Jack O'Neill Color Flood Tutorial

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Requested by supplyship

I used Adobe Photoshop CS4.
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
PSD: No
SELECTIVE COLORING: No
I am sure it can be done in many fewer steps and this should be translatable to PSP or GIMP if you are already familiar with cut-outs (layer masks/extraction) or making black and white icons.



If you already know how to do cut-outs (layer masks/extraction) and do desaturation (black & white) you can just do it the way you know best.

1. Base preparation
There are many ways to prepare a base, this is what I used for this icon.
* Crop
* Duplicate later and set to screen 50%
* Create new Curves Adjustment Layer(for contrast)
Settings:
Red: Output 123 Input 128
Green: 2 points
Output 95 Input 102
Output 145 Input 141
Blue: 2 points
Output 90 Input 109
Output 155 Input 145
*Create a new layer and using Alt+Ctl+Shift+E will merge and paste the layers below it. We are adding more black to the icon now using the following steps.
Use Control+U to desaturate this layer, set it to multiply at 25%. Then, while still on this layer, go to Image > Adjustments > Levels.
Now here is the tricky part, move the left and right sliders toward the middle and move the middle slider towards the left until you get the amount of black you want in the icon. Sorry - I just don't keep track of this part.
* Because this one looked too yellow I created a Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer and under Yellow set sliders at 0, -23 and +20.

These are the layers:


And this is what it looks like:


2. Create a new layer and using Alt+Ctl+Shift+E paste the merged layers below it. This will become the cut out layer.
Now - you can cut things out any way you want. Many people use the pen tool or the magnetic lasso. Some use the eraser (in this case you could just carefully paint in the background with white.) I use layer masks. I am not going to explain how to make a layer mask. All you need to know now is that you need to cut the car out of the background and remove everything in the background down as far as the horizontal line on the hood.
This layer should look something like this:


3. Create a white layer and put it below the layer with transparency. (if you painted it with white you are a step ahead and don't need this)

4. At this point I thought the color looked too dark so I copied the layer with the transparency then set it to Screen at 66%. If I had done a better job of base prep I wouldn't have had to do this.

5. Now, make a Brightness Contrast Adjustment Layer and set it to
Brightness -4
Contrast 19
I actually do this step after the next step (desaturation) in order to adjust the black-white contrast by eye but in the layer order, this is it.

6. Make a new layer and fill it with black. Set it to "Color". This is how I make my black and white desaturation. There are lots of other ways, use the one you want to use. You have a black and white icon now like this:


OK - now comes the part you really want to know

7. Create a new layer and Alt+Ctl+Shift+E to merge paste the layers below it to that layer. Set this layer to Overlay at 54%. This will add the highlights to the image.


8. Create a new layer and in this case, fill it with #73b6cc. Put that layer below the the Overlay layer and set to Multiply 100%. You should have this:


9. I used the Polygonal Lasso tool and on a new layer selected the area I want to be green. Go to Edit > Fill. Select color and use #78c86c and set layer to multiply 100%. You should have your green stripe. This layer should be between the Overlay and the blue layers.

10. Now add the text. In this case I used "Mom's Typewriter" at 24 pt with tracking at 25 and the horizontal changed to 120%. That's it. You will get this:


Here are some other icons made using a similar method. Of course each needs to be adjusted slightly and to taste.



If you have questions about this, let me know. This is my first tutorial so I am just learning!
Don't make exactly the same thing, that would be pointless. Words of encouragement are appreciated.