Falloway on DeviantArthttps://www.deviantart.com/falloway/art/Icon-Steps-104998798Falloway

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Icon Steps

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Description

The steps I used to make one of my LiveJournal icons.

Disclaimer

This is by no means anything special, I'm simply using it to show a friend how I created some of my icons.
This may or may not be the way you chose to do things, either way, trying to tell me how to do things isn't going to achieve much.
I am aware that there are easier, faster ways to do this, but I like to use this technique on occasions.



  1. New Canvas and Sketch
    I work at 400x400 pixels and sketch with a brush with pressure sensitivity at about 40% opacity on a new layer

  2. The Lines
    Using a hard, pressure sensitive brush, at 9px I draw my final lines on a new layer over the sketch

  3. The Final Lines
    Hide the sketch layer and you've got your self a nice set of lines.
    DON'T FORGET: Your eraser is just as important as your paintbrush, don't be afraid to use it.

  4. Base Colours
    On a new layer,underneath the lineart, I lay down my base colours

  5. Shadows
    On a new layer above the base colours I create a clipping mask ( right-click on the layer name and select 'Create Clipping Mask' )
    I use a pressure sensitive brush, with 'wet edges' at 40%-70% opacity to block in my shadows
    I set the layer to 'Multiply"

  6. Highlights
    On another new layer, again set to 'Clipping Mask' I use the same brush as the shadows, set to a lighter, warmer colour and block in my highlights
    Layer set to 'Overlay'

  7. Mane
    Using the same brushes and techniques, only on a smaller scale, I add tone to the mane.

  8. Eyes
    Most people start with the eyes, I don't for some unknown reason.
    Hand painted on a single layer using various colours at different opacities

  9. Background
    I merge all my horse layers together (excluding the background)
    I add a 'Stroke' of light blue to the horse layer
    (In your layers palette double-click on the layer preview image to bring up the 'Layer Style' window)
    I also apply a blue gradient to the background

  10. Background Texture
    I also apply a texture to my background layer for more interest.
    Open up your texture and drag it onto your icon so it sits on the layer above your background.
    Play with the blend settings until you find something that looks good.

  11. Final Texture
    I also applied a paper texture over the final image.
    In this case it was some brown card set to 'Overlay'
    Again play around with textures and blend-modes until you find something that looks good.
    Don't forget you can use your eraser :D

  12. The Final Product
    I ended up with three image files
    • The full 400x400 image

    • A 100x100 Icon/Avatar

    • A 50x50 Icon/Avatar




So yep, that's an icon tutorial
Image size
800x2400px 412.87 KB
© 2008 - 2024 Falloway
Comments6
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JacobTeamKirapup's avatar
how would i get a 400x400 picture into a 50x50 sorreh im new on icons