I was thinking to share my knowledge of Иконка making using Adobe Photoshop to my Друзья 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 Ты 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 Ты want.



How to open an image: click 'File' and then click 'Open' или a shortcut CTRL+O. Ты can use any image from your computer.

STEP 2: Adjust the image Ты use.



In order to make your Иконка еще beautiful, add your image's brightness или contrast by clicking 'Image' then click 'Adjustment' and click 'Brightness/Contrast'. It is up to Ты whether Ты want your Иконка to be light или dark, contrast или less contrast.

Now, the colour of the image. Ты can adjust it by clicking 'Image' then 'Adjustment' and 'Hue/Saturation (CTRL+U)' или 'Color Balance (CTRL+B)'. Ты can adjust it into whatever Ты like.

STEP 3: Crop the image using 'Crop Tool (C)'



Next, Ты have adjusted your image, it's time for Ты 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'. Ты can write any size Ты want actually, but we are making an Иконка now and I usually create a 200x200 px sized icon.



Drag your мышь или mousepad to crop it. Ты can use the keypad too to Переместить the cropped area.




STEP 4: Decorate your icon!



Add a new layer by clicking 'Create a new layer'. Click 'Layer 1'. That means Ты are going to fill that layer.



Then click 'Brush Tool (B). Ты are able to change the brush's size/hardness and even into other shape. Ты can download new brushes in the internet. Don't get mistaken with 'Eraser Tool (E)'.



Change the brush colour too into any colour by clicking 'Set foreground color' as Ты like или even the brush's shape into other form.



Then click the left button of your мышь или mousepad to add colour on your icon. Ты can change the mode of the layer into 'Overlay', 'Hard Light', или anything Ты like.



Ты can add another layer, add brush into your icon, and also change it's mode. If Ты don't like it, Ты can Удалить the layer by 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 Иконка and change it into JPG или PNG format.




After Ты have satisfied with your decoration, flatten your Иконка by clicking 'Layer' then 'Flatten Image. Then click 'File' and then click 'Save as... (SHIFT+CTRL+S)'. Change it's format. Ты can change it into any format that are available in your Photoshop. Обои are usually formatted JPG или PNG.



Do NOT save your Иконка after Ты have flattened it. или else, Ты will lose your added layers and it will be harder to re-edit in case Ты 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 Иконка lovely.

So, that is my secret on how to make a lovely Иконка in an easy way! Try it and be as creative as Ты can!