Current mood:	chipper
Current music:	The Script - Break Even

[Tutorial] Basic 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.

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?
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