Icontutorial # 35: The Incredible Hulk for PS
This has been done in PS CS3, but should work with most other Photoshop versions. It includes Selective Coloring, but it might work without that step. :)
I had requests from several people for a tutorial for the following icons.
They mostly include the same steps when it comes to the colouring, with a few variations on how to prepare the base. Doing my best not to create a mess here. ;)
How to go from
to 
For the first icon, simply take your picture, resize it to a height of around 80 pixels. Arrange it on a background leaving some space on the left side. Duplicate it, move the duplicate to the right and desaturate it (leave some space between the two images, if necessary cut some parts). Invert the image, Image - Adjustments - Invert. (If you wonder about the 'green flash' in the example icon above - that's part of the cap. Plant's getting the way.)
For the second one, resize your image to a height of 100 pixel. Paste it onto a 100x100 background, a bit to the right. For the left part, go back to your image and resize it to a width of 100 pixel. Paste it onto your background and rotate it 90° clockwise (Edit - Transform - Rotate 90° CW), move it to the left. With the default Drop Shadow Brushes erase bits of the rotated image, doesn't need to be accurate. Invert again, and then desaturate the whole thing.
The last one is rather simple blending (simple since it's caps from the same scene). Take your two caps, paste them onto the same background and move them around.
Pick the much loved fuzzy brush and erase the unnecessary bits from the upper image. Crop the whole thing to a size of 100x100.
--> 
Doesn't all look too exciting, I know. On to the colouring. ;)
This is your base.
To lighten it up, apply a curves layer (Layer - New Adjustment Layer - Curves), RGB Channel, should look like this:
Duplicate the curves the layer.
--> 
Create a new layer on top, fill it with #efe1c1 and set it to multiply. Duplicate that layer and lower the opacity to 41%.
--> 
A tiny bit of Selective Colouring. Don't hit me. ;)
Create a New Adjustment Layer on top, Selective Color. I used it to enhance the Reds a bit. I think.
Reds: +4, +47, +6, +15
Yellows: -26, +2, -5, +15
Greens: -11, -3, +21, +23
Neutrals: 0, -2, -5, 0
Now take this texture by
peoplemachines, paste it on top, move it around a bit and set it to screen. With the aforementioned fuzzy brush erase the upper parts. Mine looked like this in the end:
Duplicate that screenlayer.
--> 
Again paste the texture on top, invert it (so it turns mostly white) and set it to multiply. Erase the parts covering the faces.
--> 
Duplicate your base, drag it to the top, desaturate it and set it to soft light.
For the frame I used a texture I have trouble finding again, though I believe it's by either
ohfreckle or discolore. Either way, any texture of that or a similar colouring will do.
-->
For the prepared bases and with a few slight adjustments (for all three I've added another SC layer on top, with the Blacks Black +16), the result looks like this:
01)
02) 
3) 
02) Added a light texture byxswaniconsx on top, set to screen. Also applied some tan colour on the bottom, with a fuzzy brush.
03) Duplicated the base and set it to screen, lowered opacity.
I had requests from several people for a tutorial for the following icons.
They mostly include the same steps when it comes to the colouring, with a few variations on how to prepare the base. Doing my best not to create a mess here. ;)
How to go from
to For the first icon, simply take your picture, resize it to a height of around 80 pixels. Arrange it on a background leaving some space on the left side. Duplicate it, move the duplicate to the right and desaturate it (leave some space between the two images, if necessary cut some parts). Invert the image, Image - Adjustments - Invert. (If you wonder about the 'green flash' in the example icon above - that's part of the cap. Plant's getting the way.)
For the second one, resize your image to a height of 100 pixel. Paste it onto a 100x100 background, a bit to the right. For the left part, go back to your image and resize it to a width of 100 pixel. Paste it onto your background and rotate it 90° clockwise (Edit - Transform - Rotate 90° CW), move it to the left. With the default Drop Shadow Brushes erase bits of the rotated image, doesn't need to be accurate. Invert again, and then desaturate the whole thing.
The last one is rather simple blending (simple since it's caps from the same scene). Take your two caps, paste them onto the same background and move them around.
Pick the much loved fuzzy brush and erase the unnecessary bits from the upper image. Crop the whole thing to a size of 100x100.
--> Doesn't all look too exciting, I know. On to the colouring. ;)
This is your base.
To lighten it up, apply a curves layer (Layer - New Adjustment Layer - Curves), RGB Channel, should look like this:
Duplicate the curves the layer.
--> Create a new layer on top, fill it with #efe1c1 and set it to multiply. Duplicate that layer and lower the opacity to 41%.
--> A tiny bit of Selective Colouring. Don't hit me. ;)
Create a New Adjustment Layer on top, Selective Color. I used it to enhance the Reds a bit. I think.
Reds: +4, +47, +6, +15
Yellows: -26, +2, -5, +15
Greens: -11, -3, +21, +23
Neutrals: 0, -2, -5, 0
Now take this texture by
peoplemachines, paste it on top, move it around a bit and set it to screen. With the aforementioned fuzzy brush erase the upper parts. Mine looked like this in the end:Duplicate that screenlayer.
--> Again paste the texture on top, invert it (so it turns mostly white) and set it to multiply. Erase the parts covering the faces.
--> Duplicate your base, drag it to the top, desaturate it and set it to soft light.
For the frame I used a texture I have trouble finding again, though I believe it's by either
ohfreckle or discolore. Either way, any texture of that or a similar colouring will do. --> For the prepared bases and with a few slight adjustments (for all three I've added another SC layer on top, with the Blacks Black +16), the result looks like this:
01)
02) 3) 02) Added a light texture by
xswaniconsx on top, set to screen. Also applied some tan colour on the bottom, with a fuzzy brush.03) Duplicated the base and set it to screen, lowered opacity.