how to create an icon set

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ICON DESIGN

How to Create an IconSet using AdobePhotoshopby Mohammad Jeprie 12 Dec 2014

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What You'll Be Creating

In this tutorial, we are going to design a set of icons in Adobe Photoshop. An icon

set needs to have the same background and theme. For learning purposes, we are

going to design a sun icon, an ice flake icon, and an RSS icon. Let's get started.

1. Preparing the Canvas

Step 1Start by making a new file with size 350 px 350 px. Click the small box next to

the Background Contents option to change the new canvas color.


Step 2In the Color Picker dialog box, select grey ( #e0e0e2 ) for the canvas background

color.


Step 3It is always a good idea to keep your work structured from the start. Make a new


layer group and name it sun . This is where we will place all layers used in the

sun icon.

2. Designing the Icon Base

Step 1Use the Rounded Rectangle Tool to draw a rectangle with size 83 px 64 px

and 8 px radius. To get accurate results, use the Properties panel. In this panel,


you can simply enter the exact size into the input box.


Step 2Hold Shift and then draw another rounded rectangle. This new shape will be added

to the previous shape. Set its size to 36 px 36 px with radius 3 px.


Step 3Hit Control-T to perform a transformation, and then click and drag outside the

bounding box to rotate it 45.

Step 4Make sure the shape is in the middle of the previous shape. In CC 2014, you can

test its position by dragging it and snapping it onto the guide in the center of the

previous shape.


Step 5Hit Enter to confirm the transformation result. You may find a confirmation dialog

box from Photoshop, informing you that the shape will turn into a regular path. It

means that you can no longer edit it using the Properties panel. Just click Yes.


Step 6Place the shape as in the picture below.


Here's the result at 100% magnification.


Step 7Draw a similar shape on top of the previous shape which is 1 px smaller. You can

do this by duplicating the shape and then modifying its points, or simply by making


a new shape.

Step 8


Set its color to #57adf8 .

Step 9Double-click the shape and then apply Stroke and Gradient Overlay using the


following settings.


For the gradient, use the following arrangement of colors. To open the Gradient

Editor and change the gradient setting, click on the gradient preview box.


Step 10


Reduce the Fill's layer to 11%. The layer content will be transparent and leave the

layer styles intact.


This is the result.

3. Icon Shadow


Step 1Make a new layer underneath the icon base. Activate the Brush Tool and then

paint a shadow under the icon.

Step 2


Still using the Brush Tool, add a stronger shadow right under the icon tip.

Step 3Control-click the smaller icon base to make a new selection based on its shape.

Make a new layer and then paint white on top of the selection. Make sure you use

a soft brush (0% Hardness)


Step 4Once you have finished, remove the selection using Control-D and then reduce the

layer's Opacity.


Step 5Make another new layer and get the selection from the small icon base. Fill the

selection with gradient from white to black. Change the layer's Blend Mode to

Overlay and then reduce its Opacity.


Step 6Add another new layer. Make a big elliptical selection on the lower part of the icon

and then Control-click the small base layer to intersect it. Fill the selection with

gradient from white to black. Change the layer's Blend Mode to Screen and reduce

its Opacity.


This is the result at 100% magnification.


Step 7Control-click the icon base layer. Make a new layer on top and then click Edit >

Stroke. Set the color to lighter blue and Width: 1 px.


Below, you can see the difference before and after adding a stroke outline into

the icon.


Step 8Add a layer mask into the stroke layer. Fill it with black to hide all the outlines. Paint

some parts of the line with white to reveal them. This way, now we have highlight on

the icon's edge.


You can see detail of the highlight in the following picture.


Step 9Add a Color Balance Adjustment Layer above the icon. We are going to use it to

change the background's color.


For easier layer management, let's change its layer name to color changer.


Step 10Fill its layer mask with black. Make a new selection based on the icon's shape, and

then fill it with white. This way, the adjustment layer only affects the icon. Drag the

sliders to change the color.


Step 11Duplicate the icon base and change the parameter in Color Balance individually.


4. Add Icon Signs

Step 1For our first icon, we will add a sun icon. Start by drawing a yellow circle shape.


Step 2Apply the layer styles Inner Shadow and Inner Glow using the following settings.

Use #7b6708 for their color and set both blend modes to Multiply.


Step 3Paint a lighter yellow on the lower center of the sun.


Step 4Add an elliptical shape on the upper half of the sun with a brighter yellow for its

color.


Step 5Draw a thin, light-colored shape on the top right side of the sun for its highlight.

Delete some of it using a soft eraser to keep it natural.


Step 6The next process is adding the sun's flame. Start by drawing two yellow triangles as

seen below. Place them behind the sun.


Step 7Select both vector shapes and then duplicate them: Control-C and then Control-V.

Rotate the new shapes 45.


Step 8Keep duplicating and rotating until we have a full circle set of flames.


Step 9Apply Inner Shadow with color #b48f0b and Outer Glow with color #f9dc7e .


Step 10To help us, the sun is now hidden from view. Draw more yellow triangles as seen

below.


Step 11Add a circular shape on the center of the triangles and set its path mode to

Subtract.


We're done, so let's bring back the flare and sun shapes.


Step 12To get a realistic sun, we need to paint a blurry yellow circle shape behind the sun.

You can draw it manually using a soft brush, or draw a circle first and then soften it

using a Gaussian Blur filter.


Step 13Double-click the icon group layer to add a layer style. Add an Inner Glow with black

for its color and blend mode Multiply.


With this layer style, we have added a dark silhouette to the icon.


Step 14Next, we are going to add an RSS symbol inside the icon. Start by drawing a circle

shape on top of the icon base.


Step 15Duplicate and then paste the path (Control-C, Control-V). Hit Control-T and then

transform it into a smaller shape. Set its mode to Subtract Front Shape.


Step 16Duplicate the path and make it smaller. Set its mode to Combine Shapes.


Step 17Keep repeating the steps until you have the following shape.


Step 18Add two rectangles and set their mode to Subtract Front Shape. See the picture

below to know their position.


Step 19Double-click the RSS symbols and then apply Inner Glow, Gradient Overlay, and

Drop Shadow.


Here's the result at 100% magnification.


Step 20Next we'll add a snowflake symbol into the third icon. Activate the Custom Shape

Tool and load the Nature vector shapes set from the Option Bar.


A warning dialog box will appear, asking you to either replace or add the Nature

vector shapes theme into the already existing shapes. You can click OK.


Step 21Select the Snowflake shape from the drop down list.


Step 22Click and drag to draw a snowflake symbol on top of the icon.

This is the result at 100% magnification.


Conclusion

As seen in this tutorial, designing an icon set is not so difficult. Before working on

drawing the symbol, you need to prepare for the overall theme. In this case, the

icon is placed on a rounded rectangle shape and a triangle. I hope you enjoyed the

tutorial and learned something from its steps.


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About Mohammad Jeprie

Mohammad Jeprie is a blogger, author,and graphic designer from Indonesia. He'snot an artist, but he knows a few

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Photoshop techniques and loves to share it witheveryone. He runs his own design blog,DesainDigital where he shares tutorials andinspirations for other designers.

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Front-End Engineerat Animoto in New York, NY, USA

Business Writerat Tuts+ in New York, NY, USA


2 Comments Tuts+ Hub

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omar 3 months ago

plz how to get Gradient Editor in photoshop cs1

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Nelly Rahman 3 months ago

designing an icon set is not so difficult. Before working on drawing the symbol, you need to prepare for the overalltheme.

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