Simple Graphics

Firefly Tutorial - River

2007-10-25T21:25:16Z

Going from to
Photoshop CS2, but probably translatable to other programs. Nothing too fancy.

	You can't really tell, but here's an image from the Firefly episode "Bushwhacked". Obviously, it's way too dark to do anything with, so crop your image, and let's go...
	*Step 1:* Fixing the darkness is the first step. You can try this with levels, but the easiest way is Screen layers. Duplicate your base and set to Screen, 100%. Now duplicate your screened layer 3 more times (so you have 4 Screen layers at 100%). Select your entire icon, Copy-Merged (Edit-Copy Merged), and paste. This will save you from messing with layers you've already finished working with, and allow you to use it as a new base.
	*Step 2:* I always like to duplicate the layer I'll be working on (as I hate working with adjustment layers), so duplicate your Merged layer. It's looking pretty pixelated and gross, so here's where you clean it up. I got rid of the white spot on her head and by her ear. Then select your Smudge tool and choose a soft, round brush (I used size 6), set to 50%. Go over your harsh lines and pixels, cleaning them up. No need to overdo it, as we'll fix it more later. Now, Rename this layer something unique (we'll call it AAA), cause you'll need it later.
	*Step 3:* Still a little dark, so duplicate AAA twice and set both layers to Screen, 100%. Select your entire icon, Copy-Merged, and paste.
	*Step 4:* Too much green, so duplicate your merged layer (or paste again), and open your Hue/Saturation panel (Image-Adjustments-Hue/Saturation). Set your saturation to -40. Then open up your Color Balance panel (Image-Adjustments- Color Balance), and fiddle around with the settings until you find something you like. I left Shadows and Highlights untouched, and used the following for Midtones: +46, -18, +44. Rename layer something unique (we'll say BBB).
	*Step 5:* Duplicate your BBB layer and desaturate it (Image-Adjustments-Desaturate). I also darkened the shadows a bit by opening my Levels panel (Image-Adjustments-Levels), and sliding the left slider to 30.
	*Step 6:* Create a new layer at the top and fill it with a dark blue of your choice. I used 0d254c. Set this layer to Difference, 100%.
	*Step 7:* Now, go back and duplicate your BBB layer, and drag it to the top. Then set it to Screen, 100%.
	*Step 8:* Too blue and faded, so duplicate that layer and set it to Soft Light, 100%.
	Step 9: Remember your AAA layer? Go back and duplicate that, then drag it to the top and set it to Color, 48%. Select your entire icon, Copy-Merged, and paste.
	Step 10: It's looking alright, I guess, but it's still a little too pixelated and yellow. I opened up my Color Balance panel again, and played around with it, eventually using the following settings: Shadows: -34, +3, +8 Midtones: -51, -12, +24 Highlights: -1, 0, -3 But more important is the harshness, so I got out the Smudge tool again (using the same brush), and went back over all the edges. I swept it in long strokes out toward the edges of the icon (like on the left edge and the background), and over her hairline, neckline, and dressline. Then I smoothed out the angles on her cheek (by brushing strokes from nose to jaw), forehead, and bridge of her nose, leaving her eyes and lips alone. Voila! And icon!

Obviously, this coloring will not work on all icons all the time. Experiment and find what works best for you. The most important tip I can give you is don't be afraid to zoom in!. You'll notice a lot of issues when it gets bigger, and be able to fix them more easily (such as the smudging on the last step). :)
* You may use this icon, but please credit me. Do not claim this icon as your own!

Various Icons

2006-12-31T18:26:49Z

The first batch I've made in a long time (curse you, work!). Firefly, Harry Potter, and Other. Enjoy!

	Firefly/Serenity

01	02	03	04

05	06	07	08

09	10	11
	Harry Potter

12	13	14	15

16	17	18	19

20	21	22	23

24	25
	Spider-man 3

26	27	28	29
	Stargate: Atlantis

	30	31

* Comments are loved, but not required.
** Please credit and don't hotlink
*** Textless icons ARE NOT BASES.

Tutorials Post

2006-11-16T16:00:25Z

None of these are mine. Really, it's for my own reference, so I don't have to keep going back into my memories to try to find something. These are icons that I loved when the maker posted it, and I never get to try these things out when I mem them (cause I'm always at work, *ahem*), but never can find them when I finally get a chance. Hence, the post.

It's not a long post, and they're mostly cause I love the coloring in them. Enjoy!

Currently, all these icons are hosted on my own domain, but let me know if you'd prefer otherwise.











And my own tutorials:

In other news, a hacker ruined my gallery, and it had to be taken down. I'll eventually get all my icons back up, but until I have time, it'll be a while.

Icons!

2006-06-27T19:27:24Z

Another small batch. This is what happens when I'm bored at work. Harry Potter, Firefly, Lost, and random.

Harry Potter

01 02 03

04 05

Firefly

06

07

08

09

10 11 12 13

14 15

Lost

16 17 18

see a tutorial of the

claire icon here

Movies

19 20 21

*Please credit crazchica. Comments aren't required, but I love to know what you think!
**Textless icons are NOT bases.
***Let me know if you're interested in a tutorial of any of them. I like to do them!

Coloring Claire Tutorial

2006-05-26T20:40:20Z

APOLOGIES: Currently, the images are down, due to an issue with my domain. They should be back up shortly.

Going from
to or
in 12 steps with Photoshop CS2. Can be easily translated, semi-Newbies to Advanced.

	*Step 1:* I chose this image of Claire from Lost. I've cropped it already, obviously.
	*Step 2:* The first thing I usually do with all my icons is work with the levels, which is like working with the brightness and contrast, but gives you more flexibility. Duplicate your base, Sharpen it once (Filter-Sharpen-Sharpen) then open up the Levels pallette (Image-Adjustments-Levels). Play around with your base until you find something you like. Here, I only darkened the image a bit.
	*Step 3:* She's looking a little old, so I duplicated the newly edited layer and smoothed out her skin with the blur tool. It's barely noticable here, but you'd notice it later.
	*Step 4:* I duplicated the blurred skin layer and set the mode to Soft Light, Opacity 100%.
	Step 5: The blues are a little too bright for my taste, so I duplicate the blurred skin layer again and blurred it (Filter-Blur-Gaussian Blur, set to 2.0). Then, I erased most of what covered her skin (it doesn't have to be perfect) and set the layer to Linear Burn, Opacity 38%.
	*Step 6:* Select the entire icon, Copy-Merged, and paste the whole thing onto a new layer. I then duplicated it. Now, I mess with the saturation a tiny bit (Image-Adjustments-Hue/Saturation, lower the saturation to -25).
	*Step 7:* Too much yellow and green, so I duplicated the desaturated layer and opened up the Color Balance pallette (Image-Adjustments-Color Balance). In Midtones, I upped the blues, cyans, and magentas. Highlights upped the reds and magentas, while Shadows played up the blues and cyans.
	*Step 8:* After all that work, I dupliacted the colored layer, and opened the Hue/Saturation panel again, this time lowering the saturation to -42.
	*Step 8:* I duplicated the desaturated layer, and desaturated it (Image-Adjustments-Desaturate). I also played with the Levels quite a bit to make it more contrast-y. I set this layer to Multiply, Opacity 36%.
	*Step 9:* To up the colors a little bit, I selected the entire icon, Copy-Merged, and pasted it into a new layer. Then I set this new layer to Soft Light, Opacity 60%.
	*Step 10:* I Copy-Merged all the layers again, pasted it into a new layer, and smoothed out minor imperfections (such as the harsh angle of her cheek and pixels in the sky) with the blur tool.
	*Step 11:* Text! Very simple, white text at the top. The X is the font Hans Hand, and "little girl lost" is in Jane Austen, both of which can be found at dafont.com.
	*Step 12:* You can leave it like above, but I went one step further and created a new layer, filling it with #ffebd5. I set it to Multiply, Opacity 60%. And Voila! We're done!

Feel free to ask questions if you didn't understand something!

*Please don't re-create this tutorial in your icons exactly and claim it as your own. This tutorial is here to show you some techniques and tricks that you can apply to your own icons, not to just create a bunch of icons that look the same.

**Comments aren't required, but they're loved and adored :)

Various Textures

2006-05-12T19:57:52Z

Four sets for you to use. Please credit if you use. Comments aren't required, but it's nice to know if you take. Enjoy!

...

d o w n l o a d .zip

d o w n l o a d .zip

d o w n l o a d .zip

d o w n l o a d .zip

Icons!

2006-04-10T02:25:32Z

Small, random mix of icons. Mainly all stuff I've been using as my own icons, and stuff I've done tutorials for.

