31 Icon Design Tutorials
04. Dec, 2009 
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Icons can come in incredibly handy for both web and print design. They are a great and very simple way to add graphics to text areas, overall making it a much easier and better experience for the user.
There are a lot of icon tutorials on the web that are specifically for Adobe Illustrator, mainly because its vector image capabilities allow you to scale your finished icon up and down to the size of a pin-head or the muscles of the Incredible Hulk. However, if you know what the purpose for your icon is going to be (i.e. you know you’re not going to want it any bigger than, lets say, 128×128px) designing it in Photoshop is not a problem, in fact, in some cases, it’s a lot easier! Therefore in this article I have collected 31 magnificent icon tutorials specifically for those who know the purpose of their icons, only have Photoshop to work with or are simply more confident and skilled in Photoshop. Enjoy!
Difficulty: IntermediateSkills: Use Gradient and Shadows to add depth to otherwise very simple shapes.
Difficulty: EasySkills: Use the Pencil Tool to make simple custom shapes.
Difficulty: IntermediateSkills: Use different Blending Modes to add highlights and shadows to certain areas.
4. Create a 32×32px Social Media Icon
Difficulty: EasySkills: Use the Modify > Contract Tool to create pixel-perfect highlights.
5. How to Create a Basic House Icon
Difficulty: IntermediateSkills: Use plenty of Layer Styles such as Gradients and Shadows to give your icon a 3D appearance.
Difficulty: EasySkills: Use Layer Styles such as Glows and Satins to give your screen a glossy effect.
7. Leather Textured, Realistic Briefcase Icon
Difficulty: AdvancedSkills: Use Blending Modes and Levels to blend a texture into your icon.
8. Unique and Funny Digg Icon in a Bottle
Difficulty: IntermediateSkills: Use Gradients to make realistic blends and shadows to make your bottle appear 3D.
Difficulty: EasySkills: Use the Polygonal Lasso Tool to create simple out of proportion but funky shapes.
Difficulty: AdvancedSkills: Use textures and patterns to create a photo-quality and life-like icon.
Difficulty: AdvancedSkills: Use the Free Transform Tool to edit and combine simple shapes to make them appear three-demensional.
Difficulty: IntermediateSkills: Use Photoshop’s built-in animation tool to animated your RSS Feed Icon.
Difficulty: AdvancedSkills: Use the Pen Tool to create custom shapes and edit them with the Direct Selection Tool.
Difficulty: EasySkills: Use the Pen Tool to create curvy lines to add depth and interest to your icon.
Difficulty: IntermediateSkills: Use the Distort Tool to change the overall dimension and angle of your icon, making it appear 3D.
16. Hand-Drawn Social Media Icons
Difficulty: EasySkills: Use the Hue/Saturation Tool to add color to your hand-drawn elements.
Difficulty: IntermediateSkills: Use the Direct Selection Tool to reshape simple shapes such as circles.
Difficulty: IntermediateSkills: Use the Path and Direct Selection Tools to modify shapes and make them pixel perfect.
19. Watercolor Social Networking Icons
Difficulty: EasySkills: Use the Brush Tool to create “hand-drawn” like elements.
20. Coffee Stained Social Networking Icons
Difficulty: EasySkills: Use textures and Blending Modes to create realistic coffee stains.
Difficulty: EasySkills: Use the Elliptical Marquee Tool and Gradient Overlays to produce a realistic glossy look.
Difficulty: EasySkills: Use the Pen Tool to add a realistic reflective highlight.
Difficulty: IntermediateSkills: Use the Dodge Tool to create realistic highlights and make 2D objects appear 3D.
Difficulty: EasySkills: Use the Perspective Transform Tool to transform rectangles into other shapes.
Difficulty: EasySkills: Use simple shapes and Gradients to produce a realistic and modern mail icon.
26. Mac OS X Leopard Folder Icon
Difficulty: IntermediateSkills: Use the Lasso Tool to create random dots to make realistic natural paper.
Difficulty: AdvancedSkills: Use the Burn Tool to create realistic shadows and curvers.
Difficulty: AdvancedSkills: Use the Pen Tool to create custom shapes.
Difficulty: IntermediateSkills: Use the Type Tool and Transform Tool to create elements for your icons.
Difficulty: IntermediateSkills: Use the Rectangular Marquee Tool to delete different areas of shapes to produce squares.
31. Satisfaction Guaranteed Seal Icon
Difficulty: IntermediateSkills: Use various Blending Modes to add a three dimensional look to your seal/badge.
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