1. Start of with your image. Crop 100x100, 72 Resolution. Crop however you like. I used a picture of Katherine Heigl. Take your base and do what ever you like to it. I think I just sharpened mine.



2. Duplicate your base and set it to Screen 100%.

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3. Next, go to Layer->New Adjustment Layer->Color Balance. Say ok and type in these settings:

Midtones: +33, -10, +24
Shadows: -27, -5, +51

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4. Next, go to Layer->New Adjustment Layer->Selective Color. Type in these settings:

Reds
Cyan: -100
Magenta: +23
Yellow: +55
Black: 0

Yellows
Cyan: -87
Magenta: 0
Yellow: +45
Black: 0

Neutrals
Cyan: +100
Magenta: 0
Yellow: -30
Black: -11

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5. Add yet another selective color layer and add in these settings:

Reds
Cyan: -100
Magenta: +23
Yellow: +57
Black: 0

Yellows
Cyan: -87
Magenta: 0
Yellow: +40
Black: 0

Neutrals
Cyan: +100
Magenta: 0
Yellow: -25
Black: -13

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6. And if you want, you can add a hue/satuation layer. Layer->New Adjustment Layer->Hue/Saturation. Add these settings:

Master: 0, +28, 0

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7. You can add what ever you want to your icon. Add textures, brushes and whatnot. I decided to keep mine the way it is. Let me know what you think! I hope this was very helpful for most of you. Leave some comments with what you came up with, I'd love to see 'em! If you take my icon, don't forget to credit to me. ♥



Icons with similar effect:



My last Tutorial: