Dan Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 I started this thread to post tips I have for people wanting to make signatures, mostly beginners. I will update this thread often with new tips. And if you already have some experience in Photoshop, you still might learn something. Text Text is harder. Really, it's a matter of opinion, though there are some that you should almost never, ever use. Here's an example of one of those: (I made this thing don't worry :wink: ) Usually, big huge text doesn't cut it, unless you work magic like KC and find a way to still make it look good. Also, "cute" or "trying to be snazzy but it actually looks like crap" fonts aren't as good. Suprisingly enough, I like to use Arial (no, not KC, the standard, everybody-has-it font) and Times New Roman. You can also add some nice little "extras" to your text. Maybe you want a line connecting two things: or maybe a neat little vector diddy: But no matter how you do it, text should be blended and flow with the rest of the sig. Lighting Lighting is a key factor in good signatures. You can usually achieve decent lighting in two ways: Lens Flare (works best behind your render/C4D) Gradient (works best for full-signature lighting) You can also use Lighting Effects, but it doesn't work as well. Lens Flare 1.) Make a new layer, fill it with black, and set the blending mode to Lighten. 2.) Go to Filter>Render>Lens Flare. Select 105mm Prime. Estimate where it should go in relation to the render and hit OK. Gradient 1.) Make a new layer, fill it with black, and set the blending mode to Lighten. 2.) Select the gradient tool. You may need to right click on the Fill took to get it. 3.) Make the gradient fill (top of the window) white to transparent. Then drag a line from where you want the light to come from. 4.) You can play with the opacity and see what you get. Here are two examples of both: Flare: (^flare behind smudged white) Gradient: C4D C4D, which is what most graphic designers call stuff from Cinema 4D, is 3D, usually abstract pieces that work excellently in signatures and many other art. Here are some examples: http://server2.ihostphotos.com/pic.php?id=69910 http://server2.ihostphotos.com/pic.php?id=69912 And also some render packs from Deviant Art (usually very good) http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/24663588/ http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/24037361/ You can also visit www.deviantart.com and search for 'C4D Render Packs'. Many good ones should come up. **Please note that when using renders/C4D packs from Deviant Art, they must be found under "Resources". Otherwise, that is called ripping because you are taking something that somebody made without their permission. Here are some of my sigs where I used C4D. You have to blend it or it doesn't usually look good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kccitystar Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 Ahh man don't let me get hooked on this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted March 25, 2006 Author Share Posted March 25, 2006 I'm telling you KC, C4D is as popular in the sig world as Livestrong bracelets were in ours. Though I like your current backgrounds... :chin: -BBHD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted March 25, 2006 Author Share Posted March 25, 2006 Updated to include section on Lighting...next is probably text. -BBHD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
APR Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 Ahh man don't let me get hooked on this. Get hooked! Get hooked! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted March 26, 2006 Author Share Posted March 26, 2006 Get hooked! Get hooked!I agree. I can't wait to see what he happens when KC meets C4D. KC4D? Hmm. Updated to include text tips. -BBHD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ixcuincle Posted March 26, 2006 Share Posted March 26, 2006 I'm still trying to work with those C4D's , but have made at least some progress. The only thing I can do proficiently is the clouds dan taught me to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted March 28, 2006 Author Share Posted March 28, 2006 Not quite sure what I should do next...any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ixcuincle Posted March 29, 2006 Share Posted March 29, 2006 give a step by step tutorial on how to make a sig like this You show the processes like lighting but you didn't show how to combine that with the rest of photoshop functions to make "the whole picture"...if you were to make a step by step tutorial on how to make a tutorial like that it would really help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted March 29, 2006 Author Share Posted March 29, 2006 When I get home from school this afternoon I'll try to get to work. I'm supposed to recieve content for a website I've designed but I really don't expect it today. :smile: I'll so a step by step...I always save my .psd's so I won't have to re-create it. Oh yes and I'd like to do a massive tutorial on how to create this: -BBHD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted March 30, 2006 Author Share Posted March 30, 2006 Sorry, but I neither the .jpg or the .PSD of the hitman signature. But I did make my C4D tutorial... http://www.mvpmods.com/index.php?name=Foru...p=229586#229586 -BBHD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laloosh Posted March 31, 2006 Share Posted March 31, 2006 I'd like to know how to make backgrounds like KCcitystar's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted March 31, 2006 Author Share Posted March 31, 2006 I'd like to know how to make backgrounds like KCcitystar's.He uses brushes for his. PM him about it. -BBHD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bravesj858 Posted April 25, 2006 Share Posted April 25, 2006 how do you get cd4? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted April 25, 2006 Author Share Posted April 25, 2006 how do you get cd4?Check the first post. -BBHD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matroska Posted June 4, 2006 Share Posted June 4, 2006 deviantart.com is a great source for brushes and tutorials, im not too sure about other presets and dafont.com is one of my favorite font sites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzone Posted June 4, 2006 Share Posted June 4, 2006 C4D is the porno man's porno. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bama Posted July 21, 2006 Share Posted July 21, 2006 More tutorials Dan? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted July 23, 2006 Author Share Posted July 23, 2006 Yeah, but I'm moving towards web stuff now. If you look at my site, I've only got one pure Photoshop tutorial on the iMac - the rest are Flash/Web Development. In case you're interested, I'm finishing up a tutorial on video reflections in Flash - looks like Mac OS X. -dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bama Posted August 12, 2006 Share Posted August 12, 2006 BAMA'S SUPER EASY CUTOUT TUTORIALâ„¢ "So Easy, Even I Can Do Them!" This tutorial is for users using The GIMP which can be found somewhere online. Photoshoppers can probably use this too, while they gloat (or while they [Ross GLOAD] (yes I know i'm lame)) about having 600 bucks to spend on software. Anyways... We're going to use an Hi-Res image of Chase Utley found on CBS Sportsline for this tutorial. Here's the picture: You can download the picture here: http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m212/Th...orial/utley.jpg Now, Open the Image in GIMP. Select the scissors tool with a 10 pt radius, feather edges and anti-aliasing. Anti-Aliasing prevents jagged edges, and feather edges allows the glowing effect around the cutout, along with leaving less jagged edges that look like poor free-hand cutouts. Here's what your toolkit should look like: Using the scissors, select a starting point around Utley. Make sure it borders him. Click that point and let go of the mouse. Now select another nearby point around Utley. If a line connecting 2 points cuts into Utley, manually drag that line to where you want it to be. When you almost return to your starting point, make one last vertex (point/dot) right next to your first one. Now click your first dot/point/vertex. When your mouse hovers over that point, your cursor should change to an arrow with a four-headed arrow. Click that. Now click inside your image (your cursor should now look like scissors). If you did it correctly, your image should be surrounded by a blinking black and white outline like this: If not, start over. (Just click any other tool then the scissors to start over). EDIT: Ok, well not like that, but that's how the image should look before you click inside of it. The yellowish/black-white dotted outline around the whole canvas should take the place (minus the yellow) of the line with dots on it if you do the above correctly. Sorry for any problems this may have caused Now cut or copy the selection (Ctrl+X or Ctrl+C) Now, click file, new, you will see a dialog box. View all the options and select a transparent background. Do not worry about the size, GIMP will automatically generate the correct size: Now paste your image: Next, click Layer and select "Anchor Layer'' to make your image 1 layer. You may have some areas that need cleaning up. For example, between Utley's right arm and his lower torso there's a tan mark (a specator's head). You can't see it in the above picture because I already cleaned it up, but you can here: . To remove it, outline the blob of the guy's head with the scissors, select it, and cut it out, or erase it. Finally, clean up whatever needs to be cleaned up. You should end up with something like this: Save your image as a .psd, .png, or .gif. Congrats! You're done! Guys, as a request, please let me know if this tutorial helped you out. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigers94 Posted August 12, 2006 Share Posted August 12, 2006 EDIT: I'm an idiot,great tut Bama! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bama Posted August 12, 2006 Share Posted August 12, 2006 A quick question,I have erased everything,but I just hjave the checkerboard background,then you don't say how it turns white! did you select ONLY what you wanted to erase? The checkerboard pattern symbolizes a transparency. To make it white, just get the bucket tool and dumb some white on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chezboots Posted August 12, 2006 Share Posted August 12, 2006 What is the code to add a signature to your post? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigers94 Posted August 12, 2006 Share Posted August 12, 2006 EDIT: Once again, I'm a idiot, sorry for all your troubles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bama Posted August 12, 2006 Share Posted August 12, 2006 What is the code to add a signature to your post? use the [ IMG ] tag at the beginning of the URL and the [ /IMG ] tag at the end (without the spaces before and after the brackets) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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