[Complexity]

Adjustment Layers
So I'm sure most of you signature makers know how to make a background and such.
Some of you don't know about adjustment layers, and if you do, some of you don't bother to put them on.
The one I like to start off with is a gradient map.
Seriously guys, if you download a ton of gradients this will make your job so much easier.
But if you're a starter and have no gradients downloaded whatsoever,
you can always make a gradient with your two colors, foreground and background.
Just set them to what kind of coloring you want.



First, set the layer style on soft light. Then browse through your gradients to see which one fits best.
Set it on overlay if you want a drastic color change/stronger color change.
Again, if you don't have much gradients, then the colors you chose/preset should be the top left corner of the gradient editor.



If you don't like the color, you can always change your preset colors.
It's during this stage that you can also make the finishing touches [well for me, anyways].
When I notice something that I can change, I automatically save the PSD then proceed with the altering.
If you don't like it, don't save it and just reload your PSD.



Now go to the Layer tab > New adjustment layer.
There's a lot of things you can play with here, just delete it if you don't like it.
Most of these adjustments are pretty self-explanatory.
Also, just hit ctrl+z if you mess up. It's that simple.
You can also move your adjustment layers around, sometimes that changes the coloring.





Some of you may've stopped at #3, but then again, it's all just on personal preference.
The other slight change I made there was making the faded render on the left a bit more visible.
I'm pretty sure there's a lot more personal effects and adjustments you can add, but don't overdo it.
I just made a simple background and render for this tut.
Now if you do this final step, it might over color it and such - Actions.
You may download actions by going to deviantart. » This is a loading actions tut
You must load the actions in photoshop before you use them, so if you don't know how to, click on the tut.
Since the user that made that tut is on a mac, here's quick run down on the steps in case your screen isn't set up like the tut.
1) Extract your action if it's in a zip file. Place it in your presets folder. (Presets > actions)
2) Once it's there, go to photoshop. Window tab > actions.
3) Click the down arrow with the four straight lines beside it. Click load actions.
4) Redirect it back to your actions folder. Click on the action to load it.
5) Click the play button to use.



Remember that actions are optional.
If you realize that some layers are better off deleted, then delete them.
Finished product: