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4-Step Avatar

This is the tutorial for Angel's famous 4-step avatar, it's kind of a recipe, really, and it's made for those of us who are a bit graphically challenged (hey i can relate) and what to make semi-nice avatars without having to slave for hours on a 100 by 100 canvas.

Step 1: Desaturate

I have my image here featuring the gorgeous Emilie de Ravin. It's in color. I don't want it to be. So hit ctrl + shift + u or go to Image > Adjustments > Desaturate.

Before:

After:

Step 2: New Layer/Brushes

The next thing you want to do is find a nice grungy, soft, area brush, one that takes up a lot of room but is kind of soft and textury.

Then make a new layer (ctrl + shift + n) and choose some nice colors you want to use, don't choose colors that are too dark or too light. Kinda make them mid-colored because in a minute they'll be brighter.

Then, just...splot them everywhere. (don't look splot up in the dictionary, i doubt it's there...)

So you're going, Angel, my avatar looks like crap.

Hold on.

Step 3: Color Dodge

Now go to the layers window (if it's not up, go to window and check off layers). There's a drop down menu right at the top of the window, which now says normal, change it to color dodge by using the menu:

If it appears too bright, lower the opacity, but mine turned out pretty snazzy.

Cool looking, isn't it?

Step 4: Indulge

Now, it's time for some freestyle. Using the technique you just learned with color dodge, add some more color to it if you wish, make new layers and start adding in some text, swirls, you name it.

Or if you're a simpleton, just keep it the way it is. No harm in that.
copyright 2008 Maggie N