pyrocrow
01-12-2006, 06:12 AM
This tutorial will give you a very basic way to make signatures looks good. That doesn't mean the end result will always be good. This is just a guide and you will have to do some tweaking each time to help it. I hope this helps some of you.
Start by making a new document, I feel the most professional and my personal favorite use these settings:http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/7105/newsig19jm.jpg2. Start by using Filter > render > clouds. With the default color brushes. If you aren't sure on the color of the brushes, just clcik D. This is what it will look like with clouds:
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/3113/newsig2clouds4ja.jpg3. Then add some brushing. Start with black brushes, and if it gets too dark switch too white and brush over it. Do this until the brushing looks good. With many of the layers, you will want to change the layer type to something like overlay. This is what I used for my brushing. I went a bit lazy and did very few layers. Great sigs will have up to 75 or 100. For this sig, I used brush sets Destruction_of_a_menace, and S_abstract. I have both if you want them.
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/7711/newsig3brushing2ba.jpg4. Now it's time to add a render. First choose a render from a site of your choice, it really doesn't matter. Make a new ps document just for the render. Copy and paste the render in the new window. Then take the magic wand tool, and click OUTSIDE the render. Then hold down ctrl + shift and press I. This will be what it looks like:
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/9312/newsigrenderafterinverse1lg.jpgThen just hit ctrl + c to copy the render. Go back to the main signature window, and press ctrl + v to paste the signature in. To move the render to a desireable place and size, press ctrl + t.
5. Immediatly create at least 4 duplicate layers of the render by right-clicking the layer icon and selecting duplicate layer.
6. On the lowest layer of the render, go to Filter > Blur > gaussian blur > 3 or 4 pixels. Now press ctrl + u and slide the saturation all the way to the left.
7. on the 2nd render layer, I always add a radial blur. Filter > blur > radial blur > 5-15 pixels. Now press ctrl + u and slide the saturation all the way to the left.
8. On the 4th render layer, I use the crosshatch filter. Filter > brushstrokes > crosshatch.
9. on the 5th layer, add a vector mask. If you are unsure on how to do this, check out the other tutorial I made. It will describe in detail how to vector mask, it isn't hard. At this point it should looks something like this: (note: I tweaked a few of the layers)
http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/23/newsig5renderblend0ub.jpg
10. Now it's time for some color. Probably the easiest way to add color is by going to layer > color balance and sliding the bars to the colors you want.
HOWEVER, I am demonstrating a more multi-tonal effect, the pixel stretch. You may notice I left out the 3rd render layer when describing blending effects. At this layer, take the single column marquee tool and place it over the render. (hold the rectangular box and select the column marquee) Now press ctrl + t and slide the column to both sides of the sig. I chose to set this layer to overlay, but you can choose for yourself. NEVER leave it at normal however, because the brushing should show through. I will show an example after this next step. It'll make more sense then.
11. Now go to layer > new adjustment layer > and choose levels, curves, contrast, etc. and add those layers above the render layers. Here is what it should look like by now:
http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/1904/newsig6pixelstretchandlayers0z.jpg
12. Now add alayer of text. Don't make it too big and change you text by changing it's blending stats. Right-click the text layer and click blending options. and have fun with that. THERE'S ONE RULE TO GO WITH THAT. Never use just outer glow on black text.
13. Now to add the final piece, a border. Add a new layer on top of everything. Use the rectangular box around the sig. Now right-click in the sig and select stroke. Make it 3 pixels, and black. Set it to overlay and 50% opacity. then right-click and select stroke again. Now use these settings, which are the same as the first stroke, except the color and size.
http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/9483/newsig7borderstats7on.jpg
AND YOUR DONE!!!
The final result should look something like this:
http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/1444/sigfortutorialfullsigcopy2ti.jpg
I apoligize for any confusion I caused, and I'm not the best with text, so that may set you off. I hope this helped and enjoy.
Start by making a new document, I feel the most professional and my personal favorite use these settings:http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/7105/newsig19jm.jpg2. Start by using Filter > render > clouds. With the default color brushes. If you aren't sure on the color of the brushes, just clcik D. This is what it will look like with clouds:
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/3113/newsig2clouds4ja.jpg3. Then add some brushing. Start with black brushes, and if it gets too dark switch too white and brush over it. Do this until the brushing looks good. With many of the layers, you will want to change the layer type to something like overlay. This is what I used for my brushing. I went a bit lazy and did very few layers. Great sigs will have up to 75 or 100. For this sig, I used brush sets Destruction_of_a_menace, and S_abstract. I have both if you want them.
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/7711/newsig3brushing2ba.jpg4. Now it's time to add a render. First choose a render from a site of your choice, it really doesn't matter. Make a new ps document just for the render. Copy and paste the render in the new window. Then take the magic wand tool, and click OUTSIDE the render. Then hold down ctrl + shift and press I. This will be what it looks like:
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/9312/newsigrenderafterinverse1lg.jpgThen just hit ctrl + c to copy the render. Go back to the main signature window, and press ctrl + v to paste the signature in. To move the render to a desireable place and size, press ctrl + t.
5. Immediatly create at least 4 duplicate layers of the render by right-clicking the layer icon and selecting duplicate layer.
6. On the lowest layer of the render, go to Filter > Blur > gaussian blur > 3 or 4 pixels. Now press ctrl + u and slide the saturation all the way to the left.
7. on the 2nd render layer, I always add a radial blur. Filter > blur > radial blur > 5-15 pixels. Now press ctrl + u and slide the saturation all the way to the left.
8. On the 4th render layer, I use the crosshatch filter. Filter > brushstrokes > crosshatch.
9. on the 5th layer, add a vector mask. If you are unsure on how to do this, check out the other tutorial I made. It will describe in detail how to vector mask, it isn't hard. At this point it should looks something like this: (note: I tweaked a few of the layers)
http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/23/newsig5renderblend0ub.jpg
10. Now it's time for some color. Probably the easiest way to add color is by going to layer > color balance and sliding the bars to the colors you want.
HOWEVER, I am demonstrating a more multi-tonal effect, the pixel stretch. You may notice I left out the 3rd render layer when describing blending effects. At this layer, take the single column marquee tool and place it over the render. (hold the rectangular box and select the column marquee) Now press ctrl + t and slide the column to both sides of the sig. I chose to set this layer to overlay, but you can choose for yourself. NEVER leave it at normal however, because the brushing should show through. I will show an example after this next step. It'll make more sense then.
11. Now go to layer > new adjustment layer > and choose levels, curves, contrast, etc. and add those layers above the render layers. Here is what it should look like by now:
http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/1904/newsig6pixelstretchandlayers0z.jpg
12. Now add alayer of text. Don't make it too big and change you text by changing it's blending stats. Right-click the text layer and click blending options. and have fun with that. THERE'S ONE RULE TO GO WITH THAT. Never use just outer glow on black text.
13. Now to add the final piece, a border. Add a new layer on top of everything. Use the rectangular box around the sig. Now right-click in the sig and select stroke. Make it 3 pixels, and black. Set it to overlay and 50% opacity. then right-click and select stroke again. Now use these settings, which are the same as the first stroke, except the color and size.
http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/9483/newsig7borderstats7on.jpg
AND YOUR DONE!!!
The final result should look something like this:
http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/1444/sigfortutorialfullsigcopy2ti.jpg
I apoligize for any confusion I caused, and I'm not the best with text, so that may set you off. I hope this helped and enjoy.