Signature Tutorial 1.0
SIGNATURE TUTORIAL 1.0 feat. Honda Tohru
For those who follow/friend me on Gaia Online, you will probably have seen this tutorial available in my journal. Please do not repaste in any other sites, and all brushes and images mentioned are credited to their respective owners. Saying that, you are free to try to follow these directions, locate similar brushes and items, and use whatever directions you may desire to complete your ultimate image. The format of this kind of signature tutorial is credited to allianora's former staff member. Please do not take any of the final products without asking or leaving any kind of comment. <3
This is my second stupid attempt at a tutorial since my first one was such epic failure, mainly because:
A large number of my graphics really are made at just the spur of the moment, playing around with accidents, and instant ideas based on my knowledge of what each tool or texture or brush will do. Likewise, I always encourage people to try playing around with Photoshop or whatever program they are using in order to understand and predict the effects of each functional tool. That way, you kind of get to know your current textures, how to play with colors and lighting, and how to also manuver external images to blend and integrate into your overall image.
I have issues with tutorials, but I intend to write a decent one so bear with me.
Before I get going with this tutorial I always like to start off by saying that this tutorial is meant to be a guideline or a way to absorb some new ideas, and I strongly suggest for you to follow your own instinct and creativity when it comes to making signatures and any other types of graphics. Don’t ever feel limited. This tutorial’s purpose to give people some idea of how to follow a particular type of style.
Also, since your set of brushes may be different than mine, you can improvise and use your own brushes in substitute for the ones I use. I bet you anything it’ll look just as good, if not better than the original. =) And that’s what you’re out to strive for.
So without further ado, get Photoshop working. I’m using Photoshop 7.0 (because I love it.) like always, and so get a new 400x150 blank white canvas.
Next, I’m going to be using a cute little Tohru picture for this one. As always, you’re welcomed to use any image you want. I typically use extracted PNGs because they already have your image ready and you can add your own background. PNGs are optimal with making these types of signatures, but as always, feel free to be creative.
Place your image onto your canvas, adjusting the size you want it to be. Here’s mine:
Okay! You have your picture, and now you are free to adjust its colors, sharpness and other effects. My previous tutorial had a few tips on how to change image qualities so you may refer to those for more help, and so once you have a nice picture you feel proud of, create a new layer under the main image layer.
Now, you’re going to be adding the first background color for the signature. Usually what I like to do is pick colors that are similar to the picture. In my previous tutorial, I was instantly intrigued by Lacus’s pink hair that I decided to make a pink background. In this case, I love Tohru’s blue dress, so I want a blue and white scheme to compliment the dress.
Since I don’t want to background to camouflage with the dress, I chose #99CCFF as my color since it was darker but still a nice blue to work with.
Now, go back to your main image and stroke it 3px #FFFFFF. That helps define your image now, and Tohru has some outline to her. =)
We’re going to create a layer under the main image again, and this time we are going to be working with brushes. Since I have my own specific brushes I have acquired from several sites and my own customs, it’s hard to go into detail in creating the signature itself. This is basically where the creative freedom takes over.
As I go I’ll be citing the brushes to their respective sites, so that people may visit and acquire them if they would like. Otherwise, if you do not have these brushes, you may substitute what you feel is best, and I’m very sure it’ll be all right. =)
All rightie! Now with that clear, we can get on with the show. When making these type of signatures, it is important to remember to use the same color when working with the brushes so it gives it the effect that the designs are created in one solid, cohesive color.
I took a image stamp from Aino Hanako and added it onto the side to create a little slight border effect. By using the same blue as the background, it looks like it’s one whole image.
With a background in place, I now want to introduce another color to the scheme. I want to leave the background white, and the signature layer light sky blue, so I’m going to use #3399E0, which is a darker blue.
I took an X design brush from Anime Rain and added it onto my image. Doesn’t it look cute?? The blues and the white are very heavenly. =)
Next, I added a new layer and took a decorative brush from Animeshare and added a small little circle line. This effect can also be produced by making individual circles using your circular marquee tool and adding them one by one. I then free transformed the brush so that it is pointing upward.
