| How
to make Smilie Icons |
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| So
you want to make your own smilie face icon for AOL. Well, you have
come to the right place. |
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| What
you will need: Artistic
Ability
Patience
Computer Know-How
Paintshop Pro 7.xx Installed on your computer ( www.jasc.com
)
An Icon Template
saved on your computer
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| Once
you can check off all of the things from the previous list, you are
ready. |
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| Open
up PSP ( Paintshop Pro 7.xx ) and wait for it to fully load on your
computer. Click on FILE > OPEN. Find the folder where you saved
the AIMFace templates. Select both templates at once by holding the
CTRL button on your keyboard and click your mouse on each file. The
templates should now be visable within PSP. |
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It
is now time to configure your tools for creating smilie face icons.
Within the PSP window are three floating tool bars. You will only
be concerned with TOOL OPTIONS. Click on the arrow down for TOOL OPTIONS
to open the options window. On the left hand side of the PSP window
are all of your tools for creating smilie face icons. Select the tool
labeled AIRBRUSH  .
This should make the TOOL OPTIONS window display the configuration
options for the AIRBRUSH. Use the image below to set your AIRBRUSH
tool options for making smilie face icons. |
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Select
the Tool labeled PAINT BRUSH  .
Use the image below to set your PAINT BRUSH tool options for making
smilie face icons. |
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Select
the Tool labeled SELECTION  .
Use the image below to set your SELECTION tool options for making
smilie face icons. |
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| On
the right side of the PSP window is your color palette. The two colors
displayed in the boxes are your foreground color (above) and your
background color (below). Click on the background color to open the
color options. Set your color options for your background color to
the following in the image below. |
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| Set
your color palette the same as the image below. |
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| Your
tools and palette are now set for creating your own smilie face icon.
Please take your time now and experiment with the tools. Get a good
idea of what each tool can and cannot do. When you feel you are ready
to draw your own icon, please continue on. |
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| The
icon template is already positioned for you, so you won't need to
move the yellow circle. The black and white lines are also positioned
to show you where the letters for the subtext will need to go. |
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| Creating
an icon can be harder than it appears, or in some cases, not very
hard at all. The best way to start out is getting a good idea for
a smilie face icon. Once you have a good idea and you can visualize
the finished product in your head, you are set to go. |
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| The following images are double
sized to help artists view changes in steps. |
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| The blank template is setup according
to a chat window. The yellow circle is centered and should not be
moved. |
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| STEP
#1 |
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| Make an outline using your AIRBRUSH
and black as your foreground color. |
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| STEP #2 |
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| Fill in the eyes using your AIRBRUSH
and white as your foreground color. |
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| STEP #3 |
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| Using your foreground palette,
select orange. Using your PAINT BRUSH, paint the lower right side
of the face and below the lip. |
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| STEP #4 |
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| Select yellow as your foreground
color and use your PAINT BRUSH to color the lower outline of the eyes. |
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| STEP #5 |
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| Use a darker yellow as your foreground
color and create shadows below the brow and on the lip. |
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| STEP #6 |
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| Using the template, select the
letters to make the word "Disgusted". Make sure that the
letters touch each other, black to white, no spaces. There should
only be one underline for the entire icon. The underline never moves
vertically, only horizontally with the capitol letter as it moves
left or right across the x axis. The SELECTION tool can help move
the letters into position. The white of each letter is called the
antialias. It gives each letter a bolder appearence against the gray
background. |
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| STEP #7 |
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The background is transparent, not white. |
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| On the menu bar, select COLORS
> SET PALETTE TRANSPARENCY. This is where you decrease the image
to 256 colors. The PALETTE should be set as OPTIMIZED OCTREE and the
REDUCTION METHOD set as ERROR DIFFUSION. Press OK. Set the transparency
as the image's background color by putting your cursur on the background
of the icon. Press OK. Your icon background color is now set as the
transparent color. This is a critical step in making icons. Icons
will be distorted and have a blue border around them if you do not
set the transparency. Setting the transparency of an icon makes it
look like its a part of the char window. |
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| ...and thats it! Now try making
your own creation. Once you are finished, make sure to send it in.
If you followed each step wisely and payed attention to details, your
icon will be confirmed. |
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