If your part of a forum, you understand how a signature can help show people in the community who you are. For this reason (and many others besides), signatures are very popular.
Many signatures are very plain and boring, just with a username and maybe a few colors. But signatures can very artistic and look amazing, and not much effort is required to make one.
The only things you require is an image editing program and a computer!
For this tutorial, we will be using Photoshop but it can be done in many other free programs.
Some knowledge of Photoshop will be assumed.
Step 1
Open Photoshop and open a new document that is about 788 x 125 pixels.
Step 2
This will be our starting point. The size you make your signature can be any you like.
Step 3
Find an image that you would like for your background and open it in Photoshop. You will notice at the top of image box there is two tabs. One is your blank signature and the other is your image. Simply drag and drop your background into the blank tab.
Step 4
Next, hit Ctrl + T. This will enable you to resize the image until it’s how you like it on the blank signature. To scale the image hold down the Shift key.
Step 5
Click on the pointer button at the very top of the toolbar. It will ask you to apply the transformation. Click Apply.
It’s a start
As you can see, we now have the base of our signature. Lets add some detail.
Add a new layer by clicking the add layer button down the bottom on the right.
Step 6
Next, add your desired text. I’m using my username for this example. Simply click the text button in the toolbar and then drag a text box over the signature. You can change the text font and color on the text toolbar up the top.
Step 7
Add any other text you like. I just put in a small “test” to imitate how you might have the name of your forum.
Be sure to add a new layer. You should add new layers for every new object or word.
Step 8
Now, we want to make the signature a bit softer looking.
Using the rounded rectangle tool in toolbar, select the area you want. It will become a colored box. Don’t worry! We haven’t ruined your work.
Step 9
In the layer bow to your right, look up the top. Change the opacity to 0%. The box will become clear.
Step 10
We need a bit more working space, so go to Image, then Trim.
Copy these settings.
Step 11
Go back to the layers box. Select the “Shape 1” layer and then click the paths tab just above it. Right click on the mask and go to “Make Selection.”.
Step 12
In the resulting box, click OK.
Step 13
Go to “Select” and click on “Inverse”.
Step 14
Go back and select the layer with the background in it. Hit the delete button. This will erase all the image outside of the area we want as our sign.
Step 15
We want to make the signature look a bit more interesting so right click on the background layer and go to “Blending options…” Also hit CTRL + D to de-select all.
Step 16
For the shadow, copy these settings. Feel free to play around to get your own effect.
Step 17
Copy these settings for an inner shadow.
Step 18
These are the settings I used for the border.
Text – Drop Shadow Settings
These are the settings I used for the text. Just use the same technique to get to the blending options box for each text layer.
Step 19
Next, choose the brush button in the toolbar and select a brush. I used a custom brush but you can use any you like.
You can download free brushes from websites like http://www.brusheezy.com
Paint your sig (on a another layer again), how you would like it.
Step 20
Repeat steps 11-14 for the layer with your brush painting.
Step 21
Finally, delete the original white layer so you see a checkered pattern.
Step 22
Go to “Image”, and then “Trim”.
Step 23
Make sure transparent pixels are selected and click OK.
Finally!
Save your signature as a .png file. And you have your finished product!
Try your own!
Of course this is a very basic signature and much more elaborate ones can be made. Just get in there and have fun! Good luck!