Harry Potter

01 02 03 04

Serenity

05 06 07 08

Celebs

09 10 11

12 13

Buffy

14 15

Random

16 17

*Give credit to either crazchica or simple_graphics
**Don't steal or Hotlink. It's bad!
***Comments not required, but adored just the same :)

Tutorial #4: Cranky Kitty

2006-04-07T20:21:31Z

Going from
to
in 9 steps with Photoshop CS2. Can be easily translated, semi-Newbies to Advanced.

	*Step 1:* I chose this image from stuffonmycat.com, mainly cause it amuses me to no end. Unfortunately, it's lifeless and boring.
	*Step 2:* The first thing I usually do with all my icons is work with the levels, which is like working with the brightness and contrast, but gives you more flexibility. Duplicate your base, Sharpen it once (Filter-Sharpen-Sharpen) then open up the levels pallet (Image-Adjustments-Levels). Play around with your base until you find something you like.
	*Step 3:* Duplicate your layer again, and select around the scary cat with your lasso tool. Paste it as a new layer. You can see there's a yellow thing at the bottom of the icon, so I fixed that, and I made the towel brighter by selecting that part with the lasso and working with the Levels.
	*Step 4:* Here's where it's gonna start getting a bit complicated. Right beneath the cut-out kitty, I filled a new layer with #ff9600, which I took from his eye.
	Step 5: Scary Cat is looking a little blah, so I duplicated the cut-out layer, changed the levels a bit, and set it to Soft Light, opacity 100%.
	*Step 6:* He needs something behind him, so on a new layer, right above the orange layer, I create a bunch of diagonal lines that sorta go with the angle of his head. As you can see, I didn't bother making all the lines where the cat would cover. They're not perfectly aligned with each other, but that's fine.
	*Step 7:* His eye is looking a bit pale, so I selected around it with the lasso tool, copied and pasted it on a new layer above the two cut-out layers (still with me?), then set it to Soft Light, opacity 100%. You can probably also use the Burn tool, if you'd like.
	*Step 8:* Text! Arial Black, size 10, tracking -25. You can find the tracking area in the Character Pallette (Window-Character), next to the little A V with the arrow under it.
	*Step 9:* Obviously, it's hard to read, so a white box on a new layer under it fixes that. And you're done!

Feel free to ask questions if you didn't understand something!

*Please don't re-create this icon and claim it as your own.
**Feel free to use the tutorial image. Just give me credit and no hotlinking!
***Comments aren't required, but they're loved and adored :)

Willow/Giles Tutorial

2006-02-28T02:59:47Z

We're gonna go from to in Photoshop CS (though easily translated).

	Layer 1: We're gonna start with this picture. I've cropped it already, and as you can see, I've placed it so there's extra space on one of the sides. Not really what I want, so we're gonna fix it.
	Layer 2: I've duplicated the layer, sharpened it once (Filter-Sharpen-Sharpen), and adjusted the levels (Image-Adjustments-Levels) a tiny bit.
	Layer 3: Duplicate your sharpened layer, and desaturate it.
	Layer 4: I took this texture by ashke_icons, desaturated it, and erased everything that covers the icon itself, which gave me something like...
	Layer 5: I created a new layer, and filled it with #001F3B, and set it to "Difference" at 100%.
	Layer 6: I duplicated the first sharpened layer, and cut out Willow and Giles using the Polygonal Lasso Tool (though however you like to cut stuff out will work). It doesn't need to be perfect. I set it to "Screen" at 100%.
	Layer 7: Finally, I took the first sharpened layer again, and set it to "Overlay" at 63%. And voila! You can add text if you'd like or leave it as is.

Disclaimer Stuff: Please don't steal the icon and claim it as your own. These ideas are for you to maybe use on your own stuff.
Comments are love! :D

Tutorial 02 - Kelly Clarkson

2006-02-13T04:54:18Z

Today we're gonna go from:
to in a bunch of steps.

Photoshop CS, Probably best for users a bit familiar with the program.

	Layer 1: We'll start off with this picture of Kelly Clarkson. It's kinda drab, so we're gonna spice it up.
	Layer 2: To start, duplicate your original layer once, then sharpen it once (Filter-Sharpen-Sharpen). I also adjusted the levels, making the highlights brighter, and the shadows darker, plus I went over all her skin (and skin only) with the blur tool to smooth it out.
	Layer 3: After duplicating the second layer, I went into the Color Balance palette (Image-Adjustments-Color Balance), and played around a bit until I got this. I emphasised the magentas and blues in the midtones and shadows, with a bit of yellow and reds for the highlights.
	Layer 4: Duplicate the adjusted later, and take down the saturation (Image-Adjustments-Hue/Saturation). I dropped it down to -35.
	Layer 5: Now duplicate that layer, and blur it. I used Gaussian Blur (Filter-Blur-Gaussian) set at 1.6. Set the blurred layer to 'Overlay' at 100% opacity.
	Layer 6: Go back to Layer 4, duplicate it, and drag it above your blurred layer. Set it to 'Multiply' at 100% opacity.
	Layer 7: I filled a new layer with #002A4C, and set it to 'Exclusion', opacity at 35%.
	Layer 8: I went back to layer 6, duplicate it, and dragged it above the exclusion layer, setting it to 'Soft Light' at 100%.
	Now, I found this light texture by Colorfilter, and pasted it on the image.
	Layer 9: I set the texture to 'Lighten' at 100%.
	Layer 10: I duplicated the texture, and set it to 'Soft Light' at 100%.
	Layer 11: Now, go brighten it up a bit more, go back to layer 8, duplicate it, and drag it above your second texture layer. Set it to 'Soft Light' at 100%. You can either leave it here, or go on and add a bit more, which is what I did.
.	I created a new layer on top of the whole image, and filled it with white.
	I then found this brush (it's part of a set I have called drave_overlay, but I only know I found it on 100x100brushes, so if you know who made it, please let me know!), and pasted it on a new layer in black.
	Without duplicating (shock!), I flipped the image and painted over the little white bit in the middle.
Now, here is where it might get a bit tricky for a newbie. I hid the brush layer and the white layer (by clicking the little eyeball next to the image in the layer palette), and selected layer 11 (my Layer 1 copy 9). I took the rectangular image tool and selected the whole icon, then copied the merged image (Edit-Copy Merged).
	Then, I showed the white and brush layers again, and pasted Kelly above the brush layer.
	I then created a clipping mask with the image of Kelly (Layer-Create Clipping Mask). This makes the image cover everything the brush does, which is everything in black. It doesn't cover the area in white, which means that (unlike if you did this as a layer mask) you can go to your white layer and fill it with any color you like. I kept it white.
	Just to add a bit more spice, I took the original red texture, and pasted it above the clipping mask layer, setting it to 'Lighten' at 100%.
	Because I could, I duplicated the texture, and set it to 'Screen' at 100%. And, voila! You're finished!
For the curious, this is what my layers palette looked like for the last couple layers:

*Don't steal, or claim this icon as your own. This isn't so you can recreate the whole thing. This is to show you how it was made, so maybe you can apply some of the techniques to your icons. :)
*Feel free to friend this journal!
*Comments and suggestions are loved :)a

Tutorial #1

2006-01-06T03:57:09Z

Ooh, my first ever tutorial! It's a fairly easy one to start with. We're gonna be going from
to in PS CS (though it can be adapted. The steps are easy)

	Layer 1: We'll start off with this picture. It's a great shot, but the quality is horrible, which is a real shame.
	Layer 2: To fix the blurriness a bit, duplicate the layer once, then sharpen it once (Filter-Sharpen-Sharpen).
	Layer 3: Duplicate the sharpened layer, then take your smudge tool (I used a soft, round brush at size 5) and go over the background areas to make the foreground stand out more. I went over everything behind River, plus the side.
	Layer 4: Duplicate the smudged layer, and desaturate it (Image-Adjustments-Desaturate).
	Layer 5: Now duplicate that layer, and blur it. I used Gaussian Blur (Filter-Blur-Gaussian) set at 1.9.
	Set your blurred black and white layer to 'Overlay' at 100%. While it's kinda interesting as it is, especially if you want something dramatic and striking, I felt it needed something more.
	Layer 6: Go back to your sharpened colored layer, and cut out the swingset (or whatever item you'd like to use). Copy and paste that item above your blurred black and white layer.
	Also, kinda interesting, but it needs a bit of text.
	Layer 9: Using Courier TT, size 6, I type "let it burn" and angle it, which makes it look crooked and dirty.
	Layer 8: The "burn" is a bit hard to see, so on a new layer right beneath it I cut out around the text with the lasso tool and fill it with white.
	Layer 7: Add the lyrics from "Walk Through the Fire" (from Buffy: Once More With Feeling), set at Courier TT size 3, on the layer beneath your little strip of white. Set the opacity to 17%, and you're done!

Please note, this isn't here so you can go and make an exact duplicate of this icon. But if you do try these techniques on your own, I'd love to see it!

Brushes

2006-01-03T20:17:29Z

Harry Potter fans, these two sets are for you. Both made with various caps/images from POA, for Photoshop 7/CS. Image packs available also. Please give credit if you use! :D

.abr // image pack

.abr // image pack

(Originally posted to 100x100_brushes on April 04, 2005)

Icon Batch # 5

2006-01-03T20:06:51Z

Please credit if you take. Comments not needed, but loved all the same!

Teasers:

*Warning: Spoilers for the movie Serenity*

Originals...
01. 02. 03.
04. 05. 06.
07. 08. 09.
10. 11. 12.
13. 14. 15.
16. 17. 18
19. 20.

Duplicates (Coloring/Text changed)...
21. 22. 23.
24. 25. 26.

Let me know if you'd be interested in seeing a tutorial of any of my icons (even older ones). I've been debating on doing one for a couple of these, but don't know if it'd be worth it, lol.

Made for elite100
R E S O U R C E S
All My Firefly/Serenity Icons

Icon Batch # 4

2006-01-03T19:42:47Z

Please credit if you take. Comments not needed, but loved all the same!

Teasers:

*warning: Movie Spoilers, Some icons contain strong language*

Originals...
01. 02. 03.
04. 05. 06.
07. 08. 09.
10. 11. 12.
13. 14. 15.

Duplicates (Coloring/Text changed)...
16. 17. 18.
19. 20. 21.
22. 23. 24.

Made for elite100
(Originally posted to crazchica on Nov. 07, 2005)

Icon Batch # 3

2006-01-03T19:39:02Z

23, Multi-fandom, textless icons are not bases. Comments are loved, etc etc.

Teasers:

F i r e f l y / S e r e n i t y
01. 02. 03.

H a r r y P o t t e r
04. 05. 06.
07. 08. 09.
10. 11. 12.
13. 14. 15.
16. 17. 18.

L o s t
19. 20. 21.
22. 23. 24.

Icon Batch # 2

2006-01-03T19:29:25Z

Don't Steal, Comments are loved, textless icons are not bases, etc etc.

Teasers

Harry Potter
1. 2. 3.
4. 5. 6.

Bad Fic Summaries
Credit goes to grrliz_icons for the idea. Just the icons are mine.
7. 8. 9.

Serenity/Firefly
10. 11.

Actresses/Actors
12. 13. 14.
15. 16. 17.

Icon Batch # 1

2006-01-03T19:21:19Z

Don't Steal, Credit if Used, NO HOTLINKING.

Teasers:

Harry Potter

1. 2. 3. 4.
5. 6. 7. 8.
9. 10. 11. 12.
13. 14. 15.

Firefly/Serenity

16. 17. 18.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

19.

Actors

20.

All my stuff can be found here.

(Originally posted to crazchica on Sept. 15, 2005)

The Standard Resources and Credits Entry

2006-01-03T03:45:13Z

If it wasn't made by me, I had to find it somewhere. Here's a list of the people, places, and sites I've downloaded stuff from for use in my wallpapers, icons, layouts, and fanarts. Also here are some sites that I may not have downloaded anything from, but I think you should take a look at anyways. It's updated on a fairly regular basis (or will be, once I'm finally able to finish putting everything here).

If you think I've used something of yours and you don't see your name/site here, please let me know so I can credit you!

B R U S H E S
100x100_brushes
colortone
tehindy
meleada
colorfilter
_hakanaidreams
Echoica
Miss M.
Annika von Holdt (brushes no longer available)
Hybrid Genesis
Digital Bristle

T E X T U R E S
100x100_brushes
pastcitylights
colortone
tehindy
colorfilter
pfefferminzchen
graphicjunkie
_hakanaidreams
ashke_icons

I M A G E S
Serenity Screencaps, by cassiee
Serenity Cast

T U T O R I A L S
Most of these I haven't used, but it's interesting to look at how someone created the icon/wallpaper/thing they did.
Ooh Snap's links
Pixel FX