The Making of a Signature.

Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 4:45 am

The Making of a Signature.

Seeing as we are going to try and have some Art Contests maybe (Possibly Sig of the Week), I thought I would post this short abbreviated tutorial on making one using images from the internet and hopefully get some of you guys interested in trying to make one of your own. Keeping in mind I have some experience with Fireworks but not much although I have learned a lot the last few days. So here is what I came up with.

I wanted a Movie Poster themed signature and this is what I used and did to make it, If I decide to make it animated in any way i will post the pictures of that in the reserved post below.

This first picture is a Screen capture of Fireworks with all images selected so you can see how some are outside of the canvas, This is to keep the individual bitmaps in tact so if you want to move them anywhere in the future the edges wont be cut off where they were not inside the canvas previously.

Here is all of the Layers that I used in order, Starting from the top layer (Text) down to the bottom layer (Background).

Quote:

Layers are used in digital image editing to separate different elements of an image. A layer can be compared to a transparency on which imaging effects or images are applied and placed over or under an image. Today they are an integral feature of image editors.

Text is 15 Layer's combined into 1 image for this post to save space:

Reaper 1:

Flames 2 & 3 (transparency to help the Reaper 2 and the Skulls blend into the flames a little better) Like the eyes below 2 looked better than 1 did with less transparency, But as you can see they are not exactly the same because they were making a noticeable line on the face of Reaper 2, Even though they were/are a few pixels up/down from the background to help with that also:

Reaper 2 I cut the eye's out and under laid them with the pupil from the eye below and they have more transparency than the Reaper for an even more showed effect on the dark background (transparency to look like a ghost image) :

Skull (transparency to look like a ghost image) :

Eyes 1 (2 layers to get the desired effect, It just looked better than 1 with less transparency) :

Eyes 2 (See above comment) :

Eyes 3 (Transparency eyes in the fire) :

Human Skulls (transparency to look like a ghost image) :

All layers on except the background to show what it looks like:

Flames 1 (Background) :

Finished Signature (With all the layers on) :

__________________________

I only used 4 images for this signature 3 are listed (Below) the 4th was just for the faint human skulls and not worth listing I just cut them up in different ways squished, stretched, skewed, faded, scaled up/down, and arranged to fit in a movie poster theme with text to match. (5 Star rating w/comment, by, who, about text, and the (restricted R rating Which is just text and a few lines I threw together)) .

Image 1 The Reaper:

Image 2 The Demon Eye:

Image 3 an Ubuntu wallpaper:

Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 4:45 am

Reserved

Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:37 am

cheers for the advice, be prepared to see my shiny new sig in about three years after I've deciphered the instructions !

Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 6:22 am

cool thanks

Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 7:29 am

Thanks A_D but i've got more chance of winning the lotto than creating a sig Shocked

Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 11:43 am

Cool, well done A_D

My time for sig tuts has passed, far too busy to make one lol
Yes, I could break down a sig I have made for someone here, thats not a problem ; but the time and effort into explaining everything just isnt with me at the moment!

nice job!

Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 11:52 am

Thanks, It was for sure the most complicated one I have ever done and I learned some things that's for damn sure so I mapped it all the way through just for this. Very Happy

Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 11:58 am

Well, lets hope it gives others an indication of how to compile their own, however the outcome! Very Happy

Posted: Fri Apr 16, 2010 7:41 am

robmead wrote:

cheers for the advice, be prepared to see my shiny new sig in about three years after I've deciphered the instructions !

lol me to i think i'll leave it to the experts.......... Shocked

Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 9:48 am

I always love seeing intriguing tutorials online. I've been doing graphics for about six years now, but I'm still rather green to it all, having never had formal training and being self-taught.

Awesome post!

Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 10:42 am

Nice tutorial A_D.

Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 3:12 pm

nice guide but maybe an intermediate guide rather than a beginners?

really good job with the transparency effects btw its an awesome sig

and wheres this sig of the week competition? Id be tempted to play but theres better here than me so just for fun!

Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 10:30 pm

We could easily start one if more people are interested....

All those who would like to participate in one...please post below to confirm you interest in participating.

Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 9:31 am

Seeing as we have another great sticky now, I might just give it a go! Wink

Might not be able to join in each week... Sad

Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 10:09 am

I'd like atleast 4-5 people to make it fun. Where's that Chilli25, he's always upto some mischief with graphics!