Okay so i incorporated teaching both into one nice tutorial
With a sexy sig as the outcome
*click the images for bigger view*
Signature BG and Positioning Tutorial*Im pretty much assuming you know how to do the simple things in photoshop* This bg method, works very well with computer game renders, but i personally dont think it looks too good with human renders. Movie characters etc.
1. Open photoshop, make a new document. I use 400 x 125.
2. Make a new layer (ctrl + shift +n) And with some custom brushes (i mostly use grunge brushes, use google to find some nice ones) randomly "paint" using black as your color onto the layer in a rough way, trying to cover most - but not all of the surface.
3. Now make a new layer again, select a different brush and use white as your main color. And do the same, evenly "paint" across your signature to contrast the black on the layer beneath. (again do it very rough)
4. Keep repeating this process. New layer, use new brush and black. Then new layer, new brush and use white as main color. Keep doing this for several layers until you are happy.
5. Now take your render, and just move it on top of your brush layers. It will probably be very big and fill the entire workspace. That's what you want
If it doesnt fill it entirely, stretch it so it does. (ctrl+t making sure to hold shift while adjusting size to keep aspect ratio)
6. Now we are going to distort it
There are many ways to do this, i like to: Go to filter - blur - motion blur. And use these settings:
7. Last now to get the BG complete before we add our render. Go to the layers pane with the layer you just blurred highlighted and click the drop down where it says normal, and change this to 'overlay'
-This is the part where you add your own magic Add your render, clean it up. blurring the bg a little, sharpening up the render, changing the lighting effects and playing with contrast, and variations. (it's way to much to teach really, its something you generally grasp the more you use photoshop)- To pick up, now i'll add a bit on positioning for Diamond.
So this is where i am so far after doing all of the above:
A very old and well known technique for photography, is the grid method. It works too for signatures
I still do it now, i apply a grid over my signature as seen below
Basically where the lines cross, should be a point of interest. For instance now im wanting to add text. so, on both the left cross points i have my render. so it cant go there.... but on the right where the lines cross we have some space. A great place for my text. (quick note about text actually, try to keep it small. you dont want it taking away focus
also steer clear of fancy bulky fonts, the simple ones often work best)
The grid method can and defiantly should be used when you position your render too. It puts it in an eye catching place. The "best" place
My finished result:
I didnt think it'd end up being that long >.>
Hope it helps! any further assistance needed, just ask
