► Signature Components Tut

[Complexity]

Signature Styles, Components, & Tuts
Yo. All of my signature tuts will be compiled here to prevent spam. I take requests [that is, if I know how to do what you asked for]
I think this is where I'm supposed to write about motivation, determination, will, etc. The best say not to make a signature when you don't feel like it.
I almost always don't feel like it. So I'm not sure how this applies.
Most of these tuts here require some basic knowledge of photoshop. If you don't even know the basics, this probably isn't the best place to learn.

Chapters:

• Rendering 1
• Adjustment Layers 2
• Blended Style Signatures 3
• Shape Signatures 4
• Radial Signatures 5
• Box-Strip Style Signatures 6
• Loading Actions 7
• Shape Signatures (misc) 8
• Bancaire's Couple Signature (request) 9
• MyaMyah's Signature (request) 10
• Shine Animation (request) 11

[Complexity]

Rendering Tut
Start off with your image you want to render. Make sure it's on one layer, not a locked layer such as the background.
If it is, just duplicate the layer by right clicking on the layer.
✔Correct ✖Incorrect
This is just a precaution so you don't accidentally cut into the background layer.
If you do, it'll show a white space instead of transparent.
There are a number of tools you can use on photoshop to cut.
I'll demonstrate the best two – or in my case. The other tools I don't use as frequently.
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Pen Tool
To get more accurate results, zoom in using the magnifying glass.
Zoom in whatever percent you're comfortable with – for me, I just click it a couple of times then start to cut [LOL]
I don't believe you need to get that well acquainted with the pen tool to render.
All you need to know is how to click points. To get curved results, hold the mouse and move it around.
Click at your starting point. Make sure it's on your render [this is common sense].
Make sure your pen settings are the same as mine [I'm not sure if I changed them, but just in case].



Next, start adding anchor points by clicking around the render.
If you mess up, just right click and 'delete anchor point.' click for example
There's also a 'delete path' if you're really frustrated with how the whole thing's going.
To be honest, I don't even use correct curving. I just click around the curve, even when I'm being careful. example
See how the points are curved around the plate? To do that, it's quite simple. example
When you're done setting your anchor points around your image so you can continue to render it out.
Make sure you connect your first and last anchor points together so it can make a path. example
When you connect them together, the anchor points should form together to make a line.
Right click inside the image and select 'make selection' Set the feather radius to one: example
I hope most of you all know the commands 'ctrl + c' and 'ctrl + v.' They'll make work a whole lot easier.
Copy and paste the new render into a different layer. example
And yes, memorize your 'del' key too. Just use that delete button instead of manually right clicking and selecting the option.
Delete the original layer so the rendered layer remains. example
*le gasp* Now you have a chibi Vongola Primo on top of flan to copy and paste anywhere.
Ctrl + A = selects the whole document. Ctrl + A that adorable render and put it in any graphic you want.
Want to save your render? Just save for PNG. If you save as JPG or anything else, you'll lose the transparency,
which was basically the whole point of using the pen tool and everything you did above.
It was shabby effort, spend more time with yours. You'll have to cut deeper if you want to get rid of the strokes around characters.


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
If you want a different alternative to the pen, there's always the magnetic lasso tool.
The magnetic lasso is located in the tool bar. Hold three seconds on the original lasso tool to change it. example
To soften the usual severe/jagged cuts made by the magnetic lasso, change the feathering to 1px. example
Click to get the magnetic lasso started. Once you start, there's no stopping.
If you plan to cut all around the character in one shot, I suggest you don't zoom in as much to avoid messing up.
However, if you prefer zooming in, just cut out parts of the background and delete it instead of cutting out the character.
Backspacing will remove errant anchor points [the magnetic lasso 'snaps' to a clear and definite line closest to it].
I have to be honest here. This took me half the time the pen did, even though it's a little less accurate.
This will work better with images that don't already have a stroke around them,
because half the time you'll be trying to cut that stroke out and the magnetic lasso will keep on snapping to something else.
Connect the first and the last points, or double click. example
It'll produce the same walking ants as before. Ctrl + c, ctrl + v. Save as PNG.



I didn't feel like redoing it to make it perfect, BUT YOU SHOULD. >8D
If you look carefully, on the left the grey stroke was a little cut off because the magnetic lasso cut too deep.

Hope this tut helped you :3

[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:

[CHEESTRINGS]

what are actions/textures?

[Complexity]

Originally Posted by CHEESTRINGS

what are actions/textures?

actions are a compile of adjustment layers that you load on your signature and make it look better.
Textures are a broad range of backgrounds that you can use to blend, etc.

[eccedentesiast .]

i love this♥.
do you have any personal favorites for the actions you have?
i have downloaded some, but i don't really use most of them.

[CHEESTRINGS]

Originally Posted by Complexity

actions are a compile of adjustment layers that you load on your signature and make it look better.
Textures are a broad range of backgrounds that you can use to blend, etc.

ohh i see, thanks
btw just ask a gm to move this to the tuts section

[Complexity]

Shape Signatures
I've previously made a tut on this, but the rollback killed it. I deducted that it wouldn't be too hard to make another one.

