How to Create a Unique Icon Using Photoshop – Photoshop web design Lessons

March 24, 2010

Icons are the little symbols on our computer monitor/desktop which provide a shortcut to a specific program. When you place you cursor on the icon and click your mouse, the program will open and you can go to work.

Icons also serve as a second function. Placing them on a website makes it easier for your web visitors to navigate the website. Using Photoshop and creating your own icons will give your web page a unique and memorable look.

Firstly, you are going to need a computer scanner, a sketchpad, and Photoshops IconBuilder Pro. Before you begin, you should have an idea of what you want the finished icon to look like.

Step 1

The first thing you need to do is sketch the design you want to use for your icon. The sketch doesn’t have to be very elaborate, in fact the simpler the design the better. The sketch doesn’t necessarily have to look like it was created by a great artist. All you have to do is create a simple sketch.

When you have completed your sketch, you are going to have to scan what you have drawn into your computer and use Photoshop to open it.

Step 2

The best way to create an icon is by taking advantage of Photoshop’s overlay feature. Creating the process in layers lets you go back and make changes. In addition to making editing easier, the overlay feature also means you won’t have to worry about creating an enormous source file.

Step 3

When you are creating an icon, the best place to start is by adding color to your sketch. You don’t want to use lots of colors, instead, stick to a very basic color scheme that only uses two or three colors. When you are adding color, make sure you paint inside your sketch.

Don’t worry if adding the color makes your sketch appear flat and listless, the upcoming steps will give your sketch personality and dimension.

Step 4
Once you have filled your sketch with colors, you will need to use the highlighter. This feature will emphasize your image, and start to give it a three-dimensional appearance. The key to successfully highlighting an image is to use the lightest shade of gray and set the fill content at 0%.

Step 5

Now that your happy with the way your icon looks, it is time to shrink it to a more manageable size. The simplest way to do this with IconBuilder’s QuickBuild feature. When you open Quickbuilder, the program will create an ICNS file. Once you have created the ICNS file you will be able to select a size for your icon.

Step 6

Merge the various layers together and save the icon to your computer.

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