prettymuchcrazy

Tutorial #5 Yellow Annie

an_aiko — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 16:12:15 GMT

This is the second request I got for the "ask the maker" asked by paintedtarget icon_talk

I hope you find it useful :)

Fro to

I tried to recreate the coloring of the original icon as much as I could, I thought it would befairly "easy" because the background is already yellow but still didn't got the exact same icon, I hope this works for you anyway ;)

Step 1. I resized the original screencap to 280x158 and worked directly on it,then when te coloring was sort of what I wanted, I changed it to a new 100x100 canvas you can work directly on the icon or resize later do it however you want :).

First, duplicate your base and set it to screen (20% opacity) then add a black and white gradient (like this one) set to soft light 81% fill.

Step 2. Now comes curves time, whis will help bringing up the yellows :) Go to Layer >> New Adjustment Layer >> Curves:

RED:
Point 1: Output: 199 Input: 191
Point 2: Output: 61 Input: 59
GREEN:
Point 1: Output: 191 Input: 186
Point 2: Output: 79 Input: 69
BLUE:
Point 1: Output: 186 Input: 195
Point 2: Output: 75 Input: 84

Then add another curves layer changing only the RGB.

RGB:
Point 1: Output: 208 Input: 182
Point 2: Output: 133 Input: 83

You'll get something like THIS (click me)

Step 3. Now add a new vibrance layer (+39) Layer >> New Adjustment Layer >> Vibrance. Then add a new color fill layer with #fbe8a6 and set it to soft light (43% opacity) and then a new fill layer with #fff7f0 and set it to multiply (54% fill). ONE >> TWO >> THREE

Step 4. Now add another gradient like (this one) and set it to soft light (22% opacity) and then fill a layer with #f1ecec and set it to soft light (opacity 65%). Your cap/icon should be looking something like this:

Step 5. Go to Layer >> New Adjustment Layer >> Selective Coloring and lower the opacity to 60% and put the following settings:

REDS: -9 // 0 // +14// 0.
YELLOWS: -13 // 0 // +17 // 0.
WHITES: -18 // /0 // -10// 0.
NEUTRALS: +2 // +4 // +5 // 0.

And then, add a new vibrance layer Layer >> New Adjustment Layer >> Vibrance (+38 // -2)

Step 6. At this point I was fairly happy with my coloring so I merged and passed the layer to a 100x100 canvas and sharpened a bit (you can either go to filter >>sharpen >> sharpen or use paint daubs). Then I went to Blur >> Gaussian Blur and set the layer to soft light (opacity 29%) and then added a new vibrance layer (+16).

>> >> >>

Step 7. Now add a new exposure layer (Layer >> New Adjustment Layer >> Exposure) which I prefer to give light and contrast, with the following settings +0.23 // 0.0131 // 0.91. And then with a round brush with #f4d96c paint the background and lower the oppacity to 25% (set to normal), duplicate and set to soft light.

>> >>

Step 8. Add this texture by lumsx and set it to soft light (opacity 34%) then with a brush paint a few white blobs and erase the parts you don't want (like this) and set it to normal (opacity: 23% fill: 54%). Then you can add an optional vibrance layer (+16) and you're done! :)

>> >> >>

I really hope you like it and that you find it useful, If you have any questions please ask ^

Tutorial #4 Belle de Jour

an_aiko — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 23:27:07 GMT

Hi there everyone :)

I finally have some free time so I'm answering the "ask the maker" questions at icon_talk paintedtarget sked for a tutorial on this icon so there it goes :)

We are going from this screencap to:

This icon was fairly easy to make and it doesn't involve that many layers, mostly just playing arround with blocking and stuff :)

Step 1. Resize your base and place it in a new 100x100 canvas and then create a new layer filled with #af9f9f and put it under the cap so it looks like this:

Step 2. Now with that same color add a new layer on top of them and paint the background except the light focus on her face, then add two new layers, on the first one take a round brush with #af9f9f and paint it on the light source (like this), then erase or mask away the part on her face (like this). Then repeat on the second layer but don't erase and add a slight blob on the bottom right and set the layer to soft light and lower the opacity to 56% (should look like this).

Step 3. Now add a new layer and with a brush with #bbadae paint the background (everything but Belle), then merge all the layers on a new layer, duplicate twice setting the first one to screen opacity 50% and the second one to soft light opacity 50%, then merge again.

Step 4. Now go to Image >> Adjustment >> Variations and select "more green" once, then merge again on a new layer and sharpen it (filter >> sharpen >> sharpen OR filter >> artistic >> paint daubs) set the opacity to 57%.

Step 5. TEXTURE TIME! Now, I'm really really sorry in advance because I have no idea who made the textures I used :/ (So please if anyone recognizes them please let me know so I can credit ;)). Now, we are going to add three textures, set the first one to saturation, the second one to divide (opacity 40%) and the third to overlay (opacity 36%).

>> >> + >>

Step 6.Merge again all the layers and go to filter >> blur >> gaussian blur and set the layer to soft light opacity 40%, then add a new layer and paint the top part with #cce675 and set it to overlay (opacity 50%), then merge againg and go to gaussian blur, then set the layer to soft light (opacity: 34%, fill: 61%) and merge again (I know I merge a lot!).

>> >> >> >>

Step 6. Now this is the fun part, open a few new 100x100 canvases and drag your top layer to all of them, resize each one of them so they are all different sizes and drag each one again to your icon. Now spread the diferent layers arround your icon, I arranged them so they were on top of the white spots then go to edit >> transform >> rotate // flip horizontal etc...(whatever you want, play arround!):

Step 7. To finish up, merge again and go to fliter >> blur >> gaussian blur (opacity 30% fill: 40%) place some light blobs arround and set them to soft light opacity 50% and you're set! :)

>> >>

Soooo that was it, I really hope you find it useful, please ask any questions you may have. Enjoy it! :)

an_aiko — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 20:39:51 GMT

This is a very very long overdue post, I've been really really busy with exams and stuff but I'm finaly free.

This post is a clean slate from all the stuff from 2012, I've been thinking and this year I want to be more active and not make a post every thousand years, I'll try to make more icons each week and post them here, do you guys know any cool challenge communities? :)

I will also be posting the tutorials from ask the maker as soon as I make them ;)

Once Upon a Time {26}
Haven {21}
Whedonverse {09}
Downton Abbey {07}
Game of Thrones {06}
Lost {04}
True Blood {04}
Others ( Misfits, Teen Wolf..) {07}

Teaser:

1-5

6-10

11-15

16-20

21-25

26-30

31-35

36-40

41-45

46-50

51-55

56-60

61-65

66-70

71-75

76-80

81-85

86-90

Icon Dump

an_aiko — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 19:55:26 GMT

So I've been strugling with inspiration lately so I decided to start over posting all of the unposted icons that I had on my computer, something like a "cleanse" and start organizing all my folders so, basically this is going to be a huge icon dump of all the icons of past challenges, battles and failed atempts at the iconquest feel free to scroll over and ignore it ot you know, lurk if you want ;)

Sorry in advance for the shitty quality in some of them lol.

[48] The Hunger Games
[48] Misc. (Doctor Who, Vampire Diaries, Lost, SDoaCG etc.)
[23] True Blood
[20] Downton Abbey
[15] Whedonverse (Dollhouse, Buffy, Avengers...)
[13] Game of Thrones
[10] Atonement
[9] Fringe
[8] The Borgias
[7] Community
[3] Battlestar Galactica

There's 216 of them so this post is IMAGE HEAVY

whedonverse
01 02 03 04 05
06 07 08 09 10
11 12 13 14 15
bsg
16 17 18
fringe
19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27

community
28 29 30 31 32
33 34
true blood
35 36 37 38 39
40 41 42 43 44
45 46 47 48 49
50 51 52 53 54
55 56 57

downton abbey
58 59 60 61 62
63 64 65 66 67
68 69 70 71 72
73 74 75 76 77


gameofthrones
78 79 80 81 82
83 84 85 86 87
88 89 90

atonement
91 92 93 94 95
96 97 98 99 100

the hunger games
101 102 103 104 105
106 107 108 109 110
111 112 113 114 115
116 117 118 119 120
121 122 123 124 125
126 127 128 129 130
131 132 133 134 135
136 137 138 139 140
141 142 143 144 145
146 147 148

teen wolf
149 150 151 152 153
154

misfits
155 156 157 158 159
160

the borgias
161 162 163 164 165
166 167 168

misc
169 170 171 172 173
174 175 176 177 178
179 180 181 182 183
184 185 186 187 188
189 190 191 192 193
194 195 196 197 198
199 200 201 202 203
204 205 206 207 208
209 210  211 212 213
214 215 216


*Don't hotlink please
*Don't claim as your own
* Please credit me an_aiko:)
* Comments and concrit are always welcome :)

tutorial #3: Orange Community

an_aiko — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:44:13 GMT

So today I made the Annie tutorial that spiderlin requested at icon_talk 's ask the maker thread.

I couldn't recreate the exact same icon because I didn't save the psd. but I hope you find it useful anyway. Also I don't know why I tend to make a lot of layers lately so this is going to be long,

We are going from (this screencap)

to

I hope you enjoy it ;)

So let's begin, the first thing you have to do is to crop your image to a 100x100 icon, or resize it and copy it on a 100x100 canvas. I don't usually crop my images because this way I can resize as many times as I want until I get the desired result and compare different "sizes" to se which one fits best.

It's not like I don't like Abed but I think that Annie's expression was the key of the screencap and I wanted to focus more on that, the thing is that I also liked the squared background because it was almost like a texture, so insted of making a super close crop of her face made a center one so I could have everything. But enough of boring ramblings, let's start for real!

1# After you've cropped your image, duplicate your base 3 times, set the bottom two to screen and the top one to soft light with an opaccity of 48%, then make a curves layer with only one point (RGB: input:158 output:130)

>> >>

2# Now make a color balance layer (Layer >> New Adjustment Layer >> Color Balance) with the following settings:

Shadows: +30 // +12 // +8
Midtones: +52 // +5 // -23

>>

3# Add a gradient layer with this color (#fce4d7) change the opacity to 95% and the fill to 79%

+ =

Now merge the layers (Cntrl+Alt+Shift+E) in a new layer and set it to multiply

Her face now looks out of focus and it's too dark so, duplicate the base layer AND the curves layer from before, merge them togheter and drag it to the top, now set it to screen with 40% of oppacity (better now :))

>>

4# Now you will make TWO selective coloring layers (Layer >> New Adjustment Layer >> Selective Coloring) with the following settings:

1º LAYER:
*Red: -9 // 0 // -33 // 0
*Yellows: -26 // 0 // 50 // 0
*Neutrals: -10 // 0 // +27 // 0

2ºLAYER
*Red: -18 // 0 // -12 // 0
*Yellows: -20 // 0 // 58 // 0
*Neutrals: +13 // 0 // +21 // 0

And then add a vibrance layer (Layer >> New Adjustment Layer >> Vibrance) with vibrance +93 and saturation 0, then sharpen it, don't worry if it's to sharp I'll fix that later.

>>  >>  >>

5# Add a new curves layer with the following settings:

RED:
1ºpoint: output: 49 input: 0
2ºpoint: output: 61 input: 33
3ºpoint: output: 176 input: 196

BLUE
1ºpoint: output: 20 input: 15

The image, looks to green now so I added a new color balance layer and played arround with the midtones

Settings:
cyan: +52 // magenta: 0 // yellow: +3

>>

Now the icon looked already pretty to me, but I don't know why...I went crazy with light blobs so...there's that...

6# Add a few withe blobs to the top of the image and blur them with gaussian blur ( Filter >> Blur >> Gaussian Blur ) set it to overlay with 46% opacity and 49% fill

+  =

Now add a orange fill layer with this orange (# f0a21a) duplicate it three times, set the first one to hard light (op:54% fill:47%), the second to multiply  (op:13% fill:43%), and the third to hard light too but erase a bit of the top of it  (op:22% fill: 25%)

+  +  =

Merge the layers in a new layer on top, and blur it a bit with gaussian blur, set the layer to multiply (op:14% fill: 100%)

+  =

From now on, everything will be slight changes and it will depend on the darkness/quality of your image.

7# Go to (Layer >> New Adjustment Layer >> Exposure) and change the settings to:

*Exposure: +0.10
*Offset: 0.0078
*Gamma: 1.00

The exposure tool saves my life so many times, you can change, the brightness and the contrast of the background and the subject as you like, and it gets more balanced than with brightness and contrast layer / IMO.

Then, with this reddish color (#700404) paint the lower part of the icon and erase the parts that cover Annie, then set it to soft light (op: 28% fill: 45%) this way the color on the lower side will pop out more while the top part keeps the light:

+  =

8# More blobs, this time merge your layer on top, and put the blobs directly on Annie, I placed two on the top part of the icon, one on the left corner and a smaller one near her head and set it to normal op: 25% fill 58%, then sharpen your image.

+ =

Now the image it might be too sharp, if so go to filter >> blur >> gaussian blur, and tweak it a bit, then set the opacity to 51% and the fill to 27%.

+ =

Now add more withe blobs on the lower part, I added two (as shown below) and set the layer to soft light (op: 28% fill: 34%), then added a new fill layer with a light brown color (#ac5b0a) and set it to multiply (op: 24% fill: 21%).

+ + =

9# Then add a new white layer and erase the parts that cover Annie an set them to soft light (op: 20% fill: 54%), then add another blob this time maken a withe line from the half right of the icon to the middle top part like shown below and blur them as allways set it to soft light too (op: 21% fill: 51%), the important part of the light blobs is that makes the color lighter in the points you want, you can make as many as you want fittin the capture you've got.

+ + =

10# And finally add yet another withe blob on the bottom left setting it to soft light (op: 92% fill: 57%) and make a gradient with orange and black, like the one shown below, then set it to soft light (op: 22% fill: 42%)

+ =

I know it's a really really long tutorial again, but I tend to make my icons with lots of layers, you could probably stop at the middle of the tutorial and save yourself so many light blobs, but I was trying to recreate the original icon and that's the closest thing I got hence...the never ending layers, but it's okay that way it kind of works as a "texture" guide or somehting, because you can see the different results.

Anyway, I hope this was usefull to all of you and please, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions ;)

Tutorial #2: OUAT (part II)

an_aiko — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 20:19:51 GMT

Now here I come with part two, the broken mirror ~sort of ~ composition.

From  to

This part is the hardest one to explain, because it involves moving arround the layers a lot, and it depends on the two images you are working with, this part is image heavy because I want to try to explain it the best that I can, I hope you find it usefull ;)

You should start it with two icons

1  and 2  previously colored as seen in part 1.

1# Put both icons on the same canvas the fist icon named "1" (loking at front) should be at the bottom and the other "2" (side glance) at the top.
If I were you I would duplicate both layers just in case and let them at the bottom (or in another canvas) since we are going to be working directly over them.

This is a little difficult to explain, so bare with me, and feel free to ask any questions please :)

Move "1" a little bit down,   (I don't know if this is very visible, red fringe) and move "2" a little bit up  , the movements should change each time depending on how you want to blend your captures.

2# Lasso Tool. The most important thing on this tutorial! (I used it over and over and you will hate me for it)

Use it over her face until you achieve the shape you want in my case it looks like this, and erase that part, your icon now should look something like this now   .

3# Merge your icon (cntrl+alt+shift+ E) into a new layer and move it arround as you like, in my case I moved it left a bit

.

4# Duplicate the layer you just moved (if you needed to) and sharpen it (Filter >> Sharpen >> Sharpen or Smart Sharpen), mine was a bit too sharp so I reduced the opacity to 50%.

5# Copy image "1" and drag it to the top of your layers, now use the Lasso Tool again to make the broken mirror effect, mine looks like this  >>  , once you've use the lasso tool duplicate it two more times.

Set the bottom layer to divide op: 61% fill: 38%, the middle layer to lighten op: 75% fill: 100% and the top one to darker color op: 66% fill: 100%.

>>  >>

Move this layers up and down or whatever to fit your icon, I moved mine a bit so you could see her face better.

6# Add a new selective coloring layer (Layer >> New Adjustments Layer >> Selective Color) with the following settings:

GREEN: Cyan: +56
WHITE: Cyan: +63 // Magenta:+1 // Yellow:+47 // Black: +45

7# Merge your layers ( Cntrl+alt+shit+E) and go to Filter >> Blur >> Gaussian Blur set the radius to 2.4 or so and click "ok", then set the layer to soft light op: 44% fill: 100% (I erased the part of her face a bit, but you can do as you like)

8# Add a new curves layer and click "auto" (mine look like this, it doestn't really change much, but i like it better this way, it's brighter)

9# Add a new vibrance layer (Layer >> New Adjustments Layer >> Vibrance) with the following settings:

Vibrance: +59
Saturation: +11

10# Now the icon looks too yellowish, in this kind of situation levels can save your life so go to (Layer >> New Adjustments Layer >> Levels) and add those settings:

RED: 2 // 1.00 // 255
GREEN: 3 // 0.59 // 255
BLUE: 0 // 1.03 // 255

I like it better now, it's more colorful, you can play arround with the settings as you like, color balance can get you pretty results too :)

11# Now add a new brightness and contrast layer (Layer >> New Adjustments Layer >> Brightness and Contrast)

Brightness: +32
Contrast: -4

12# Merge your layers, move them arround and with the blur tool, blur the edges of the "mirror" texture a bit, it should look like this:

13# Merge your layers and use the lasso tool again (you must be starting to hate me and this tool xd) set it to lighten with the opacity at 48%, duplicate it several times and move them arround! (have fun with it :) )

>> >> >> flip it horizontal to add even more texture and erase the parts you dont want>> .

14# LAST STEP! :)

Merge your layers (again) and go to (Filter >> Brush Strokes >> Angled Strokes) with the following settings :

Direction Balance : 19
Stroke Lenght: 15
Sharpness: 7

Set the layer to lighter color with opacity: 32% and fill: 44%

>>

Aaand you are done!

This icon is a little bit tricky so please, please please! ask me if you are not able to make a step or you don't understand it! ( I explained the best I could) anyway this are my layers, I would gladly give away the psd but the rules at icon_talk don't allow it :S

I hope you all liked it and found it useful :)

Part one here

Tutorial #2: OUAT (part I)

an_aiko — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 20:19:07 GMT

Hi there lovelies! :)

I had a request from youwatchusrun to write this tutorial at the "ask the maker" thread at icon_talk

Now I thought that having the .psd saved and all, the tutorial was going to be easy to recreate, but unfortunately it involves a lot of layers, and since .psds are not allowed I decided to divide the tutorial and explain first how to do the coloring and then the composition.

So here it goes:

From this : to this:

First things first, I use CS5 and the tutorial involves a vibrance layer, but the diffrence is so minimal that you can make the icon without it (it all depends of the cap you are using).

I know the icon looks very different in the initial capture, that's because I used two different screencaps to make it ( cap1, cap2), and you will need to repeat this process with both of them if you want to continue with step 2 of the tutorial.

To make the coloring I didn't resize the icon because when colouring, I like to work with bigger captures, but it's up to you, the result will be the same. So, open your captrue (resize if you want) and let's start.

1# The first thing you will have to do is add a black and white gradient (it should look like this) and set it to soft light (op: 100% fill: 80%) you will get something similar to this , as you can see the gradient has changed the light of the icon, now the bottom is darker and the top is more bright.

2# The next step is to add a curves layer to make the capture lighter ( Layer >> New Adj. Layer >> Curves )
Settings:

RGB:
  1.First point:
*ouput: 56
* input: 46
2.Second point:
    output: 217
    input: 183

It should look like this

Why curves and no screen layer? you might be wondering, because if you duplicate and set it to screen you lose contrast, with curves you get the light and the contrast. See the difference? curves, screen.

3# Now add another curves layer to give the image some green (don't touch the RGB this time).

RED:
point 1: input: 40 output: 42
point 2: input: 210 output: 200

GREEN:
point 1: input: 45 output: 39
point 2: input: 201 output: 180

BLUE:
point 1: input:62 output:79
point 2: input: 192 output: 205

This, should be what your curves looks like, and this is what your image should look like.

4# Selective coloring time! Go to Layer >> New adjustment layer >> Selective color, now I'm just going to change the reds, and neutrals a little bit.

RED: Cyan: - 14 // Yellow: +14
NEUTRAL: Cyan: -11 // Magenta: -11 // Yellow: +14

Your image now, should start to look more pretty, shomething like this, overall a little more yelowhish.

5# The last curves layer I promise, just one point, RGB input: 220 output: 200 (my result). Now it might seem that the image is too bright if you are working on the 1820x720 canvas as I am, but it will look better when you resize I promise, otherwise the cap would look darker, and of course it depends on the cap you are working on.

6# New color fill layer with # fff1e3 (veeery light orangy beige color) and set it to multiply op: 100% fill: 50%, your image should look like this.

7# Add a new gradient layer with orange and black, the gradient should look like this, set it to soft light: op: 22% and fill: 100%, your capture should look like this.

8# This step is OPTIONAL, and it will depend on the quality, the coloring of your capture and the adjustments you should have made along the way.

Layer>> New Adjustment Layer >> Vibrance --- > Vibrance +37 (result)

9# If you just want to achieve the coloring this is your last step. Add a selective coloring layer again with the next settings:

RED: Cyan: -10 // Yellow: +14
YELLOW: Cyan:-15 // Yellow: +17
WHITE: Cyan: +12 // Yellow:-10
NEUTRAL: Cyan: +10 // Magenta:+5 // Yellow:+5

Your final image should look like this, now you can make any adjustments you feel like to the settings, because the coloring you want to achieve is going to depend on the capture you've got so this settings may not work with every capture.

Resize your image if you haven't already and start working on a 100X100 icon canvas to get the final result:

I you want to continue to part 2 and achieve this you have to make the same steps all over againg and repeat the coloring on this capture, because I used both.

To see the next part click here!

Chapter 1 first trial main and sidequest :)

an_aiko — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 21:40:12 GMT

My first attempt for theiconquest

[10] Once upon a time
[08] Game of thrones
[05] Sherlock
[06] Community
[06] Legend of the seeker
[01] Atonement
[01] Misfits

TEASER

~MAIN QUEST~
FIRST TRIAL

HERO
Once upon a time and Legend of the Seeker

WIZARD
OUAT and Game of Thrones

BARD
OUAT, GOT, LOTS and Atonement

ROGUE
OUAT, LOTS and Atonement

alternates and others that I didn't know where to place:

~ SIDEQUEST~
FIRST ENTRY

BARD
Community

ROGUE
Sherlock

I hope you like them! :)
Please, don't steal them and claim as your own
or hotlink them!
also comments are really nice ♥

Pimpage

an_aiko — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 09:23:24 GMT

Please come and join theiconquest!

I think the idea of this community is so awesome !
I'm sure all of you will will love it!
The first challenges opens July 1st, so go and sign up :)

A hundred

an_aiko — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 14:21:23 GMT

A bit of everything ;)

10 Game of Thrones
4 Community
19 Whedon Shows (Buffy, Dollhouse and Firefly)
19 Various other shows (PLL, Revenge, LOTS...)
20 Brit Shows ( Sherlock, Misfits...)
28 Movies and other stuff

GAME OF THRONES

1-5
6-10

COMMUNITY

11-14


WHEDON SHOWS

15-20
21-25
26-30
31-34

OTHER TV SHOWS

35-39
40-44
44-48
49-52

53- 57
58- 62
63- 67
68-72

73-77
78-82
83-87
88-92
93- 97
98-100

Morgana Tutorial

an_aiko — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:18:46 GMT

So since it has been a really long time since a posted a tutorial ( In fact, in this comm is the first time I post one ) I decided to make one to close the year 2011 I hope you like it ;)

From original screencap
to

For starters the original screencap is way to big so I will post the reduced version, this cap is a little but tricky to color because it's really dark so lets se how things work out, I decided to work on the screencap first and then resize, but we'll see that later.

*Step one : Prepare your base

We have this wich is pretty dark, the first thing I did was making an autoeverything as I call it, wich is going to Image >> Auto Tone >> Auto Contrast >> Auto Color.

>> (bigger)

It's a small change but you can see how the capture is not so cold anymore and it's more balanced :)

*Step two: Bright it up

Duplicate your new base and set it to screen 76% opacity this will brighten your cap.

>> (bigger)

Now duplicate again and set it to Hard Light op: 25% and fill: 72% this will add a little bit of contrast

>> (*)

Duplicate again and set it to screen op:100%

>> (*)

You can merge your layers into a new one if you want to ( Cntrl+Alt+Shift+E). You are going to duplicate this new base and go to Filter >> Blur >> Gaussian Blur (2.5) . Now set the layer to soft light op:48% fill: 78%
This will add contrast to you image, reduce the sharpness, and the coloring will be a little bit more deep.

>> (*)

Now merge again, her face is a little bit harsh so use the blur tool ( the one that looks like a little water drop ) and use it on her face, not to much or it will look unnatural.

>> (*)

*Step 3 : Coloring!

The color is still a little mute so you are going to add a vibrance (Layer >> New Adjustment Layer >> Vibrance) layer +31 and set it to normal op:100%.

If you use another version of PS older than PS4-5 you won't be able to do this step, you can achieve somthing similar adding some saturation to your cap.

>> (*)

Okay, now the next step is a little bit complicated for me, because I love to merge my layers and I didn't exactly rember the settings, so I tried to recreate them. Sharpen your cap, and go to Image >> Adjustments >> Exposure

Set it to custom, exposure: +0.46, offset: -0.0061 and gamma correction: 1.09
Then let the layer at op: 100% and normal.

This makes a hufe diffrence in the image overall. Look ...

>> (*)

Now you have to create a gradient with the color #f9e2d it should look like this, and set it to normal fill: 79%

>> (*)

Selective coloring time!! ( Layer >> New Adjustment Layer >> Selective Color )
REDS: -7;+24;+42; 1
YELLOWS: +4; -15; -5; -10
BLUES: +39; -26; +8; -1

>> (*)

Another SC layer
RED: -9; 0; -33; 0
Y: -26; 0; +50; 0
CYAN: +100; -100; +88; +27
B: -43: +77; +17; 0
NEUTRALS: -11; 0; +27; 0

>> (*)

Now add a new Curves Layer:
  Red:
    Output: 203 Input: 211
  Green:
    Output: 194 Input: 208
  Blue:
    Point 1: Output: 67 Input: 42
    Point 2: Output 204 Input: 214

>> (*)

Finally! now merge your layers and sharpen the cap a little bit if it needs to (mine does) and duplicate it, go to Filter >> Blur >> Gaussian blur and set the layer to soft light op: 67% fill: 62% ( I do this a lot when icon making :) )

>> (*)

*Step 4 : Cropp + Texture

Now the cap looks better, but still ugly so resize it and let's start working on a 100 x100 canvas. Once cropped and sharpened my icon loooks like this, after that add a gradient, in this case "violet, orange", set it to hard light op: 25% and it should look like this :

Now go to Image >> Adjustmen >> Exposure like I said before, I dont really remember the settings so I tried to simulated them, this time the settings are:
*exposure: +0.46,
*offset: -0.0061
*gamma correction: 1.09

After that add a Curves layer touching just the Blues:
Point 1:
Output: 80 Input: 107.
Point 2:
Output: 255 Input: 180.