Then I took a preset X brush and added it kind of like a fence, using the #3399E0 color. Looks cute with more blues. Next, I added some brushes from moragh.de, for some more decoration. Swirlies are lovies, and then some Aino Hanako and Moragh Sakura brushes to give it a very happy effect. I resized various brushes so that they’d vary in shape. And last but not least, an Aino Hanako dot brush to add some bounce.
Almost done now!
Okay, so now time to add some text. I love making little text boxes, so I’m going to be using the polygonal lasso tool and make a parallelogramish shape thing. It can be distorted { abstract is amazing! } or it can be as precise as you want it.
I made my little shape and then filled it with #3399E0 for the main color and stroked it with the sky blue color 1px.
Now time to add the text! Feel free to write your own text and pick out fonts and colors. I’m going to stick with something fun and basic.
Once the text is done, go back to your shape and duplicate it twice. Put them behind your original shape layer, and change their opacities significantly to 50%. Then, transform them around until you find a position you like. It’s to add some more bounce.
I then duplicated the layer two more times and changed their colors to white and also lowered their opacities to 50%.
And then you’re done!!
Here’s my final product:
And don’t forget to write your name on the bottom! Here are a few examples of others I’ve made following a similar style:
(For those who remember the former version on my Gaia, it had a Shadow the Hedgehog example, but I ended up removing it since I wasn't too happy of it being an actual good example. xD)
I hope this one was much better than my first one. If any questions, please feel free to PM and ask me. If you’d like some custom work, please let me know as well and I’ll get back to you on that. These graphics and tutorials are for free usage only and not used to obtain any gold, items, or real money.
So please be nice and remember no stealing from me or anyone else. Please do not claim this tutorial as your own or go out pasting it elsewhere without my permission. Eventually this tutorial is moving elsewhere until it’s done its purpose. ^^
Good luck with your results! Have fun!
For those who follow/friend me on Gaia Online, you will probably have seen this tutorial available in my journal. Please do not repaste in any other sites, and all brushes and images mentioned are credited to their respective owners. Saying that, you are free to try to follow these directions, locate similar brushes and items, and use whatever directions you may desire to complete your ultimate image. The format of this kind of signature tutorial is credited to allianora's former staff member. Please do not take any of the final products without asking or leaving any kind of comment. <3
This is my second stupid attempt at a tutorial since my first one was such epic failure, mainly because:
A large number of my graphics really are made at just the spur of the moment, playing around with accidents, and instant ideas based on my knowledge of what each tool or texture or brush will do. Likewise, I always encourage people to try playing around with Photoshop or whatever program they are using in order to understand and predict the effects of each functional tool. That way, you kind of get to know your current textures, how to play with colors and lighting, and how to also manuver external images to blend and integrate into your overall image.
I have issues with tutorials, but I intend to write a decent one so bear with me.
Before I get going with this tutorial I always like to start off by saying that this tutorial is meant to be a guideline or a way to absorb some new ideas, and I strongly suggest for you to follow your own instinct and creativity when it comes to making signatures and any other types of graphics. Don’t ever feel limited. This tutorial’s purpose to give people some idea of how to follow a particular type of style.
Also, since your set of brushes may be different than mine, you can improvise and use your own brushes in substitute for the ones I use. I bet you anything it’ll look just as good, if not better than the original. =) And that’s what you’re out to strive for.
So without further ado, get Photoshop working. I’m using Photoshop 7.0 (because I love it.) like always, and so get a new 400x150 blank white canvas.
Next, I’m going to be using a cute little Tohru picture for this one. As always, you’re welcomed to use any image you want. I typically use extracted PNGs because they already have your image ready and you can add your own background. PNGs are optimal with making these types of signatures, but as always, feel free to be creative.
Place your image onto your canvas, adjusting the size you want it to be. Here’s mine:
Okay! You have your picture, and now you are free to adjust its colors, sharpness and other effects. My previous tutorial had a few tips on how to change image qualities so you may refer to those for more help, and so once you have a nice picture you feel proud of, create a new layer under the main image layer.
Now, you’re going to be adding the first background color for the signature. Usually what I like to do is pick colors that are similar to the picture. In my previous tutorial, I was instantly intrigued by Lacus’s pink hair that I decided to make a pink background. In this case, I love Tohru’s blue dress, so I want a blue and white scheme to compliment the dress.
Since I don’t want to background to camouflage with the dress, I chose #99CCFF as my color since it was darker but still a nice blue to work with.
Now, go back to your main image and stroke it 3px #FFFFFF. That helps define your image now, and Tohru has some outline to her. =)
We’re going to create a layer under the main image again, and this time we are going to be working with brushes. Since I have my own specific brushes I have acquired from several sites and my own customs, it’s hard to go into detail in creating the signature itself. This is basically where the creative freedom takes over.
As I go I’ll be citing the brushes to their respective sites, so that people may visit and acquire them if they would like. Otherwise, if you do not have these brushes, you may substitute what you feel is best, and I’m very sure it’ll be all right. =)
All rightie! Now with that clear, we can get on with the show. When making these type of signatures, it is important to remember to use the same color when working with the brushes so it gives it the effect that the designs are created in one solid, cohesive color.
I took a image stamp from Aino Hanako and added it onto the side to create a little slight border effect. By using the same blue as the background, it looks like it’s one whole image.
With a background in place, I now want to introduce another color to the scheme. I want to leave the background white, and the signature layer light sky blue, so I’m going to use #3399E0, which is a darker blue.
I took an X design brush from Anime Rain and added it onto my image. Doesn’t it look cute?? The blues and the white are very heavenly. =)
Next, I added a new layer and took a decorative brush from Animeshare and added a small little circle line. This effect can also be produced by making individual circles using your circular marquee tool and adding them one by one. I then free transformed the brush so that it is pointing upward.
Then I took a preset X brush and added it kind of like a fence, using the #3399E0 color. Looks cute with more blues. Next, I added some brushes from moragh.de, for some more decoration. Swirlies are lovies, and then some Aino Hanako and Moragh Sakura brushes to give it a very happy effect. I resized various brushes so that they’d vary in shape. And last but not least, an Aino Hanako dot brush to add some bounce.
Almost done now!
Okay, so now time to add some text. I love making little text boxes, so I’m going to be using the polygonal lasso tool and make a parallelogramish shape thing. It can be distorted { abstract is amazing! } or it can be as precise as you want it.
I made my little shape and then filled it with #3399E0 for the main color and stroked it with the sky blue color 1px.
Now time to add the text! Feel free to write your own text and pick out fonts and colors. I’m going to stick with something fun and basic.
Once the text is done, go back to your shape and duplicate it twice. Put them behind your original shape layer, and change their opacities significantly to 50%. Then, transform them around until you find a position you like. It’s to add some more bounce.
I then duplicated the layer two more times and changed their colors to white and also lowered their opacities to 50%.
And then you’re done!!
Here’s my final product:
And don’t forget to write your name on the bottom! Here are a few examples of others I’ve made following a similar style:
(For those who remember the former version on my Gaia, it had a Shadow the Hedgehog example, but I ended up removing it since I wasn't too happy of it being an actual good example. xD)
I hope this one was much better than my first one. If any questions, please feel free to PM and ask me. If you’d like some custom work, please let me know as well and I’ll get back to you on that. These graphics and tutorials are for free usage only and not used to obtain any gold, items, or real money.
So please be nice and remember no stealing from me or anyone else. Please do not claim this tutorial as your own or go out pasting it elsewhere without my permission. Eventually this tutorial is moving elsewhere until it’s done its purpose. ^^
Good luck with your results! Have fun!