Haze: 0, Dreaminess: 8 to add some brightness to my icon. I get this.
Now I want to add a brush to the icon to make it more interesting. First, I use the drop tool to get another color for the brush. I'm picking the light green on the right of the icon. I then open up another blank 98x98 image so I can use the brush on there. As for the actual brush, I'm using the star brush from
bluevinyl. I apply the brush to the blank image, then copy the image (edit>copy) and then paste it onto the Willow icon (edit>paste)Obviously, I have to adjust the opacity. In fact, I don't want the stars over Willow, so I erase all that out using the eraser tool (7th from the bottom on the toolbar).
Now you can't even see the brush, and that's no good! So I go to layers>properties for that layer, and I set it to Screen. I erase the little bit of remnants of the stars that got messed up when I erased them off Willow. I then merge all.
I still want some more texture, so I'm going to add a grid brush by
isabellecs. I do the same thing with applying it to a blank 98x98 image, and then copying and pasting it onto the image. Obviously, have to adjust the opacity of the layer again. So I go to layers>properties and set it to Soft Light (which is good with grid brushes). I change the opacity to 50, and then merge all.
Now I need a border. So I'm using a border brush by
lilyblossoms, again applying it to a blank 98x98 image and then pasting it onto the image (in this case, I don't really have to do this since I'm happy with the brush as it is, but it's just habit. You can just apply the border brush to the actual image if you want). I then add a 1 point border to the icon in the same color as the border brush (image>add borders).
Now I need text. And I'm lazy, so I'm just going to add "Special" to the icon. Cause too totally lazy to think up text now :P Plus, it's what Tara calls her in that scene. So. I use the drop tool to pick up the light blue/green color in one of the stars, and I use Arial Black at Size 5 and add "Special" in all caps.
Now, you can hardly see the text, so I'm going to drop shadow it with black so it stands out more. (effects>3-d effects>drop shadow, with the numbers 1, 1, 100, 2.97. I want it to stand out a little more, so I do it again.
And voila! Finished product.
Ok, so I hope that was a little helpful. Let me know what you think, any questions, etc., etc. :)