Well first off I use gimp. It takes me around 3 hours. The layers it depends but I normally have 15-25
I use multiply screen, soft light, hard light, etc. etc. I like sort of stock and brushes but I'll add c4d here and there.
I honestly find font my biggest problem cause once I can find fonts I'll be able to spark some ideas.
So I should probobly stop making sigs is the message that I'm getting well I'll stop here so I stop burning your eyes and Dj Mattrocks is right you are an absolute jerk