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Ally -- are you already gone? (wastintime) wrote in rp_tutorials,
@ 2011-06-17 13:13:00

Entry tags:

resources: tutorials

Basic PB Icon Creation
This is a tried and true method of creating icons that look decent. Now, it does NOT work for every picture and generally, you'll have the best results with screencaps or other dull looking pictures. I was asked how to create icons beyond cropping, so this is my short tutorial that leads you through the basic actions I take on the icons that I make.

ETA: I'm using Photoshop for this tutorial, but it should be translatable because I didn't use Selective Colors.

I'll be going from this: to this:

For this tutorial I'll be using a screencap of Misha Collins from Supernatural taken from here. (Awesome site is awesome!)

Here is the particular cap I'm using.

1. Crop your image to 100px x 100px. (There are some great tutorials about cropping on Livejournal. I'll link to them when I'm not at work and can see LJ.)

Result:

Ew, right?

2. Go to Image → Adjustments → Levels... → Auto.

Result:

Slightly less ew.

3. Duplicate the base twice. Set the top layer to Soft Light and the middle layer to Screen.

Result:

That looks better!

Now, here is where you have to use your own judgement. If the image is too light? Lower the Opacity of your Screen layer. If the image is too dark? Duplicate the Screen layer and/or lower the Opacity of the Soft Light layer.

Personally, I like my icons bright and I like the contrast of the icon as it is now, so I'm not going to fiddle with my layers. However, I do think the colors need a little punch, so onto step 4.

4. Go to Layer → New Adjustment Layer → Curves. Set the following points in the RGB curve.

Point #1: Output 82, Input 66
Point #2: Output 137, Input 102
Point #3: Output 190, Input 162

Result:

I think we're ready to sharpen!

Again, use your better judgement when it comes to curves. Play around with the points until you get something you like. You can always delete the curve layer and make another.

5. Go to Layer → Flatten Image. Go to Filter → Sharpen → Sharpen

Result:

Flattening the image is easiest way to sharpen. It's also the laziest. There are some tutorials on icon sharpening/blurring on Livejournal that I will link to when I'm not at work and able to see LJ.

I think it's a little too sharp, so one final step is to fade the sharpening.

6. Go to Edit → Fade Sharpen... → 50%.

Result:

Not bad, eh? I'm not saying it's the GREATEST looking icon, but it's definitely useable and not cringe-inducing like a basic crop job.

Other icons I have used this method on...

Questions/Feedback?
Leave a comment to this post, thanks!

(Post a new comment)

	iolahunter 2011-06-17 11:39 pm UTC (link)
	what program are you using for this? (Reply to this) (Thread)

	wastintime 2011-06-18 07:18 pm UTC (link)
	Photoshop! I probably should have said that. Sorry. :X (Reply to this) (Parent)

	miss_manners 2011-06-18 06:48 am UTC (link)
	Great tutorial. I use a similar process, and agree that bright and high contrast images tend to look the best. I couldn't have put it into such clear steps though. Nicely done. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	wastintime 2011-06-18 07:19 pm UTC (link)
	Thank you! It's a process that's developed over the last 5 years and this just seems to work the best on screencaps, for me. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	baccano 2011-06-19 03:35 am UTC (link)
	This is great! Definitely looks less complicated than tutorials I've tried previously. ♥ (Reply to this)

	~chalk trishie 2011-06-19 02:27 pm UTC (link)
	Curves, curves, curves. I cannot stress enough. (Reply to this)

	bee_charmer 2011-07-25 06:59 am UTC (link)
	Can you please explain how to do Curves? I don't know where to input these numbers or even begin to play around with it. (Reply to this) (Thread)

wastintime
2011-10-02 10:36 pm UTC (link)

A little late on this, sorry! But when you're using Curves and click to add a point on a particular curve, there should be little user input boxes for the "Input" and "Output" that will define the point, which in-turn, defines the curve. The curve is a two-dimensional representation of what you're altering in the image. The points are an easy way to define the function, otherwise you'd have to figure out the math to create that particular curve, which can get extremely complicated, depending on the curve. If you'll notice, every curve starts out as a straight, 45 degree line, which is the equivalent to "Input = Output" or in mathematical terms, "x = y".

(Reply to this) (Parent)