I was thinking to share my knowledge of icoon making using Adobe Photoshop to my vrienden 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 u 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 u want.
How to open an image: click 'File' and then click 'Open' of a shortcut CTRL+O. u can use any image from your computer.
STEP 2: Adjust the image u use.
In order to make your icoon meer beautiful, add your image's brightness of contrast door clicking 'Image' then click 'Adjustment' and click 'Brightness/Contrast'. It is up to u whether u want your icoon to be light of dark, contrast of less contrast.
Now, the colour of the image. u can adjust it door clicking 'Image' then 'Adjustment' and 'Hue/Saturation (CTRL+U)' of 'Color Balance (CTRL+B)'. u can adjust it into whatever u like.
STEP 3: Crop the image using 'Crop Tool (C)'
Next, u have adjusted your image, it's time for u 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'. u can write any size u want actually, but we are making an icoon now and I usually create a 200x200 px sized icon.
Drag your muis of mousepad to crop it. u can use the keypad too to verplaats the cropped area.
STEP 4: Decorate your icon!
Add a new layer door clicking 'Create a new layer'. Click 'Layer 1'. That means u are going to fill that layer.
Then click 'Brush Tool (B). u are able to change the brush's size/hardness and even into other shape. u can download new brushes in the internet. Don't get mistaken with 'Eraser Tool (E)'.
Change the brush colour too into any colour door clicking 'Set foreground color' as u like of even the brush's shape into other form.
Then click the left button of your muis of mousepad to add colour on your icon. u can change the mode of the layer into 'Overlay', 'Hard Light', of anything u like.
u can add another layer, add brush into your icon, and also change it's mode. If u don't like it, u can wis the layer door 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 icoon and change it into JPG of PNG format.
After u have satisfied with your decoration, flatten your icoon door clicking 'Layer' then 'Flatten Image. Then click 'File' and then click 'Save as... (SHIFT+CTRL+S)'. Change it's format. u can change it into any format that are available in your Photoshop. afbeeldingen are usually formatted JPG of PNG.
Do NOT save your icoon after u have flattened it. of else, u will lose your added layers and it will be harder to re-edit in case u 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 icoon lovely.
So, that is my secret on how to make a lovely icoon in an easy way! Try it and be as creative as u 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 u 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 u want.
How to open an image: click 'File' and then click 'Open' of a shortcut CTRL+O. u can use any image from your computer.
STEP 2: Adjust the image u use.
In order to make your icoon meer beautiful, add your image's brightness of contrast door clicking 'Image' then click 'Adjustment' and click 'Brightness/Contrast'. It is up to u whether u want your icoon to be light of dark, contrast of less contrast.
Now, the colour of the image. u can adjust it door clicking 'Image' then 'Adjustment' and 'Hue/Saturation (CTRL+U)' of 'Color Balance (CTRL+B)'. u can adjust it into whatever u like.
STEP 3: Crop the image using 'Crop Tool (C)'
Next, u have adjusted your image, it's time for u 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'. u can write any size u want actually, but we are making an icoon now and I usually create a 200x200 px sized icon.
Drag your muis of mousepad to crop it. u can use the keypad too to verplaats the cropped area.
STEP 4: Decorate your icon!
Add a new layer door clicking 'Create a new layer'. Click 'Layer 1'. That means u are going to fill that layer.
Then click 'Brush Tool (B). u are able to change the brush's size/hardness and even into other shape. u can download new brushes in the internet. Don't get mistaken with 'Eraser Tool (E)'.
Change the brush colour too into any colour door clicking 'Set foreground color' as u like of even the brush's shape into other form.
Then click the left button of your muis of mousepad to add colour on your icon. u can change the mode of the layer into 'Overlay', 'Hard Light', of anything u like.
u can add another layer, add brush into your icon, and also change it's mode. If u don't like it, u can wis the layer door 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 icoon and change it into JPG of PNG format.
After u have satisfied with your decoration, flatten your icoon door clicking 'Layer' then 'Flatten Image. Then click 'File' and then click 'Save as... (SHIFT+CTRL+S)'. Change it's format. u can change it into any format that are available in your Photoshop. afbeeldingen are usually formatted JPG of PNG.
Do NOT save your icoon after u have flattened it. of else, u will lose your added layers and it will be harder to re-edit in case u 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 icoon lovely.
So, that is my secret on how to make a lovely icoon in an easy way! Try it and be as creative as u can!