to do this icon we need quite colourful image (i think that for this method this kind of image is better). we'll use picture of richard hammond to do that. we go from this (x) to this (x). ok, it's making time :)

1. at the beginning sharp the image (filters > sharpen > sharp more).
2. duplicate the base twice. first one set as 'screen' at 100% and the second one also as 'screen' but only at 50% (result)
3. go to layer > new adjustment layer > colour balance: levels are -50 -10 +10 (result)
4. create new layer, fill it with #FFFF00 and set it into 'soft light' 100%
5. go to layer > new adjustment layer > selective colour:
reds:
cyan -100%
magenta +100%
yellow +100%
black +100%
yellows:
cyan -100%
yellow +100%
neutrals:
cyan +100%
magenta -10%
yellow -100% and click 'ok' (result)
6. again, go to layer > new adjustment layer > selective colour:
yellows:
cyan -100%
yellow -70%
black -100%
neutrals:
cyan +60%
yellow -15% and click 'ok' (result)
6. ok, since we have nice colours we can now play with our icon :) marge image, copy and paste it into a new, blank canvas - we'll use it later
7. on the old one (the one we were playing with), we're going to filter > blur > radial blur > set the amount as 15 (result)
8. go to filter > noise > add noise > and set is as 4 (result)
9. remember that icon we coppied in point 6? go to it and resize to 80%. sharp it, copy and paste on our strange base (result)
10. with eraser tool remove some edges, so the image in the center would look more blended with the base (result)
11. take this (x) background, paste it on your icon, sharp it and set into 'screen' 100% (result)
12. you can at this point add brushes, text or anything, but in my oppinion it's finished :)

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