Jul 20
How to Design Mini Icons
Numbers of people have asked me how to design my popular Mini Pixel Icon pack. In fact, they are relatively easy. All you need is just some basic Photoshop skills. Here I will show you how to use the Pencil tool to design pixel icons, and then re-use them to create a full collection. This is the technique that I used to create over 320 icons within a day.
1. Create a new document
In Photoshop, create a new document 14 x 14px size with transparent background.
2. Draw shape outline
Use the Pencil tool, select 1px brush from the palette. Pick a dark gray color and start drawing the outline of the page icon. To draw a straight line, first click at the starting point, then hold down shift key and click at the ending point.
Tips: At any time if you want to erase the pixels, use the Eraser tool, select Pencil mode and 1px brush size.
3. Base gradient
Make a selection of the empty cutout by the Magic Wand tool. Create a new layer. Set your foreground color to light gray and background to white. Use Gradient tool, drag from top corner to lower corner diagonally.
4. Highlight and shadow
Create a new layer. Draw a 1px white inner top border to create the highlight effect. Then, draw a medium gray inner bottom border.
5. Group all layers
In the Layers palette, select all layers and press Cmd+G to group all layers in a folder.
6. Draw a pencil
Again, start drawing the outline first and then fill the inner area with either solid color or gradient. When you are done, group these layers in a separate folder.
Tips: If you want to have consistent color throughout the icon set, store the colors that you have used in the color swatches.
7. Re-use them
Here shows how I re-used the layer groups to create entire collection:
8. Export for web
After you’ve done entire set, toggle (invisible / visible) the layer groups and save them for web (Cmd+Alt+Shift+S).
Too lazy to do this tutorial? You can download my free mini icon set.
Design Process of WDW Startdrawing.org
Comments
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106 Sally http://www.ultimatefitnessgear.com
March 9th, 2010 at 2:16 pm
Awesome! I have been wondering how to make mini icons. Thank you, for the information.
105 insanity workout http://pledgetostayfit.com/insanity-workout
February 23rd, 2010 at 7:18 pm
Great Post! Thanks so much! I figured this was the way to make the Mini Pixel icons, but I guess I needed to refresh my mind.
104 beachbody http://fitnesscoachrob.com
February 23rd, 2010 at 6:44 pm
hey thanks, been looking for something like this. Thanks for sharing
103 GlobalaTor http://globaltor.com
February 13th, 2010 at 10:48 pm
nice shared, great thanks
102 Andi http://www.andi-bernhard.de/grundofen.htm
February 2nd, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Thank you for this very interesting tutorial. Sometimes are the small and simple tricks the best one.
Kind regards
101 graffiti vector http://vectorilla.com/index.php/tag/graffiti/
January 23rd, 2010 at 5:22 pm
Very helpful tutorial thanks
100 Campervan Hire Australia http://www.uzoom.com.au/about-us
January 18th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Great ideas on mini icons we can use this for some work we are doing now thank you.
99 vincentdresses http://www.hibirdal.com
January 5th, 2010 at 11:24 pm
The designs showed here show what simple and tasteful design is all about. Another one to consider
98 tepn
December 4th, 2009 at 9:28 am
really funny! i always wanted to learn to do it!
97 Jeon Yeo Jin
November 12th, 2009 at 8:12 pm
thank you so much! ^^