#icons tutorial

Using this tool, you'll "draw" a selection around of your subject, keeping the line along the edge, by clicking with your mouse and creating points along said edge. It sounds a bit difficult, but it's fairly quick and simple.

Once you're done you can click the pasteboard area around the image, then back on the inicial click point to complete the selection. You can also press the Shift key to add to the selection and the Alt key to remove from it.

step 02 - Select and Mask

Then, if you want, you can use click Select and Mask to Refine Edge Brush to brush over tricky areas like hair, foliage, etc. However, here I usually just mess around with the Global Refinement tools until I like the look of it.

Then another fun part. Right click on top of your selection and click Select Inverse. Then press Delete. TADA!

PART 2 - RESIZING

step 01: Canvas Size

Image > Canvas Size > 200px x 200px

Then, Ctlr/Cmd + T to resize out layer and place it where I want it:

step 02: Sharpening

Filter > Sharpen > Smart Sharpen, this is what my settings look like:

PART 3 - COLORING

Now you can just add whatever coloring you want, just like you would with a gif, or even use psd. I then also like to create a Clipping Mask of all Adjustment Layers, so the coloring doesn't affect the background, which is the final step.

PART 4 : ADDING BACKGROUND

step 01 - Background Layer

Here's my favorite part. All you have to do now is create a Gradient that will be in the bottom of all your layers. You can do that by adding a Gradient Adjust Layer, or just creating a New Layer there on the bottom and using Brush Tool (big and soft brush) to color your background however you like (personally I prefer the latter, but it's up to you).

After that, I like to add some texture. What I do is I just search online for some patterns (like “heart patterns” or “stars patterns”, “brush patterns”, etc) copy and paste it on top of a the background layer, then set it to Soft Light blend mode, and I also I mess with the opacity until i like the look of it.

Aaaaand you're done!

Step 1. Open a 120x120px square:

Step 2. Click the button "file" and then "place embedded":

Step 3. Insert the image that you prefer and resize it until it fits above the white square:

Step 4. Add a psd (this video explains better, starting at 0:34).

Step 5: Click the image layer with the right button of the mouse and then "rasterize layer":

Step 6. Add an action (if you don't know how to install it, here's a tutorial). I usually use this one, it makes the image sharper! (@wonhoutboy vc é a maior!! <3).

Step 7. The icon is done!

Step 8. Time to save it! Go to File > Export > Quick Export as a PNG. Select the location where you want the image to be saved and click “Save.”

ALERTA: Esse é um tutorial que se necessita de conhecimentos básicos de Photoshop e do aplicativo em si. 

Você precisa decidir qual personagem/filme você quer fazer icons e procurar screencaps (captura de tela) dele, eu escolhi uma personagem que adoro esteticamente que é a Fluttershy, essa é a imagem.

Agora você vai abrir seu Photoshop, vai em Abrir > Novo > Dimensão 400x400px >Criar e você terá um novo documento em sua tela.

Você vai copiar a imagem escolhida para o edit e colar nesse novo documento.

Lembre-se de deixar a caixinha de Mostrar. Contr. Transf. selecionada ou você não vai conseguir redimensionar sua imagem.

Puxe os quadradinhos para o centro e redimensione até que fiquei ajustado da sua preferencia.

A imagem parece um pouco escura para mim então eu vou ajustar seu Brilho.

Vá em Imagem>Ajustes>Brilho/Contraste

Vai aparecer um quadradinho, mexendo nos triângulos você pode aumentar ou diminuir o Brilho ou Contraste. Eu aumentei só um pouco e cliquei OK.

Para deixar a imagem com uma qualidade/nitidez melhor, eu aplico Smart Sharpen. Você vai clicar em Filtro>Tornar Nítido> Aplicação Inteligente de Nitidez.

Uma caixa irá se abrir e você colocara as definições a baixo:

(Deixando claro que esse é o jeito que gosto de colocar o Sharpen, você pode colocar actions se preferir, vários tumblrs de resources tem)

Quando finalizar clique em OK

Agora vem o PSD, nesse estou usando esse aqui.

1. choosing an image.

first of all, choose an image to make the icon. any size is fine, but i prefer to keep mine at 500x500 pixels.

2. using preset actions​.

so, for the next step, we're going to apply actions to your image. "uh, what exactly are actions?" glad you asked! to sum it up, actions are basically a sequence of premade edits that can be applied to any picture, at any time. it kinda works like a filter. for soft icons, i use sharpness and grain actions. you can find the actions option on these tabs:

(window > actions)

(to load a downloaded action, just click on that icon in the corner that is next to the two arrows facing right, then choose "load actions" and open your file).

these are the actions that i use: sharpness and grain.

to apply an action, click on the button that i highlighted. (i usually apply the sharpness action twice when i'm making icons). important: the only layers that should be visible in this step are the ones that you want to apply the actions in, otherwise, the effect will be applied to all of the layers.

okay, your image should look like this now: 

this is completely optional, if you want to reduce the grain, just follow these steps: 

lower the opacity until you're satisfied with it.

select the two layers and merge them down.

3. adding a psd.

adding a psd is a pretty simple task, but a lot of people seem find it difficult. in this case, a psd works like a filter to your image. the first thing you'll need to do is to find a psd that matches with the aesthetics of your image, then you have to download it and open it in photoshop.

now you're gonna drag it to the layers panel. (just click on the psd with the left click of your mouse and drag it). it'll look like this:

the psd is on that little "box" thing highlighted in blue. now drag it to the layer that you want to use it.

and that's the final result:

well, the tutorial ends here! i hope it was useful and i'm sorry if anything was confusing (if you still have questions, hit me up!) it was my first time making a tutorial!

· FAQ ·

Q: where can i find the actions that you used in this tutorial?

A: you can find them in the section "using preset actions". just click on the words "sharpness" and "grain" that are highlighted. (oh, the actions aren't mine btw, all of the credits go to the creator)

Q: where can i find that psd?

A: here~