Icon Tutorial
Using PSP 8
From
to 
From
to Start with your base.
Duplicate and set to screen 45%.
Merge visible layers.
Go to Adjust --> Hue and Saturation --> Automatic Saturation Enhancement
Choose 'More Colorful' and 'Strong'. Be sure 'Skintones Present' is checked.
Add a new raster layer. Fill it with #C0FFFF and set it to color burn 100%.
Add another raster layer. Fill it with #FFC0C0 and set it to softlight 20%.
Go to Layers --> New Adjustment Layer --> Color Balance
Be sure 'Preserve Luminance' is checked.
Set to:
Midtones: +15, +10, -15
Shadows: -15, +10, +20
Highlights: +20, +10, +20
Merge visible layers.
Duplicate base and set to screen 50%.
Duplicate base again and set to softlight 50%.
Add a new Color Balance layer.
Be sure 'Preserve Luminance' is checked.
Set to:
Midtones: +4, +17, +74
Shadows: -23, -7, 9
Highlights: 0, 0, +6
Add another new Color Balance layer.
Be sure 'Preserve Luminance' isn't checked. (If it is, it'll give you a weird color)
Set to:
Midtones: 0, -27, +100
Shadows: +100, 0, -100
Highlights: -100, 0, +28
Add another new Color Balance layer.
Be sure 'Preserve Luminance' is checked.
Set to:
Midtones: 0, 0, +28
Duplicate your base, drag to top of layers palette.
Duplicate and set to screen 45%.
Merge visible layers.
Go to Adjust --> Hue and Saturation --> Automatic Saturation Enhancement
Choose 'More Colorful' and 'Strong'. Be sure 'Skintones Present' is checked.
Add a new raster layer. Fill it with #C0FFFF and set it to color burn 100%.
Add another raster layer. Fill it with #FFC0C0 and set it to softlight 20%.
Go to Layers --> New Adjustment Layer --> Color Balance
Be sure 'Preserve Luminance' is checked.
Set to:
Midtones: +15, +10, -15
Shadows: -15, +10, +20
Highlights: +20, +10, +20
Merge visible layers.
Duplicate base and set to screen 50%.
Duplicate base again and set to softlight 50%.
Add a new Color Balance layer.
Be sure 'Preserve Luminance' is checked.
Set to:
Midtones: +4, +17, +74
Shadows: -23, -7, 9
Highlights: 0, 0, +6
Add another new Color Balance layer.
Be sure 'Preserve Luminance' isn't checked. (If it is, it'll give you a weird color)
Set to:
Midtones: 0, -27, +100
Shadows: +100, 0, -100
Highlights: -100, 0, +28
Add another new Color Balance layer.
Be sure 'Preserve Luminance' is checked.
Set to:
Midtones: 0, 0, +28
Duplicate your base, drag to top of layers palette.
Set to screen 50%.
You're done.