Guess what?

IT'S TUTORIAL TIME!


Here is a short, hopefully helpful tutorial on how to make an icon like this;



Alright, so, I'm using Paint Shop Pro 8, but I'm pretty sure all Paintshop programs are basically the same.
If you have any trouble, just comment and let me know.

MAKE SURE YOU CAN VIEW YOUR LAYER BOX. If you can't, go to 'View' -> 'Palettes' and then 'Layers'

Lets begin:

Ok, so here's my starting image;

I like to clean up my images before I start working with them...so for this, I went to 'Effects' then 'Effect Browser'. I used the 'Fade Correction' option in the Color Balance folder under Adjust.
It doesn't do much for this image, but you'll find it works wonders with darkly colored images or ones that have been distorted over time.

Ok, so, I cropped the image how I wanted, then re-sized it to 100x100 pixels. (The Re-size is under image--resize)
Now we have this;


Another step I use to help clarify my image is the screen-multiply. You don't have to do this, but I find it helps with the darkness after you re-size an image.
All you have to do is duplicate you base twice.

You change the first layer to 'Screen' and the one underneath to 'Multiply'
Once again, it's hard to see a difference, but it does help.

Now, the next step is to create a new raster layer. You do this by simply clicking the left most button on your LAYERS box. It looks like a green box overlapping a white one.

Click ok and you've got a new raster layer.
Well done :D

Now, the next step is simply up to you.
Choose a color, one that's preferably low in saturation. Or, in other words, dark. If you choose a happy pretty color, your image won't look good.

I've chosen a dark blue. Take your color and use the Flood Fill tool, and simply click on your icon. It should now look like this;


Don't fret! The next step we take will bring back your base image.
Remember how we screened and multiplied the base image? Well, we are going to use the Exclusion effect on our raster layer.
It should look like this;

Now we can see George again. Hi George!

Now, once again, you're going to create a new raster layer. It's the same process as the first time, but your raster layer should be called 'Raster 2'...because it's your second one. Duh.
Your Layers box should look like this;


Next, look at your Materials; where all your colors are and such. You want to get into the Gradient selection, instead of a solid color.

When you click what is circled, you'll see your base color change to a mix of them. Click on the color that just came up, and you should be greeted with this option;

CLick the black arrow NEXT to the gradient, and you can choose which gradient you want to use. As you can see, I've chosen the Ocean Blues.
You can also create your own, but we'll leave that for another time.

Now that you have chosen a gradient, use your Flood Fill tool once more, and filly your new raster layer.

We're going to take our newly filled raster layer, and apply the 'Soft Light' option on it.

Once this is done, the next step is simple.
Right-click your image, and select copy-merged.
Right-click again and paste your merged copy as a new layer.
Do this twice.
Now you have two new layers in your layer view box.

Like this.

On the Layer labeled Raster 3, we're going to apply the Overlay effect. Like this;

You won't see a change in your image, because we haven't done anything to the top, dominant layer yet.

On the Layer labeled Raster 4, we're going to apply the Burn effect. Like this;

Your icon now should look very dark.

Next, click your selection tool This is what my options bar looks like;


Select a good chunk of the middle of your icon. The burn effect we applied will only be the border of our icon.
Something like this is fine;


Now, click 'ctrl+x' and your selection should be cleared. If this doesn't work, make sure, in your layers box, 'raster 4' is highlighted.You can also do this by going to 'Edit' then 'Clear'.

Your icon should now look like this;


Now you have a nice, clean border you made yourself, and a not-too-brightly-color icon of Mr. George Harrison.

This technique works BEST with Black and White images.


Adding text is up to you. I would go into that, but I'm lazy.
Perhaps another time.


Well, hope it was helpful. Any questions or comments, let me know ^^