I was thinking to share my knowledge of icona making using Adobe Photoshop to my Friends here in Fanpop. So I decided to write it down.
First of all, although every in Adobe Photoshop the tools placement are different, but the tools I'm using are common and I hope te already know them. But don't worry, I also include the tools' shortcut. In this article, I'm using Adobe Photoshop CS5.
Let's begin!
STEP 1: Choose a picture te want.
How to open an image: click 'File' and then click 'Open' o a shortcut CTRL+O. te can use any image from your computer.
STEP 2: Adjust the image te use.
In order to make your icona più beautiful, add your image's brightness o contrast da clicking 'Image' then click 'Adjustment' and click 'Brightness/Contrast'. It is up to te whether te want your icona to be light o dark, contrast o less contrast.
Now, the colour of the image. te can adjust it da clicking 'Image' then 'Adjustment' and 'Hue/Saturation (CTRL+U)' o 'Color Balance (CTRL+B)'. te can adjust it into whatever te like.
STEP 3: Crop the image using 'Crop Tool (C)'
Next, te have adjusted your image, it's time for te to crop it square. Click the box besides 'Width' then write down '200 px'. Do exactly the same thing to the right box besides 'Height'. te can write any size te want actually, but we are making an icona now and I usually create a 200x200 px sized icon.
Drag your topo, mouse o mousepad to crop it. te can use the keypad too to sposta the cropped area.
STEP 4: Decorate your icon!
Add a new layer da clicking 'Create a new layer'. Click 'Layer 1'. That means te are going to fill that layer.
Then click 'Brush Tool (B). te are able to change the brush's size/hardness and even into other shape. te can download new brushes in the internet. Don't get mistaken with 'Eraser Tool (E)'.
Change the brush colour too into any colour da clicking 'Set foreground color' as te like o even the brush's shape into other form.
Then click the left button of your topo, mouse o mousepad to add colour on your icon. te can change the mode of the layer into 'Overlay', 'Hard Light', o anything te like.
te can add another layer, add brush into your icon, and also change it's mode. If te don't like it, te can cancella the layer da clicking the 'dustbin' button besides the 'Create a new layer' button.
Save your icon. It's format will automatically turn into PSD.
STEP 5: Flatten your icona and change it into JPG o PNG format.
After te have satisfied with your decoration, flatten your icona da clicking 'Layer' then 'Flatten Image. Then click 'File' and then click 'Save as... (SHIFT+CTRL+S)'. Change it's format. te can change it into any format that are available in your Photoshop. immagini are usually formatted JPG o PNG.
Do NOT save your icona after te have flattened it. o else, te will lose your added layers and it will be harder to re-edit in case te want to.
*note: I added 'Vibrance' in my icon. Older versions from Adobe Photoshop CS5 have no 'Vibrance'. But that's no big deal to make your icona lovely.
So, that is my secret on how to make a lovely icona in an easy way! Try it and be as creative as te can!
First of all, although every in Adobe Photoshop the tools placement are different, but the tools I'm using are common and I hope te already know them. But don't worry, I also include the tools' shortcut. In this article, I'm using Adobe Photoshop CS5.
Let's begin!
STEP 1: Choose a picture te want.
How to open an image: click 'File' and then click 'Open' o a shortcut CTRL+O. te can use any image from your computer.
STEP 2: Adjust the image te use.
In order to make your icona più beautiful, add your image's brightness o contrast da clicking 'Image' then click 'Adjustment' and click 'Brightness/Contrast'. It is up to te whether te want your icona to be light o dark, contrast o less contrast.
Now, the colour of the image. te can adjust it da clicking 'Image' then 'Adjustment' and 'Hue/Saturation (CTRL+U)' o 'Color Balance (CTRL+B)'. te can adjust it into whatever te like.
STEP 3: Crop the image using 'Crop Tool (C)'
Next, te have adjusted your image, it's time for te to crop it square. Click the box besides 'Width' then write down '200 px'. Do exactly the same thing to the right box besides 'Height'. te can write any size te want actually, but we are making an icona now and I usually create a 200x200 px sized icon.
Drag your topo, mouse o mousepad to crop it. te can use the keypad too to sposta the cropped area.
STEP 4: Decorate your icon!
Add a new layer da clicking 'Create a new layer'. Click 'Layer 1'. That means te are going to fill that layer.
Then click 'Brush Tool (B). te are able to change the brush's size/hardness and even into other shape. te can download new brushes in the internet. Don't get mistaken with 'Eraser Tool (E)'.
Change the brush colour too into any colour da clicking 'Set foreground color' as te like o even the brush's shape into other form.
Then click the left button of your topo, mouse o mousepad to add colour on your icon. te can change the mode of the layer into 'Overlay', 'Hard Light', o anything te like.
te can add another layer, add brush into your icon, and also change it's mode. If te don't like it, te can cancella the layer da clicking the 'dustbin' button besides the 'Create a new layer' button.
Save your icon. It's format will automatically turn into PSD.
STEP 5: Flatten your icona and change it into JPG o PNG format.
After te have satisfied with your decoration, flatten your icona da clicking 'Layer' then 'Flatten Image. Then click 'File' and then click 'Save as... (SHIFT+CTRL+S)'. Change it's format. te can change it into any format that are available in your Photoshop. immagini are usually formatted JPG o PNG.
Do NOT save your icona after te have flattened it. o else, te will lose your added layers and it will be harder to re-edit in case te want to.
*note: I added 'Vibrance' in my icon. Older versions from Adobe Photoshop CS5 have no 'Vibrance'. But that's no big deal to make your icona lovely.
So, that is my secret on how to make a lovely icona in an easy way! Try it and be as creative as te can!