Tutorials #5 and 6: Sara Sidle and Greg Sanders

...Aren't the multiple postings within one week just making you happy I'm back? Don't worry, the excitement will die down and I'll be back to posting maybe twice a month, or if you're lucky, once. W00t for you.

Next tutorial will be up in a few days, for hadria. Why a few days? I fear my fingers and brain will need a mini-vacation.

stormwind kindly requested I do a tutorial for one of these from my last CSI post, but since they were done using the same techniques, I figured I'd do both.

As always, I used PSP7 (although considering what's involved, it'll probably be easy to translate to PS), and please have an idea of how your program works before attempting this.

Also, these tutorials are a bit more image-intense than my other tutorials, just in case you're using dial-up. Nothing sized over 100x100, but you know, a friendly 'in case' kind of thing.

First icon being made:

Step 1: The Cap

I'll admit it, I'm quite a picky person concerning caps. I like them to be big, and clear, and they dare you to mess with them and their already pretty coloring. (...I'm lazy, I know. *g*) So, using one of dark_soul_lost's caps from Chasing the Bus, I experiment with cropping and decide that while I like Sara, I also like chopping her nose off. So, crop, resize and sharpen once:

Step 2: Random Coloring Adjustments

Now you've a noseless Sara, who's kind of freaky-looking. Duplicate the base three times, and now you're set for the Random Coloring Adjustments:
+ Bottom layer set to Multiply, 100%
+ Middle layer set to Screen, 100%; go to Colors>Adjust>Hue/Saturation/Lightness, and move the 'Saturation' to -25. (Idea borrowed from a tutorial by icon_me.)
+ Top layer set to Overlay, 20%

Step 3: Neverending Fiddling

Now, for confusion's sake: what you've been working on is now Image1. Take Image1: Merge the layers; Copy; Paste as a New Image. New Image is now Image2. Hit the back button on Image1. Go back to Image2: Grey Scale; Increase Color Depth to 16 million; Colors>Adjust>Brightness/Contrast with around 25 for Brightness and Contrast.

Depending on the picture, you may need to adjust that. But there needs to be clear contrast between the black and white.

Copy Image2 and paste onto Image1 at Soft Light, 60%.

Okay, if you have yet to introduce yourself to inxsomniax, now's the time. Not only do her icon-sized brushes rock, so do her larger brushes; they're amazing for textures and borders, and she also has some amazing light textures. Here's the link to the set I used. And here's the mini-version of the one I used; mini because she sizes hers at 200x200.

Copy and paste onto Image1: Hard Light, 100%:

Go back to Image2 and Copy; paste onto Image1; Soft Light, 100%. (Or duplicate the black/white layer already on Image1 and move it on top of the light texture, whichever.)

Choose another light texture from inxsomniax; paste onto Image1 set at Soft Light, 100%:

Now, you have some erasing to do.

As seen above, the full texture dulls the gorgeous pinks/purples/blues, which I'd rather not do. First picture: what I didn't erase, before set on Soft Light; Second picture, erased and set on Soft Light. The colors are now more subtle, but also richer. (...Just pretend that makes sense, okay? :P)

Now, go ahead and yawn. Wait, that's me. Nevermind. Okay, now's the time to become acquainted with awmp, responsible for some of the most gorgeous sunspotty textures around. Not only are they gorgeous, but available in both 100x100 and 200x200. I have no immediate link available, but they're not hard to find at her journal. Pick one, and copy/paste it onto Image1, Hard Light at 100%:

Also, note that the texture was originally 200x200; I just shrank it. But trust me, that's the exact texture I used.

Step 4: Do Whatever the Heck You Want To It

No, serious. The icon is basically done; now you do whatever you want to it. You can put brushes on it, textures on it, leave it alone...no more work's involved. This is where YOU get creative. But I did use some of inxsomniax's brushes for the white borders.

Second icon being made:

Okay. Basically the same process here, only obviously there were some changes. Oh, and the screencap is also from dark_soul_lost's Chasing the Bus collection.

Repeat Steps 1 and 2 from Sara Sidle Tutorial

Step 3: Return of the Neverending Fiddling

Remember that long drawn out process of doing the Grey Scale? Well, do it again for Greg.

Since I use PSP, I have quite a few image packs, of which I'm too lazy to define into brushes. This will come in handy.

In another step borrowed from icon_me, I take one of withaghost's brushes, and just paste it on Greg; set at Overlay, 100%:

He needs to be dirty constantly, because Eric Szmanda's just sexy when he's grungy. *coughs* Anyway! Now for another texture, this time from joli_papier; copy/paste; set at Hard Light:

Copy the black/white layer from earlier and place on top of the textures, set at Soft Light:

...Eric also needs to wear eyeliner more often. What is it about guys in eyeliner anyway? It may sound a bit odd, guys wearing make-up (ugh, can my uncle go on for hours about how wrong that is), but you gotta give them credit for looking damned hot in it. But you're here for the tutorial, not to pay attention to me waxing poetic on the hottie.

Pick another sunspotty texture from awmp; these things, I swear to you, you'll use them more than you think. And the brushes...guh. Copy/Paste onto Greg; Hard Light, 100%:

Again, texture was shrank from 200x200.

Step 4: Once Again, Do What You Want

Yep, again the icon is done; all that's left are finishing touches. Brushes, white space, black/white images...whatever. It's YOUR icon. Although in case there's somebody wondering about the colored stripes...they're just selections from the finished 'base'. *shrug* Hey, I've heard weirder questions.

Now then. Questions, comments...view to share on whether you think Eric's hot in eyeliner, whatever the case may be, you know what to do.

And now...*is ded*