Post by Ancient Goddess on Dec 5, 2005 3:33:44 GMT -5
Thought I might help some people out with their sigs so that they can get some of the effects others use on their stuff...so I've complied a tutorial for a sig...hopefully, I won't screw this one up. ^^ Feel free to share some of your methods as well (in another thread, of course). This way, we can help you out and get ya started on learning how to make your very own sigs (if you're interested in learning, that is..I don't particularly mind making sigs for others. ^^ ).
I use Photoshop for all my stuff...so I can't really explain this for other programs like Paintshop Pro and other similar proggies...but I'm sure the same features are in them as Photoshop. So bear with me.
Anyway...here's what the intial sig looks like:
Okay...Step #1:
Start off with the base of your sig....the largest sigs I make are about 600 x 150 pixels...so keep the sig width and heights somewhere in those limits. Make sure it's set on 'transparent and RGB color.
Step #2
Make your background of the sig. Brushes, distortions, etc...I usually use grunge or fractural brushes...you can get a whole bunch of them on deviantart.com. For this particular tutorial, I'm using this background:
Step #3
Find a render you want to use. I randomly picked Ed from FMA.
Then use the Lasso tool on your toolbar and trace a rough outline around your render. Right click and chose 'Feather'. I usually feather to about 20 pixels...but it's really up to your preference.
Then right click again and chose 'Select Inverse' then hit Ctrl+X. Should give you this effect:
Add it to your background.
Step #4
This is an optional step...you can add it if you want or leave it out..it's up to you.
Make a new layer (Shift+Ctrl+N) and also make your foreground color white. Use a fractural brush and cover the image with it so it looks something like this:
Then on the top menu, click on 'Filter<Pixelate<Fragment' and keep hitting Ctrl+F until it gives it a fine misty layer. After it's to your liking, right click and choose 'Blending Options' (or double click the layer in the Layer window at the lower right-hand corner of the screen) and adjust the opacity bar to ger it the way you want to.
Step #5
Make a new layer and fill it with a color that matches the scheme a bit. I chose black for my first one. Make another layer and fill it with a second color for your scheme. I chose a light bluish color.
On the filled layer on top, use your polygonal (or whatever it is) lasso tool and using the Shift key, create an abstractish border, like so:
Then hit Ctrl+X.
Go into the blending options and chose Drop Shadow, Inner Glow, Outer Glow, and Stroke.
Step #6
Click on the other filled layer and make a different looking lasso than you did on the first layer.
Hit Ctrl+X
So now you should have something like this:
Step #7
Cut out fragments of your top-most fill layer border until you get something roughly like this:
Step #8
Return to your other filled layer and set the Blending Options to a Stroke. Make the stroke whatever color you wish. Since mine is black, I matched the stroke to the top filled layer.
Step #9
Merge everything down into one layer (Shift+Ctrl+E) and add your quote or name, or whatever you want. I chose the first short phrase that came to mind.
Mess with the Blending options of your text until it's to your liking. I basically just chose a drop shadow and stroke as well as lowering the opacity a bit.
And there you have it....a cool looking sig....I hope.
The real credit goes to the many Photoshop tutorials I've looked at over the past couple of months...I'll add another kind of sig tutorial later on if you wish.
Enjoy!
~AnG
I use Photoshop for all my stuff...so I can't really explain this for other programs like Paintshop Pro and other similar proggies...but I'm sure the same features are in them as Photoshop. So bear with me.
Anyway...here's what the intial sig looks like:
Okay...Step #1:
Start off with the base of your sig....the largest sigs I make are about 600 x 150 pixels...so keep the sig width and heights somewhere in those limits. Make sure it's set on 'transparent and RGB color.
Step #2
Make your background of the sig. Brushes, distortions, etc...I usually use grunge or fractural brushes...you can get a whole bunch of them on deviantart.com. For this particular tutorial, I'm using this background:
Step #3
Find a render you want to use. I randomly picked Ed from FMA.
Then use the Lasso tool on your toolbar and trace a rough outline around your render. Right click and chose 'Feather'. I usually feather to about 20 pixels...but it's really up to your preference.
Then right click again and chose 'Select Inverse' then hit Ctrl+X. Should give you this effect:
Add it to your background.
Step #4
This is an optional step...you can add it if you want or leave it out..it's up to you.
Make a new layer (Shift+Ctrl+N) and also make your foreground color white. Use a fractural brush and cover the image with it so it looks something like this:
Then on the top menu, click on 'Filter<Pixelate<Fragment' and keep hitting Ctrl+F until it gives it a fine misty layer. After it's to your liking, right click and choose 'Blending Options' (or double click the layer in the Layer window at the lower right-hand corner of the screen) and adjust the opacity bar to ger it the way you want to.
Step #5
Make a new layer and fill it with a color that matches the scheme a bit. I chose black for my first one. Make another layer and fill it with a second color for your scheme. I chose a light bluish color.
On the filled layer on top, use your polygonal (or whatever it is) lasso tool and using the Shift key, create an abstractish border, like so:
Then hit Ctrl+X.
Go into the blending options and chose Drop Shadow, Inner Glow, Outer Glow, and Stroke.
Step #6
Click on the other filled layer and make a different looking lasso than you did on the first layer.
Hit Ctrl+X
So now you should have something like this:
Step #7
Cut out fragments of your top-most fill layer border until you get something roughly like this:
Step #8
Return to your other filled layer and set the Blending Options to a Stroke. Make the stroke whatever color you wish. Since mine is black, I matched the stroke to the top filled layer.
Step #9
Merge everything down into one layer (Shift+Ctrl+E) and add your quote or name, or whatever you want. I chose the first short phrase that came to mind.
Mess with the Blending options of your text until it's to your liking. I basically just chose a drop shadow and stroke as well as lowering the opacity a bit.
And there you have it....a cool looking sig....I hope.
The real credit goes to the many Photoshop tutorials I've looked at over the past couple of months...I'll add another kind of sig tutorial later on if you wish.
Enjoy!
~AnG