Also with the smudge tool I erased the little a little part of blanket in the right lower corner, but obvioulsy it's not mandatory :P

Now I used the blur tool in her face again, but so lightly that you can't barely see it, so skip this step if you want to, I also played a little bit more with the blues in a new levels layer which is not much but makes a difference:
Levels >> Blues: 30; 1.00; 255

The next step is one, that with the gaussian blur , I use a lot when icon making, I really like it because it makes the icon more edgy and textured and also brings up the light! It's awesome ;)
So copy and merge your layers and go to: Filter >> Brush Strokes >> Angled Strokes and just play arround!

You should have something like this , I erased a the parts in her eyes and mouth and set the layer to soft light op: 47% and fill: 43% and the result is this one:

>>

Now is basicaly the same step but with blur: copy+merge your icon and go to Filter >> Blur >> Motion Blur ( another favorite of mine! :) ) I got this and again erased a bit on the face area. Set it to Lighten op:49% fill:37%

And finally!!! The last step!! Ad a fill layer with orange, I used # ed7408 and set it to hard light op: 31% fill: 39%

Soooo that's it, you can add extra textures and everything you like! I hope you like it, and please if you have any questions let me know since english is not my native language there are some things that may not make all the sense that it should :P

Oh! I also have the .PSD if someone wants it, just ask ;)

As always comments are lovely and I would love to see your results!

I HOPE IT'S USEFULL TO ALL OF YOU!
AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE! :)

Icons

an_aiko — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 13:41:20 GMT

Hi everyone! I hope you're having an awesome holiday! :)
I made some icons for lostgirl20n20 and I decided to post
some older icons that I had stored aswell, I hope you like them :)

25 Lost Girl Icons
12 Suits Icons
8 Downton Abbey Icons
6 Covert Affairs Icons
And 17 random Icons

Merry Christmas to everyone :)

Teaser :

Themes

No Eyes	Soft	Extreme Neg Space	Extreme Close Crop	Romance


Promo	Colourful	Heartbreak	Festive	Scrooge

Category: Festive Colours

Red	Gold	Blue	Silver	Green

Artist's Choice

1	2	3	4	5

Alternates



Others

More and then some

an_aiko — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:50:01 GMT

New Icons! ( well they are somewhat old but I post them now :P)
Teaser:

RINGER

OTHER (stardust,misfits,adele...)

For lostgirl20in20

an_aiko — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 21:47:43 GMT

Icons for lostgirl20n20 !!
Deffinitely not my best, but I was in a little bit of a rush 'cause I don't heve much time lately :(

Themes

Bo	Human	Light Fae	Dark Fae


Favourite Character	Least Favourite Character	Favourite Pairing	Favourite Place	Favourite Episode

Category: 5 Favourite Moments

1	2	3	4	5

Artist's Choice

1	2	3	4	5

Alternates :

Icon Batch

an_aiko — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 20:42:26 GMT

Soo I decided to post a new batch, hope you like them ! ;)

TVD x 11
Lost Girl x 20
Community x 18
Suits x 06
GoT x 14
And Random Stuff ( Emma Watson, True Blood...) x 22

PREVIEW

VAMPIRE DIARIES

LOST GIRL

COMMUNITY

SUITS

GoT

Random!

Needless to say, don't steal my shit,
If you take anything please credit an_aiko or prettymuchcrazy ,other than that... enjoy! =)
Oh! and don't hotlink please ;)
You are welcome to join If you like them !
Aaaand comments are LOVELY! ^^

an_aiko — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:16:30 GMT

I know it has been forever since the last time a posted anything and I have tons and tons of icons there that I've been making, but the longest I waited to post them the more I hated them and became insecure about them ( / paranoid me )

Anyway I was bored and I didn't know what to do so I decided to post them, beware because some of them are ancient! , I hope you like them :)

Also If you have some kind of request like you want an icon of certain picture feel free to ask, I'm out of inspiration lately and it might help :)

[20] Being Human
[4] Community
[10] Pride and Prejudice
[25] Game of Thrones
[14] Raising Hope
[8] The Borgias
[14] Marion Cotillard
[23] Random!

Being Human

Community

Pride&Prejudice ( made for elite_four go check the comm out ;) )

Game of Thrones

Raising Hope

The Borgias

Marion Cotillard

Random Stuff

Comments are nice, leave one and let me know if you liked them :)

Huge Amount Of Damon ... not that it bothers anyone ;)

an_aiko — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 21:49:15 GMT

First of all I'm really really sorry for only posting Vampire Diaries icons these days ,but these are due for a challenge for tvd20in20 . I'm going to the Netherlands on Sunday and I almost forgot to make them at all :/

THEMES

Ashamed	Body part	Duotone	Edge	Fire

Lyrics	Mean	Scary	Smile	Relax

CATEGORY – BLACK & WHITE

Category #1	Category #2	Category #3	Category #4	Category #5

ARTIST'S CHOICE

Artist's Choice #1	Artist's Choice #2	Artist's Choice #3	Artist's Choice #4	Artist's Choice #5

Alternates and Variations

*Comments are lovely :)
*Credit an_aiko or prettymuchcrazy if you are taking anything.
*These are not bases...if you know what I mean, so don't use them to make your own icons.

Icons for tvd20in20

an_aiko — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:31:00 GMT

20 TVD Icons for tvd20in20

10 THEMES

Book	Desire	Fangs	Glance	Hands


Hungy	Outside	Pals	Past	Yellow

5 CATEGORY – OUTSIDERS

Category #1	Category #2	Category #3	Category #4	Category #5

5 ARTIST'S CHOICE

Artist's Choice #1	Artist's Choice #2	Artist's Choice #3	Artist's Choice #4	Artist's Choice #5

Variations and others

icons

an_aiko — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 18:11:26 GMT

I know it's been ages, I had a lot of things in my computer so it's a huge batch.

[Actresses] Evangeline Lily, Kaya Scodelario, Lilly Allen, Eva Mendes, Malese Jow, Rachel McAdams, Emma Watson,Sophia Bush ...
[Shows] Skins, Misfits, VPD

Actresses and Singers mostly done for elite_brunettes or createandshine

Skins

Misfits

VPD



Also if you take anything please credit an_aiko or prettymuchcrazy , enjoy =)
Don't hotlink please ;)
Join If you like them !
And comments are LOVELY!

PSD PACK #1 : "Nobody Breaks My Heart"

an_aiko — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:30:30 GMT

Hi there! How have you been ? =)
I know it's been a long time sinse the last time I posted some icons, and I'm really sorry..
I have a gigantic batch on my computer and I promise I will update soon,
meanwhile I decided to upload a psd pack to make it up to you :)
( is pass protected so you have to ask for it )

Also I wanted to make a little poll to know what kind of artwork would you like to see in this community :)

View Poll: First poll ever!

Requests

an_aiko — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:40:39 GMT

I'm taking requests,feel free to ask whatever you want,and I'll do my best =)

SPOTS 04/15

You can request anything you want ( icons, wallpapers, banners, headers, fanmixes ... etc )

RULES :

* You can save a spot if you want to , and then come back with your pics.
* Please try to provide the images with good quallity ( HD images are lovely )
* You can ask a maximum of 5 arts ( but I don't asure you to make them all If you ask for a lot, I'm only human xD )
* Aside the pics let me know as well the size of the art( If it's a banner or header or whatever ) and colors of preference or quotes or something you might want to add...( that is optional of course)
* Anddd what else ... you might not want to share your request, let me know if you want it to be only yours =)

Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR to eveyone !!

!Resources

an_aiko — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:03:42 GMT

This is where I post my resources =)

If you've seen that I've used something but I haven't credited you , please let me know so I can add you ;)

deny1984
aquatilitis
azuremonkey
backstage_art
beroo
bijouu
bournio
brokendartist
capelle
cielo_gris
cookiestome
destruction_box
ohfreckle
electrical_s
erzsebet
escape
ewanism
frictionally
generosa
innocent_lexys
juanxyo
kopgirl
lemonlight
lellie_mo
lifeisdolce
makarosh
mellowmint
midnight_road
mintandpurple
mosaically
noisettee
oum_boojae
pale_septembre
pildas
poshing
rhcp_csi
rhythmheart
sara_stc
sintonia
starsburn
teh_s0njanator
the_preamble
trapne
yunhe
velvetb0x
vikyvampirs90
vintagesol
zeldona

!Affiliates

an_aiko — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:38:54 GMT

This were I post my affiliates =) prettymuchcrazy Leave a comment with the name of your community, add

to your affiliates, give me some icons or a banner of your community and I'll add you ;)

purple_inthesky

destruction_box

rockferry_icons

rule_my_world

sunny_raining