First signature (want feedback)

[DSJ]

Also remember that you don't always have to use cut out renders. Stocks were something I really hated using when I first started but you can get some really nice outcomes with them just by manipulating them.

[Dobbs]

A good idea could be to add your render, oversized, 1-2 times, and then smudge it. There you have a background, looking better than brushes.

Ok so I've tried this, and the fact is: I can't smudge. I've Tried and tried but it never turns out like the tut I'm reading, it doesn't even look similar. I tried a new style, still learning it however this is what i come up with so far:
(This is basically deformed C4D's)


EDIT: I've just realised how bad this sig is. lol I'll try to improve it. (Things wrong with it:

Need to Blend the render
Need to Add somthing to the top left and right.
Need to Change to color sceme to match)

[DSJ]

Bad Renders = Bad Signatures.

[bt411]

you don't need any extra textures / brushes and all that fancy stuff.

Create several layers, play with blending options , layer styles , layer opacity until it looks decent and be done.
Add small details and fixes as you like e.G making the eyes glow stronger, adjust light of render to bg light -same direction, strength


edit to prove my point:

only standard tools / textures(for blending option) from photoshop
bg is only 2 different blending options with the upper layer half deleted at the top
font inner light + gradient + contour
goes down quite fast as you grow in experience

[Aes]

Try and follow this tutorial - Reflectionartwork's Gallery

By Reflection

[cedsson]

Tryed just to do something random with brush and this is how it ended up and me nerdraging.

[Oynkeh]

Change the Bevel and Emboss, it looks horrable, but cant really say anything els then keep on making some and u will get better the more u do.

[Aes]

Tryed just to do something random with brush and this is how it ended up and me nerdraging.

A signature is made by blending the render with the background.
So slap your render on the page first thing, use the smudge tool and smudge the render. Now you have a color scheme.
Put the render in again, make it smaller to a good size then smudge the sides of it slightly with a small brush so it blends in.
Add some fancy brushes/c4ds or whatever you want to the background, add text and a boarder and your done.

Just a quick explanation.


Edit: here is something i uploaded for you.


The Photoshop file - http://rapidshare.com/files/391375030/sdv.psd.html

[azack]

A good idea could be to add your render, oversized, 1-2 times, and then smudge it. There you have a background, looking better than brushes.

I tend to do this a lot.
It has an overall nice effect on the background, as it IS your render, so it's obviously going to go with it.

[Narudan]

Ok so I've tried this, and the fact is: I can't smudge. I've Tried and tried but it never turns out like the tut I'm reading, it doesn't even look similar.

try


How does it turn out?

[Dobbs]

I figured how to smudge, i was getting a brush and in one stroke going over the whole image. Thanks anyways.

[Erase]

I figured how to smudge, i was getting a brush and in one stroke going over the whole image. Thanks anyways.

I would suggest you to go more into detail, than just smudging all over the image.

[Dobbs]

That's what I Said i now know not to that it that way.

[grandmst20]

As it stands my first signature and need some feedback

I realize you're just starting but I'm going to critique. Text is horrible. That is my weakest spot to be honest. I can make an amazing background and overall image, but when it comes to adding text I botch it up. Emboss on an render=no. If you were going for a lighting effect, read a tutorial to add global lighting to an image, not just a render. Background is just generated clouds, add some self-work.

Good for a first try, however try to add brushes to your background. Some here: Browsing Photoshop Brushes on deviantART Also try to add some C4D's here: RapidShare: 1-CLICK Web hosting - Easy Filehosting And make your text flow with the render. Last thing is, if your render is 'smooth' make your sig 'smooth' and if your render is 'grungy' make your sig 'grungy'.

PS. Can u link that render please i really like it, and would love to use it in the future. Thanks
(Also if you need help on how to install the brushes just ask.)

EDIT: here's an example of a sig made with brushes & C4D's:

Suggesting your style to someone else is really just recreating your work. Most of your sigs are just renders with brushing and C4Ds. Not saying that's a bad style, but let the guy work out what he likes. My style changes per render and what looks best.

Okey thx for all tips.
<--- Going back to Photoshop

---------- Post added at 01:03 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:06 AM ----------

One new
Just having a big problem with the text

Once again, text is an issue, I know. I'd advise you to check out about 3 or so tutorials involving text alone. As for the sig itself, it's just an image cropped. Work on adding effects and borders.

Imo Dobbs, most of the time brushes should be used to enhance signatures.

Stamping other people's brushes on a canvas and calling it a background isn't going to get you anywhere.

Now I'm not saying that you musn't use brushes but what I'm saying is why do you have to use them for every sig, that way they are just going to look the same.

e.g.







If I understand correctly then you're still pretty new to photoshop, as was I when I thought using brushes for every signature was ok but seriously, take some advice and yeah, use brushes but don't make every signature look the same.

Like I mentioned above, all of your sigs look the same. Brushing + render + color + text set to overlay/soft light/drop shadow. Branch out on a new style. Add borders. Try different text methods.

A good idea could be to add your render, oversized, 1-2 times, and then smudge it. There you have a background, looking better than brushes.

Smudging is a good concept. However, don't just add a render, smudge it on 3 different layers and then add your stock and save it. Try new effects and filters to enhance it.

Also remember that you don't always have to use cut out renders. Stocks were something I really hated using when I first started but you can get some really nice outcomes with them just by manipulating them.

This is very true.

Ok so I've tried this, and the fact is: I can't smudge. I've Tried and tried but it never turns out like the tut I'm reading, it doesn't even look similar. I tried a new style, still learning it however this is what i come up with so far:
(This is basically deformed C4D's)


EDIT: I've just realised how bad this sig is. lol I'll try to improve it. (Things wrong with it:

Need to Blend the render
Need to Add somthing to the top left and right.
Need to Change to color sceme to match)

Render sucks. Background is decent, would call for no render in my opinion. Color scheme doesn't have to match.

Example (a few of my old sigs):

Bad Renders = Bad Signatures.

Yep.

Try and follow this tutorial - Reflectionartwork's Gallery

By Reflection

A nice tutorial indeed, but don't follow it to the point. Try to add your own effects. Trial and error, my friend.

Change the Bevel and Emboss, it looks horrable, but cant really say anything els then keep on making some and u will get better the more u do.

The only thing I've ever used Bevel/Emboss on is text, with added effects. And yes, keep trying, practice makes perfect.

A signature is made by blending the render with the background.
So slap your render on the page first thing, use the smudge tool and smudge the render. Now you have a color scheme.
Put the render in again, make it smaller to a good size then smudge the sides of it slightly with a small brush so it blends in.
Add some fancy brushes/c4ds or whatever you want to the background, add text and a boarder and your done.

Just a quick explanation.


Edit: here is something i uploaded for you.


The Photoshop file - RapidShare: 1-CLICK Web hosting - Easy Filehosting

No offense but that render looks kinda bad. No matter what you did here is what I took from it: Color added to generated clouds, Deathwing render sharpened about 6 times or more (too many), shadow added around the edge. Smudging != always perfection. Sometimes smudging is not the best option for the render. However, it is worth noting that with the right person, smudging can be applied to the above render. Could I pull it off? I'm not sure...it's a trial and error kinda thing. From the looks of it I would possibly try another method.

That's what I Said i now know not to that it that way.

I read around 10 or so tutorials involving smudging, tried it for months. I'm still not perfect at it. Photoshop skills take time to develop. Don't read a tutorial and expect to be able to do what it teaches in one day. On the optimistic side, if you read tutorials and can do what they teach without being exactly to the point on the nail (Meaning, if you get the same/better result without using the same exact settings), you are making good progress.

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Whew, that was a lot to type. I had to add some input to this thread. I saw it going 30 different directions.

[Erase]

No offense but that render looks kinda bad. No matter what you did here is what I took from it: Color added to generated clouds, Deathwing render sharpened about 6 times or more (too many), shadow added around the edge. Smudging != always perfection. Sometimes smudging is not the best option for the render. However, it is worth noting that with the right person, smudging can be applied to the above render. Could I pull it off? I'm not sure...it's a trial and error kinda thing. From the looks of it I would possibly try another method.

It's to show how to blend the render.

Smudging is a good concept. However, don't just add a render, smudge it on 3 different layers and then add your stock and save it. Try new effects and filters to enhance it.

You sound like what I said was THE guide to make a background. Never stated that. It was a help to get started.

Most of your sigs are just renders with brushing and C4Ds.

Most of your sigs (from what I see) is just smudge, and some (imo) ugly filter effect or a C4D covering it.

I can make an amazing background and overall image

*Cough*