Dimi's sig tutorial:]

Ok so I decided to make my own sig tutorial for you guys to see how I work

I'm using Photoshop CS4 so if you're using another version of PS, just note that there may be some differences.

To start off, I'm gonna use this image of Luke Worrall:

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We need to make a new image, I will use the size of 380x160px.
Ok so first of all we need to resize our image. Go to the picture you're gonna use, and then Image>Image Size and select the pixels you want it to be. I'm gonna resize it to 400x300px to fit in the final canvas.

Then we need to transfer it to the canvas we made. Select all>Edit>copy and then paste it to the canvas we created. Just move it around a bit until you find the place you like.
I placed it like that:

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I like my sigs to be more sharpened than blurred, so this is optional. Having your image selected, go to Filter>Sharpen>Sharpen.

My sigs usually have a specific color, and that's why I use some photoshop actions. I use the actions given out on pastel smash, so here's a link to it. If you don't know how to use photoshop actions, here's a link for the tutorial.

To view the actions in photoshop, just go to window> and click actions to make the window appear. I downloaded one action and I'm gonna use it. You just need to click on the little "play" button just below the actions window. The result will be something like this:

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Since our image is dark, the result is a little bad, so just play around with the layers you've created by using the actions until you get what you want. You can even delete some of the layers if you don't like them. I changed the opacity of some of my layers and the sig looks like that:

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(edit: to view how your image would look like without a specific layer, just click on the little eye on the left of your layer. Here's a hidden layer:

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So what you have to do now is use more and more actions until you have what you want. I used two downloaded actions and it looks like this:

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So, here's the fun part. I always use textures in my images, especially the ones called light textures. You can google them if you like, you'll probably find most of the textures I use Let's start with the texture I use in all of my sigs:

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Copy the image and paste it in PS. Just mess around with its blending options to see what fits best, but usually, the best blending option is soft light. Move your texture anywhere you thing would fit the best:

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Edit: I like to put my images somewhere between the neck and head of the people I use in my images, so that it probably looks like it's behind them.

Time for another texture, let's use this one (resize it first though)
Put it on overlay.

Another texture would be this one. I put it on soft light, you can change its opacity if you want. My sig now looks like that:

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(This is optional) this DeviantArt user provides a pack of some nice neon light textures for you to use (you need to download the file). You will later use them to write your name just above them. I used the last one and set it on Screen:

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Now, time for the text. I'm gonna use Times New Roman for my font. Just find a color that fits the whole sig. Here are the details about mine: (just look at the top of the image).

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I rotated it a bit to fit the texture I used earlier (edit>free transform).

(Optional) Time to make the text look better. Select the text layer, right click on it and select Duplicate layer. You should now have two text layers. Select the second one and go to filter>blur>motion blur and click Ok when a window about rasterizing the layer pops up. Set the angle to 3 and the distance to about 10 pixels. My text looks something like this:

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For the final touch, you may want to take a look at Lucent's Scanline tutorial. The only difference is that I'm gonna use a horizontial pattern rather than a diagonical one.
(To make it, create a transparent 2x2px image, take a square brush and fill half of it.)

When your pattern is done, go to layer>new fill layer>pattern. Click ok and select the pattern you made:

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Now you wouldn't want to leave your image like that. I set it to soft light and at 70% opacity:

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Time for the final touch: the border. First of all you need to merge your image into one layer.
(but before you do it, you would want to save a copy of your file. Just save it as a PSD in case you want to make some changes to it later)

Go to Layer>Merge Visible.

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Then for the border, go to edit>stroke. I'm gonna use a 1px almost black border now. Remember, select the "Inside" option when the stroke window pops up.

And you're done You should now have something like this:


Sorry if it was pretty confusing, but it seems I'm not good at explaining things=p
Thanks for reading<33

 

Thanks Dimi. I just got another knowledge about photoshop ---> Action.

 

thats so awesome but too much to follow anyway thanks ^^

 

Nice tutorial Dimi. You explained it pretty easily, I'll give it a try tomorrow and post an outcome. :>

 

Ooopsie, I confused someone:X

Glad I helped<3

 

neat guide you have there. =)

textures is <3.

 

Thank you and yes, textures are awesome

 

nvm... great tutorial :3 thanks for sharing ))

 

Oh come on, it's not that hard if you are careful with it:$
Hah anyway, thank you<3

 

Great job Dimi! Glad to see someone else is making some tutorials too

 

Yeah, even though I suck at explaining
Thanks<3

 

@ Dimitra


Did u buy Photoshop? or just got it for free "illegally" ?

Cuz i'm looking for one as well, but i can't be fked paying for it...

 

Well I got the CD for the installation for free, one of my dad's friend owns a computer shop and he gives me any CD I ask him to=]

 

Send me one -.-

 

Lol, okay:3

 

You don't suck at explaining at all, I followed it pretty easily. I don't have time right now to try it and post anything but I really love your light textures and I'm going to have to specifically go play around with those and possibly incorporate them in my signatures, so this has definitely helped me :O

One wouldn't want to admit if they got it illegally probably

Either way it would be against the rules of the forums to give out links to warez, in public or not, so if people don't have Photoshop it unfortunately has to come down to them to find out a way of getting it, whether it be legal or finding keygens etc.

 

@ Lucent


I didn't ask for any links `.`

 

I'm glad then

Lol you could say I got it illegally, cause I didn't pay for it:whistling:

 

I know I know :3 I'm just mentioning

You could hardly consider it an illegal copy ;o

 

Mhm, who knows:innocent: