icon tutorial 001 - bright colouring
Create your base. Go to Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask and use these settings:
Amount: 50%
Radius: 1.0 px
Threshold: 0 lvls
This gives it a subtle, not-too-strong sharpen. I use these settings on most of my images.
STEP 002.
Duplicate your sharpened base and set it to Screen, 100%. A good thing is to leave the opacity at 100%, even if it is too bright. After this next step, you can go back and adjust it.
STEP 003.
Now, create a new layer and fill it with B4ABA2. Set the blend mode to Colour Burn. This creates the depth and the effect we've been looking for.
Now, you can go back to the Screen layer and adjust the opacity to your liking. This icon was fine the way it was, so I left it at that. =)
THE END RESULT.
OTHER ICONS MADE WITH THIS TUTORIAL.
I'd love to see your result. =) Any comments or questions, please feel free to ask.