[Tutorial #5] Neon/Vibrant Éowyn

[aurora_amethyst]

Going from this: to this:

Requested by starla at Ask the Maker 2022 @ icontalking



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This icon was made for the random round @ somein30. The prompt was texture, and I was given this texture by evenstarss. As soon as I saw the texture, I knew I wanted to a complex icon with bright colors.

First, I started out with this image of Éowyn. I cut her out of the original image in its original size, so that when I resize her, the edges are cleaner looking. Then I opened a new canvas that's 100x100 and pasted the cutout of Eowyn. I always duplicate that layer just in case I resize her and don't end up liking how she fits in the icon. At this point, I didn't resize her because I wasn't sure exactly how I wanted her to fit into the composition.

Next, I started working on the composition. I took the texture by evenstarss and resized it.



Now for the coloring. Lately, I've been using a lot of gradient maps to color my icons, but feel free to color the backgrounds however you want. I was liking the teal-purple feel, so I used #3 from the Psychedelic gradient map set at Fractured-Simplicity.net. Unfortunately, her website is down, and the gradient map type is noise rather than solid, so it isn't possible to replicate. Basically, it's goes from teal to purple. I set this layer at normal, 100% opacity.





The colors were a little to bright, so I added this texture by ohfreckle @ evorycode and set it to screen, 100% opacity, to add a bit of light and a bit more purple to the background.



I added this texture from the Kan, Ya Ma Kan set by tinebrella @ psychedelicats and set it to exclusion, 40% opacity. This layer dulls the purples and gives the background some texture.



I added a solid color layer of #00ffd5, and pasted this texture by windsonnetss at nubessucias into the layer mask (alt-click the layer mask and paste the texture) and inverted it.



Now, I resized the cutout of Éowyn and positioned her so that the cyan circle was behind her head. (No, the halo effect was not intentional! >.<)



The rest of the icon is basically my coloring each of the different parts of Éowyn. I knew that I wanted to do a bright, vibrant coloring. First, I started out with Éowyn's dress. I colored it by adding a new color fill layer with eb0e85 and masked out everything except her dress. You can add a new raster layer and just paint on the layer as well. I like using layer masks because they are a lot more forgiving. You can also easily created another layer using the same mask. I set this layer to normal, 30% opacity.



Next, I duplicated the pink layer and set it to soft light, 100% opacity.



Now for a gradient map layer! I added a peachy gradient map layer (the 7th one) from Evey-V's first gradient map set. I set this layer to multiply, 100% opacity. Her skin was a little too light, and I wanted to prevent Éowyn from looking too washed out.



Éowyn's lips were blending into her skin, so I wanted to add a bit of color to make them stand out a little bit. Using the same pink color from earlier (eb0e85), I colored Éowyn's lips and set the layer to soft light, 40% opacity.



Éowyn's hair is looking a little too light, so I colored her hair with fff600 and set the layer to soft light, 100% opacity.



I decided to make Éowyn's cloak a bright blue, so I colored over the main part of the cloak with 0000ff and set the layer to soft light, 100% opacity.



Keeping with the neon-ish colors, I decided to use a bright purple for the collar of Éowyn's quote. I colored over her collar with 9d00ff and set the layer to multiply, 100% opacity.



Now for the gradient maps again! First, I used a muted teal (6e9f9d) to a pink (ffc0cf) gradient map set to soft light, 100% opacity. This layer brightens up the icon.



Next, I used a dusty rose (cb8696) to pale yellow (f9eebc) gradient map set to soft light, 30% opacity. This layer brightens the icon a tad and gives a slight pinkish tinge.



Another gradient map! I used a periwinkle (dadaf6) to a purple blue (0e1152) gradient map to soft light, 60% opacity. This layer gives the icon more of a matte look while still keep the colors fairly vibrant.



The final gradient map! I used a dark mauve (520e30) to a pale purple (f7d8f2) gradient map to soft light, 40% opacity. This layer brightens the icon slightly and brings out some of the colors.



Now for some solid color fill layers! I added a bright purple (a400da) layer and set it to luminosity, 40% opacity, 40% fill. This layer darkens the icon while adding a matte look and keeping the overall coloring still fairly bright.



Another second color fill layer! I added a bright magenta (eb0e85) layer and set to saturation, 20% opacity. This layer brings out the bright colors while adding a pinkish tone to Éowyn's skin.



Now for the tricky part. I added a vibrance layer with 100% vibrance, 100% saturation. Éowyn looks way too bright and neon, but there's a purpose for this layer.

 

I select the whole icon (ctrl+a or command+a) and copy-merge (or copy-visible). Then I paste the copy-merge layer back into the icon, hide the vibrance layer, and set the copy-merge layer to soft light, 100% opacity. This layer brings out the bright colors (but not too much) while softening the overall icon.

 

Lastly, I sharpen the icon. My favorite way to sharpen is using the paint daubs filter (filter>filter gallery>artistic>paint daubs) with the following settings: brush size: 1, sharpness: 1, brush type: simple. In this case, the sharpness was just right. However, if it is oversharpened, I just adjust the opacity.



Voila! There you have it!

.psd

If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

Comments

[tinny]

Oh, wow, this is awesome! Thank you for writing it up!

I especially love how you modified the texture with more textures to dull the vibrance and the purples. I see I need to play with that, I always use boring plain color layers for everything.

I love to see that you colored each part of her separately. It feels like all of my icons are done like that. :DD I'm also impressed by how you can predict the gradient map effects.

I love the idea of using a plain color layer on Luminosity to dull the icon a bit, I will absolutely try that!

Then I opened a new canvas that's 100x100 and pasted the cutout of Eowyn.

What I do so I don't have to open a new canvas, is I make a Snapshot before I downsize. It's the middle button in the History palette. So if I end up not liking what I did, I can go back to the original size. It has other disadvantages though than having separate canvases, ymmv.


Again, thank you! <3

[aurora_amethyst]

You're very welcome! I always enjoy putting together tutorials. It's kind of fun to look at my icon-making process, especially when I get a little more experimental!

I especially love how you modified the texture with more textures to dull the vibrance and the purples. I see I need to play with that, I always use boring plain color layers for everything.

Yeah, a lot of times the textures feel like they need a little more something, sometimes it's grunge, sometimes a little more color. And using textures to color textures gives the icon a little more depth and interest, I think!

I love to see that you colored each part of her separately. It feels like all of my icons are done like that. :DD I'm also impressed by how you can predict the gradient map effects.

Lol, well, I've been using gradient maps for quite a bit, but usually it's an experimental process. I've got a ton of different gradient maps, so I usually will go through different ones until I get the right look and coloring. I usually use complimentary colors as sort of a guide, so if the icon is too warm, I'll use a cooler color and vice versa.

What I do so I don't have to open a new canvas, is I make a Snapshot before I downsize. It's the middle button in the History palette. So if I end up not liking what I did, I can go back to the original size. It has other disadvantages though than having separate canvases, ymmv.

Lol, true. I also sometimes use the smart object function to keep the layer resizable.

[tinny]

Lol, well, I've been using gradient maps for quite a bit, but usually it's an experimental process.

Lol, that's reassuring! <3 Going for cooler/warmer colors is pretty much the extent to which I can predict things. And the whole black-white-black gradient map effect that jsfunction taught me. Those are the two I can predict, and everything else is experimentation. :D

I also sometimes use the smart object function to keep the layer resizable.

I have to admit, I've never understood how smart objects work. I keep meaning to learn, but it's daunting. /o\

[aurora_amethyst]

I have to admit, I've never understood how smart objects work. I keep meaning to learn, but it's daunting. /o\

Lol, I know what you mean! I don't know everything about it, but I know that if you set your layer as a smart object before you resize it, it will keep the percentages the same when you resize it. So if you went from 100% to 20% when you resized it, then later if you were ever to need to go back to the layer, it would still be on the 20%. I think you can also do various filters like blurring or sharpening and stuff without affecting the original layer (it shows up kind of like the blending options, I think). I'm not positive, though, lol!

[tinny]

Thank you so much for explaining! <3 That makes me more confident to try it!

[geckoholic]

Thank you so much for sharing, this is really interesting!

[aurora_amethyst]

D'awww! You're very welcome! ^^

[goodbyebird]

This is a really cool tutorial. Thanks for sharing <3

[aurora_amethyst]

You're very welcome!