First, start off by opening the canvas. 400x100 seems to be a default, so we'll use that.
Second, locate your shape tool. It should be two up from the foreground/background colors if your toolbar is the same as mine.
Select it. If you hold it, there should be a drop-down menu with different options. Select the "Custom Shape" tool.
Or, you can click the shape tool, then go up on the upper toolbar to select it.



You may or may not have some shapes loaded. If you haven't, it's fairly easy. [x]
See where it says "Shape: -insert default shape here-"? There should be an arrow beside it. Click it to see the drop down menu.
Select "Load Shapes." Photoshop should automatically redirect you to its 'Shapes' folder, but if it doesn't, just manually find the folder yourself.
It should be somewhere in Presets > Shapes.
The defaults should include a heart, star, etc.

You might want to adjust some settings so they're the same as mine (check the link as reference). If they're the same, don't bother changing them.
It might be awkward if you're trying to make a shape layer while your pen tool is missed up.

Okay, time to make your signature. Forget about the shapes for now. Don't forget to save the psd in case you mess up.
You don't need to put the render on first if you wanted to make a shape signature.
The background alone will be fine, since the adding the render comes on the later steps.

You don't have to be too extravagant with your background.
If you want to be some kind of Picasso and make a masterpiece, go ahead. It's your signature, your style.
Don't forget that you can always add brushes/textures/etc. For the brushes, you might want to add them in later steps.

Here is what I have. Simple background [waves], and some adjustment layers. My render is hidden because I don't need it yet.



Okay, go back to the shape tool. Choose what shape you want. I chose a heart.
Click on the canvas and drag to make your shape. A new shape layer should automatically pop up in the layer palette.
If you don't like it (remember that if you want to stroke it, it'll have to be just a little smaller), delete the layer and make a new one.

Your shape's filling would be your foreground color. Don't worry about it, we'll be getting rid of it anyway.
Select the shape layer. You should be familiarized with the 'opacity' and 'fill' options.
If not, it would be very important to add that to your list of techniques.
Set the 'fill' to 0% so that the color is removed.



There should be a pale white outline around it now to show that it is visible.
However, once you click off of the shape layer, the white outline will disappear.
Stroke it with a color (e.g. black or white) to make it visible. I'll stroke mine with white since it's a dark background. [x]

Now choose what you want to be inside that heart. I typically choose the render.
Drag the render layer inside the heart. The shape layer should be on top of the render layer, so you can see a preview on how it'll look like.
Remember that renders have no background, so the shape background would be empty.
Choose a background (it is typically the background you have just made) and merge it with the render.
You do this by holding ctrl on the layers you want to select.
When you have selected the layers you wanted, ctrl + e to merge.
It's basically the same concept of 'flattening.'
If you decide to merge the background you have made, don't forget to make a copy of it (we need the second one later).
Don't forget you can move the background layer around until you have the desirable parts in the shape. Ctrl + alt + z to undo more than one step (if you mess up).
Also, this is when saving that psd file comes in handy. Just reload it if you mess up (I'm assuming that you ctrl + s every step).
Leave the adjustment layers alone.



What your layer palette should look like (disregard names): [x]

Mk, time to fill up the shape. Duplicate the shape layer so that the stroke won't be lost.
Select the original shape. Click and hold the grey box and drop it down on your merged layer.



You should be able to see the changes directly after you drop the box. It should create a new layer that has the name of 'Shape 1.'
You can delete this layer. Nothing will happen.

When you want to add drop shadow / change the stroke, edit your 'Shape 1 copy,' not the layer that contains the render.

Okay, at this part, I usually create a new shape layer (usually the box). You can choose anything you want.
Move this layer under your first shape layer.
Stroke it to make it visible. Duplicate it so that you don't lose the stroke (starting to sound familiar?)
Don't worry, it'll look a little odd now, but it'll look better after.



What goes inside this second shape layer is your background.
You can move it around if you want, until you have the parts to like inside of the second shape layer.

You're going to repeat what you did with your first shape layer. Drop the box down on the background.



Now some of the strokes are invisible due to the background being white. If you can't see yours, just change them to a different color by editing the shape copies.

I moved my shape layers around because I didn't like where they were.
If you decide to move your shapes, move the original shape layer with the copy, so that the stroke will move too. [x]

Finishing touches:

To add brushes, click on the original Shape Layer to do so. This prevents the brushes from randomly appearing on the canvas where they don't belong.
To add text, add them below the adjustment layers, but above the shape/copy layers.
You may remove stroke if you don't like it.

Next, delete the background so it'll become transparent. Save it as PNG. If you save it as JPG, you lose the transparency.

I did some quick text to finish it up; but you should spend more time with it to see what effects you can do.

Finished product:



If you change the lengths of certain shapes, you can have different outcomes that might look similar to click.

/edit - Jas's awesome shape tut here; If you want misc. shapes ;D

[FAQs]

OHAYAY SHAPE SIG!!!1!!
-tries it later-

[Sarcasm]

yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy