FrankenFan's Photoshop Fundamentals — Sig Tutorial

[FrankenFan]

This tutorial is aimed at the beginning- to intermediate-level Photoshop user, and attempts to demonstrate basic uses of the crop, type, selection and transformation tools; clipping masks; layer blending modes, masks, and styles; the grow, select color, and levels commands; and the minimum, gaussian blur, and clouds filters.

I'm using Photoshop CS3, but I've tried to limit tools and commands retroactive to Photoshop 7. I'm also using a Mac, so Windows users should substitute all references to the Command Key (Mac) with the Control Key (PC), all references to the Option Key (Mac) to the Alt Key (Windows), and all references to the Delete Key (Mac) to the Backspace Key (Windows).

If I use a Command or Filter that is unavailable in your version of Photoshop, LMK and I'll try to suggest an alternative for you.

We're going to make this Iron Man sig...

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/8306/imsigkz8.gif

...using these images:

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/1075/imflightthmbgm8.jpg (http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/6787/imflightxi9.jpg) http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/3916/imchestthmbqb2.jpg (http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/1153/imchestkx2.jpg) http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/8927/improtothmbqp9.jpg (http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/2471/improtoyl2.jpg) http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/7676/imposterthmbdi2.jpg (http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/8756/imposterxy7.jpg)

If you want to follow along in Photoshop, click on a thumbnail to open the full-size image and download it to your computer.

There are 15 steps to follow to make this sig, so don't forget to save your work early and often!

Ready? Let's begin!

[FrankenFan]

Step 1:

Open the im_flight.jpg image. Press the C key on your keyboard to select the Crop Tool. Click and drag a selection marquee around the Iron Man figure and press the Enter key to crop the image.

Your selection should look something like this:

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/1040/f01cropih5.jpg

[FrankenFan]

Step 2

Press the W key to select the Magic Wand tool, leave the Tolerance set at the default 32 pixels, and be sure Anti-Alias and Contiguous are both checked.

Click in the lower left corner of the im_flight.jpg image, then hold down the Shift key to add the upper right and left corners of the image to the selection. Next, from the main menu bar, choose Select>Grow to select the remaining pixels in the clouds and sky.

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/9999/f02growry6.jpg

Hold down the Space bar and the Command key to Zoom-in and check your selection, and if necessary, press the L key to select the Lasso tool to edit your selection. Set the Tolerence to Zero, check Anti-Alias, and hold down the Shift key to add to your selection and hold down the Option key to subtract from it.

Don't be too concerned with the fidelity of the edge of your selection, since we will be reducing the image significantly which will smooth out any rough edges.

Press Command Shift I to Inverse the selection from the background to the Iron Man figure, then press Command J to copy the Iron Man figure to a new layer. Name the new layer IM.

[FrankenFan]

Step 3

Next, Press Command N to create a new PSD document and enter 392-pixels for its width and 72-pixels for its height.

Now press Command A to select the entire canvas, then press Command J to create a new layer. Name it Clipping Mask.

Press Command S to save the file. Name it im_sig.

Your Layers Palette should look like this:

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/2876/f03layersoo2.jpg

[FrankenFan]

Step 4

Press Command Option C to open the Canvas Size dialog and change the Height of the canvas to 144 pixels.

Open the im_chest.jpg image, press M to select the Rectangular Marquee tool, and make a selection around the glowy power core thingy, like this:

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/7941/f04chestys9.jpg

Press V on your keyboard to select the Move tool, click on your selection in the im_chest.jpg image and drag it onto the im_sig.psd file. Name this layer Chest and be sure it is above the Clipping Mask layer.

Your im_sig.psd doc and Layers Palette should look like this:

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c383/FrankenFan/Iron%20Man%20Sig/f05_chest_a.gif

[FrankenFan]

Step 5:

In the Layers Palette select the Chest layer and press Command Option G to create a Clipping Mask.

Your im_sig.psd doc and Layers Palette should now look like this:

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/8163/f05chestbzd5.gif

[FrankenFan]

Step 6

Return to the im_flight.jpg, press Command Option I to open the Image Size dialog box. Under Document Size select Percent and enter 20 for the Width and Height.

Next, select the IM layer and drag it onto the im_sig.psd doc, above the chest layer. Press Command B to select the Free Transform Tool, enter a percentage of 75 in the Width and Height fields in the Options bar, then press the Enter key to confirm your changes:

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/4752/f06transformat0.gif

Your im_sig.psd doc and Layers Palette should now look like this:

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/5227/f06transformbcq3.gif

[FrankenFan]

Step 7

Open the im_poster image, use the Rectangular Marquee tool to select Tony Stark's head and shoulders along with about half of Iron Man's helmet, and drag it onto the im_sig.psd doc above the Chest layer and name it Stark.

Press Command Option G to add it to the Clipping Mask, then select the Free Transform tool and enter a percentage of 45 in the Width and Height fields in the Options bar. Use the Move tool to position the image on the left side of the canvas.

Now open the im_proto.jpg image, select the head and shoulders, drag it onto the im_sig.psd doc above the Stark layer and name it Proto.

Add it to the Clipping Mask, then select the Free Transform tool and enter a percentage of 25 in the Width and Height fields in the Options bar. Use the Move tool to position the image on the right side of the canvas.

Your im_sig.psd doc should now look similar to this:

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/1097/f07starkprotoeb4.jpg

[FrankenFan]

Step 8

Now we are going to add Layer Masks to the Stark and Proto layers, and blend them into the Chest layer by using Layer Blending Modes and reducing the Master opacity of the layers.

With the Stark layer active, click the Add Layer Mask icon on the bottom of the Layers Palette:

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/1821/f08starkmasklx3.jpg

Press the D key on your keyboard to set the Foreground Color to Black and the Background Color to White, then press the G key to select the Gradient tool and select Linear Gradient from the Options bar.

Hold down the Shift key and drag the Gradient tool in a straight line from right to left to remove the hard edge from the Stark layer and blend it into the Chest layer. Change the layer's Blending Mode from Normal to Luminosity and reduce the layer's Opacity to 50%.

Repeat this action with the Proto layer, but drag the Gradient tool in the opposite direction. Leave the Blending Mode set to Normal.

Your file and Layers Palette should now look something like this:

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/580/f09starkprotoblendsg2.gif

[FrankenFan]

Step 9

Return to the chest.jpg image and select a section of "data readout" text large enough to cover the canvas size of the im_sig.psd file, and drag it onto the canvas above the Stark layer. Name this layer Data.

Next, press Command I to Invert the image, and then change its Blending Mode to Difference.

Select another section of "data readout" text, and repeat the above steps.

Your image and Layers Palette should now look similar to this:

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/2630/f10datavf6.gif

Our layout is now complete and it's time for some finishing touches.

[FrankenFan]

Step 10

With Data 2 the active layer, press Command J to create a new layer above it, add it to the Clipping Path, and change its Blending Mode to Hard Light. Name this layer Clouds.

Next, click the Set Foreground Color Swatch on the Toolbar to open the Color Picker, and enter 128 for the RGB values. Press the Enter key to exit the Color Picker. Set your Background Color to White.

With the Clouds layer active, select Filter>Render>Clouds from the main menu and apply the filter.

Next, add a Layer Mask to the Clouds layer, then add a Linear Gradient from top to bottom.

The Clouds layer adds some atmosphere to our image, but it also washes out our background a bit too much, so we're going to adjust the Levels of the Data layers.

Make Data the active layer, then hold down the Option key and click the Create New Fill Or Adjustment Layer icon on the bottom of the Layers Palette (4th icon from the right), and select Levels from the pop-up menu to open the New Layer dialog. Check Use Previous Layer To Create Clipping Mask and click OK to open the Levels dialog box. Under Input Levels change the White Point from 255 to 228. Click OK.

Repeat this proceedure with the Data 2 layer, but instead of changing the White Point, change the Black Point from zero to 19.

Has your head exploded, yet? :google

If it hasn't, your image and Layers Palette should now resemble this:

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/9339/f11levelsit3.gif

Now we need to finesse the Iron Man figure a bit, and we're done!

Well. Almost. :)

[FrankenFan]

Step 11

First, select the IM layer, then click the Add A Layer Style icon (the FX icon, second from the left on the bottom of the Layers Palette) and select Bevel and Emboss... from the Blending Options pop-up menu. Enter these values in the options fields:

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/5798/f12bvlembssme2.jpg

With the IM layer still active, hold down the Option key and click the Create New Fill Or Adjustment Layer icon on the bottom of the Layers Palette, and select Selective Color from the pop-up menu to open the New Layer dialog. Check Use Previous Layer To Create Clipping Mask and click OK to open the Selective Color Options dialog box.

For Method, select Absolute, then select Reds from the Colors pop-up and change the Cyan percentage to -100 and the Magenta percentage to +100.

Next, select Yellows from the Colors pop-up, and change the Cyan percentage to -100 and the Yellow percentage to +100. Click OK.

Iron Man is starting to pop, but let's add a little more drama.

Duplicate the IM layer, name it IM_Reflect and drag it under the IM layer. Click the Lock Transparent Pixels icon (first icon after the word Lock: at the top of the Layers Palette).

Set your Foreground Color to the RGB values 0, 124, 239 and your Background Color to 255, 255, 255.

Select Filter>Render>Clouds.

Now select the IM layer and change its Blending Mode to Hard Light. Presto! Instant reflection! Pretty cool, huh?

Your file and Layers Palette should now look something like this:

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/3415/f13imrflctfq4.gif

[FrankenFan]

Step 12

Now we're going to add a glow behind Iron Man to give the image a bit of depth.

Duplicate the IM_Reflect layer, name it IM_Glow, and drag it under the IM_Reflect layer.

Click the Lock Transparent Pixels icon, set your Foreground Color to the RGB values 252, 248, 203, and press Option Delete to fill the layer with a pale, yellow color.

Next, Deselect the Lock Transparent Pixels icon, select Filter>Other>Minimum, set the Radius to 5 pixels and click OK.

Now select Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur, set the Radius to 6 pixels and click OK.

Finally, change the Blending Mode of the layer to Overlay and add the layer to the Clipping Mask.

Your file and Layers Palette should now look like this:

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/9521/f14glowal1.gif

[FrankenFan]

Step 13

Now, let's add a Stroke around the background art to frame it and add a Drop Shadow to give our sig a faux 3-D look.

First, click the Clipping Mask layer to make it active, then click on the FX icon and select Stroke from the Blending Options pop-up. Change the Size to 1, the Position to Inside, and the Color to the RGB values 0, 0, 0.

Next, click on the words Drop Shadow in the Styles column and set the Opacity to 50, the Angle to 120, Distance to 5, Spread to 0, and Size to 5. Press the Enter key to exit the Layers Style dialog.

Now press Command Option C to open the Canvas Size box, and change the Width to 399. For Anchor, click the Upper Left square to add 7 pixels to the right side of our canvas to reveal the rest of the Drop Shadow. Click OK.

Your file and Layers Palette should now look like this:

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/9620/f15resizemn1.gif

[FrankenFan]

Step 14

Next, let's Crop our file to remove the unused portion of the canvas and reduce the overall file size of our sig.

Select the Crop tool and drag a selection marquee that extends to the left and right edges of the canvas, and from the top of Iron Man's right hand to the bottom of the drop shadow. Zoom-in (Space Option Click) to make your selection as precise as possible

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/4045/f16cropdj6.gif

Your file and Layers Palette should now look like this:

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/5278/f16bcropef7.gif

[FrankenFan]

Step 15

Okay. Time to save our file as a Transparent GIF and wrap this session up!

But! Not before we add one more very important final touch to out sig: Our name!

Press the letter T on your keyboard to select the Type tool, then click on the Selective Color 1 layer to make it active, and and type your name.

With the type selected, choose a font, size, and color from the Options bar, and drag it into place on the canvas. Press Enter to confirm the type to the new layer. I also added an Outer Glow in black set to Multiply to offset my name from the background.

Now we're ready to save our file for the web. Click on the Eye icon next to the Background layer to toggle the background off.

Your file and Layers Palette should now look like this:

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/9063/f16ctranskt2.gif

Press Command Option Shift S to open the Save For Web dialog and enter the settings, below. For Matte select Other from the pop-up menu to open the Color Picker and enter the RGB values 241, 242, 228. This matte color will fill or blend any transparent pixels in our drop shadow with the color of the Freaks board background against which sigs are typically displayed. If you're saving a transparent GIF for display against a different color background, choose that color for your matte.

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/3613/f17sfwlt5.jpg

Click Save, to name and save the file, and we're done! Here's another look at the final image:

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/8306/imsigkz8.gif

For those of you who had the patience and endurance to read this far, thank you for your interest and attention. I hope you picked up a trip or trick or three along the way!

Happy Photoshopping! :duff

[TwelveMonkeys]

Wow, great tutorial! Thanks for writing it up

[Agen]

Thank you. Good job:clap

[lcummins]

Thank you so much Kurt! Those are some of the tools and commands I've wanted to learn how to use. I only have Photoshop available at work, but I plan on going through the tutorial and learning how to use these tools!

Thanks again!

[Batty]

Thank you, Kurt! :duff

I'm such a beginner when it comes to Photoshop. This will be very helpful.

[FrankenFan]

Thanks for the replies, guys! I hope you are finding some useful info and techniques that you can apply to your own work. Please feel free to post any suggestions you may have as to how to make future tutorials better — assuming there is enough interest from you guys for me to continue them. :)

Was this first lesson too long? Were my instruction easy to understand? Were the screen caps helpful? Was the content too basic? What other topics would interest you? Would a PDF download be preferable? Your comments, critiques, and constructive criticism are always encouraged!

Reading through the tutorial again, I did find a few typos that I have since corrected, so if you come across a specific step that doesn't seem to be working, check the edit date and time on the bottom of the post to be sure you are working from the most up-to-date and accurate content. If you find any additional typos or other inaccuracies, please let me know and I will revise a.s.a.p.

Thanks, again!

[MaulFan]

Very nicely done, that's great how you even posted shots of the photoshop menus and such. Actually a few things going on in the graphic that I've seen in many PS compositions that I've wanted to replicate but never been good at achieving so this will help as practice, thanks for doing that. If I can think of particular things I do that I can teach in the same way, I'll put it together like you've done.

[uscmhicks]

awesome , awesome , awesome.
Thanks alot man , a really big help !!.
Thanks dude !! :rock

[nash]

that is so pimp dude thank you for breaking it down! I always wondered how people do complex multilayer stuff like that using images from various sources. good stuff!

Do you plan on doing more of these little tutorials?

[DarkDaysinVegas]

Thanks Kurt! Finally, a much needed sig tutorial! :cool:

Your work :rock bro...without a shadow of a doubt!

I don't have the photoshop program yet.

I was also wondering how to change the font of my pre existing signature below:

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg317/darkdaysinvegas/TDFjoker.gif

You deserve some serious :bow :bow :bow FrankenFan!

[FrankenFan]

Very nicely done, that's great how you even posted shots of the photoshop menus and such. Actually a few things going on in the graphic that I've seen in many PS compositions that I've wanted to replicate but never been good at achieving so this will help as practice, thanks for doing that. If I can think of particular things I do that I can teach in the same way, I'll put it together like you've done.
Glad the screen caps were helpful, MaulFan, and you found some of the techniques touched upon in the tutorial applicable to your own work! Looking forward to seeing you reveal some of your favorite Photoshop techniques, soon!

awesome , awesome , awesome.
Thanks alot man , a really big help !!.
Thanks dude !! :rock
You're welcome, uscmhicks! You already have a very recognizable signature style (no pun intended!) of your own, and I look forward to seeing how your work progresses!

Do you plan on doing more of these little tutorials?
If enough board members are interested in seeing them continue, I would be encouraged to contribute more. To paraphrase a famous line of movie dialog, "If they come, I will build it."

As I asked above, what other types of tutorials are you interested in seeing?

I don't have the photoshop program yet.

I was also wondering how to change the font of my pre existing signature below:

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg317/darkdaysinvegas/TDFjoker.gif
An excellent free alternative to Photoshop is GIMP (http://www.gimp.org/). It comes in both Mac (http://www.gimp.org/macintosh/) and PC (http://www.gimp.org/windows/) flavors, and has extensive online help supported by a large community of GIMP users. Well-worth checking out!

Regarding the Joker sig, if you have the original PSD file and the type is on its own layer, simply click and drag with the Type tool to select the text, then choose a new font from the Options bar.

If you don't have the original PSD file, or if the type has been merged with the individual frames of the animation, I would suggest rebuilding the sig from scratch. You could use the Clone tool to "clone-out" or "erase" the text on each individual frame, but that would be rather tedious work and, I think, more time-consuming than simply starting over.

Hope that helps!

Thanks again, guys!

[nash]

Franken Fan, I think you missed step 6. after step 5 you posted step 4 again, then the next one says step 7. :cool:

[FrankenFan]

Franken Fan, I think you missed step 6. after step 5 you posted step 4 again, then the next one says step 7. :cool:
You are correct, sir! Thanks for catching that!

Fixed now, you may proceed with the tutorial!

[nash]

You are correct, sir! Thanks for catching that!

Fixed now, you may proceed with the tutorial!


woo! thank you sir! back to photoshop :chew

[Mesa]

This is exactly what I needed. Thanks Frankenfan.

[lcummins]

I hadn't reached that point yet! I only had a few minutes at lunch today to begin...

[FrankenFan]

woo! thank you sir! back to photoshop :chew
I'm happy to know someone is actually going through the tut! LMK if you come across anything else that I may have omitted or does not make sense!

And, be sure to post your finished sig!

[nash]

Very cool tutorial. I had fun messing around with the various effects! Everything was clear and easy to follow. The only tricky part was to figure out sometimes which keys are used in the non-mac versions of PS CS2 which I have. Put this one together on the fly, i hope to make a nicer one later. Thanks again Frankenfan, I cant wait for more tuts from you. Maybe text effects or overall effects....border designs....etc. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v192/nash13/Signature%20Pics/supes_sig.gif

[carbo-fation]

I am going to give this a try once the weekend rolls around. FrankenFan, can you make a tutorial for how to make a .gif image as well? That would be greatly appreciated.:D

[nash]

I am going to give this a try once the weekend rolls around. FrankenFan, can you make a tutorial for how to make a .gif image as well? That would be greatly appreciated.:D

I like that idea.

Maybe a spin off tutorial on how to animate Iron Man's eyes and chest pulsate with lights. :D:D

[DarkDaysinVegas]

Very nice sig Nash!

[FrankenFan]

Very cool tutorial. I had fun messing around with the various effects! Everything was clear and easy to follow. The only tricky part was to figure out sometimes which keys are used in the non-mac versions of PS CS2 which I have. Put this one together on the fly, i hope to make a nicer one later. Thanks again Frankenfan, I cant wait for more tuts from you. Maybe text effects or overall effects....border designs....etc. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v192/nash13/Signature%20Pics/supes_sig.gif
Good job, Nash! It's great that you took the initiative to create something original, and I like the "storytelling" elements you've chosen for your middleground images.

I'm not sure what the disc-like image that dominates the background is, and it's so much "hotter" in color than Supes, himself, that my eye tends to be drawn to the background rather than him. If I may make a suggestion — and I am about to whether you like it or not :) — I'd go for a more neutral element for the main background image, i.e., zoom in on the Daily Planet globe.

Keep at and keep posting your progress! :duff

Specifically, what keyboard commands were giving you trouble?

[FrankenFan]

I am going to give this a try once the weekend rolls around. FrankenFan, can you make a tutorial for how to make a .gif image as well? That would be greatly appreciated.:D

I like that idea.

Maybe a spin off tutorial on how to animate Iron Man's eyes and chest pulsate with lights. :D:D
Excellent suggestion, guys! Stay tuned!

[carbo-fation]

Excellent suggestion, guys! Stay tuned!

:rock:rock:rock

[King Darkness]

WOW!! This is a great tutorial!!! i just found this thread so have not had time to go through it. But I have Photoshop Elements 5.0. Will this tutorial work for it???

[nash]

Good job, Nash! It's great that you took the initiative to create something original, and I like the "storytelling" elements you've chosen for your middleground images.

I'm not sure what the disc-like image that dominates the background is, and it's so much "hotter" in color than Supes, himself, that my eye tends to be drawn to the background rather than him. If I may make a suggestion — and I am about to whether you like it or not :) — I'd go for a more neutral element for the main background image, i.e., zoom in on the Daily Planet globe.

Keep at and keep posting your progress! :duff

Specifically, what keyboard commands were giving you trouble?

Thanks frankenfan! the background is the bottom piece of superman's S symbol. I really didnt know what to use so I just took a crop of that. Im not very good at improvising as I don't really know how to use effects all that well. Im better at following instructions hehe.

PS: going back to the animated lights thing... would you be able to give me some advice on how to make the kryptonian text in my sig pulsate? I'd like to keep superman, and possibly the clark and daily planet pics, but maybe find something new for the background too. but i think it would be cool to have the text glow :)

[DarkDaysinVegas]

Kurt.

I downloaded that Gimp program, but I don't have a clue how to use it. :confused:

[lcummins]

Kurt.

I downloaded that Gimp program, but I don't have a clue how to use it. :confused:

Here is the documentation page with links...

http://www.gimp.org/docs/

[nash]

Specifically, what keyboard commands were giving you trouble?

Taking another try at a sig. I found that in Step 10 where it says to press Command J for a New Layer above Data 2, in PC you press Shift CTRL N for a new layer.

[FrankenFan]

WOW!! This is a great tutorial!!! i just found this thread so have not had time to go through it. But I have Photoshop Elements 5.0. Will this tutorial work for it???
I've never used the app, but from what cursory knowledge I do have of Elements, I think you would encounter some stumbling blocks if you attempt to follow the tutorial step-by-step.

Elements automates basic photo enhancing and retouching techniques and is aimed more at amateur photo enthusiasts and hobbyists, and my tutorial relies on specific tools, filters, commands, etc., such as Layer Blending Modes, the Minimum Filter, Clipping Paths, and Transparent GIFs, that may only be available in the more profession-level Photoshop.

That's not to say you can't create a sig in Elements, just that you're likely to come across things in the tutorial that have no corresponding tool or feature in Elements.

There is a site for Elements users that offers a learning center, forum, and online training. It focuses mainly on Elements 6, but perhaps you will find some of the info useful to you and applicable to your version of Elements. Here's the link: PhotoshopElementsUser.com (http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/).

Good luck, King!

[FrankenFan]

Thanks frankenfan! the background is the bottom piece of superman's S symbol. I really didnt know what to use so I just took a crop of that. Im not very good at improvising as I don't really know how to use effects all that well. Im better at following instructions hehe.

PS: going back to the animated lights thing... would you be able to give me some advice on how to make the kryptonian text in my sig pulsate? I'd like to keep superman, and possibly the clark and daily planet pics, but maybe find something new for the background too. but i think it would be cool to have the text glow :)
I figured that was what it had to be, but the upper curvature of the "S" and that white hot spot was throwing me off.

Look for a simple tutorial on how to create a basic pulsating glow, soon. It will based on your suggestion for a spin-off of the Iron Man sig tut: We're going to create a complementary Iron Man avatar with glowing/pulsating lenses. My goal with the tutorials is introduce tools and techniques that can be adapted and applied to a variety of images, so hopefully you'll be able to use it for your Kryptonian glyphs.

[FrankenFan]

Kurt.

I downloaded that Gimp program, but I don't have a clue how to use it. :confused:
Lonnie already supplied you with the direct link, and if you look at the directory on the upper right corner of the GIMP home page (http://www.gimp.org/), you'll also find links to the feature set, user group, etc.

[FrankenFan]

Taking another try at a sig. I found that in Step 10 where it says to press Command J for a New Layer above Data 2, in PC you press Shift CTRL N for a new layer.
Thanks again, Nash! I'll make a note of that, and add it to the tut!

[nash]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v192/nash13/Signature%20Pics/supes_sig.gif
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v192/nash13/Signature%20Pics/supes_sig2b.gif

Second try. figured out some things i did incorrectly the first time, mainly how to use the gradient tool. Also used a crop of the fortress for the background instead.

[FrankenFan]

Second try. figured out some things i did incorrectly the first time, mainly how to use the gradient tool. Also used a crop of the fortress for the background instead.
The neutral background makes Supe's "pop" more now, but I think the warm color of the Planet Building seems out of place, especially with the image of Clark balancing it on he right.

You might also consider cropping Supes' trunks at the bottom edge of the background, to create the illusion that he is flying out of the scene.

You're on the right track — keep going!

[DarkDaysinVegas]

I think it would look best if the the (2) sigs became one!

Plus on the B&W background sig there is a line running above Superman's eyebrow.

All in all..... the full color sig pops more to me.

But its ultimately up to Nash to choose.

[FrankenFan]

The Avatar Tutorial (http://sideshowcollectors.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31985) I promised is now up.

Learn to make these animated avatars:

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/2756/imavatarbg6.gif http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/9803/imavataraltpl7.gif

[lcummins]

Quick question... when using the shortcuts, I was at a loss at first because the wrong tools kept coming up. Then I reviewed the shortcut options and realized that a lot of tools use the same shortcut and finally figured out how to get the tool I needed. Is there any way to make one tool a default over another when they both use the same shortcut? Just a nit, but it was frustrating for a little while...

[FrankenFan]

Quick question... Is there any way to make one tool a default over another when they both use the same shortcut?
Excellent question!

To return tools to their default settings, Control-click (Mac) or Right-click (PC) on the tool's icon in the Options bar, then choose Reset Tool or Reset All Tools from the contextual menu (see attachment).

You can also cycle through tools that have one or more "hidden tools" by holding down the Shift key, and then pressing the corresponding letter key on your keyboard. For example, if you want to switch from the Rectangular Marquee to the Oval Marquee to the Single Row Marquee to the Single Column Marquee, hold down Shift and press M repeatedly until the tool you wish to use is selected.

For your Photoshopping convenience, I've attached a handy reference to all of Photoshop CS3's tool shortcuts.

You can also create Tool Presets to create a tool that performs a specific function with preset custom attributes of your choosing:

1. Choose a Tool you want to customize, and set its options in the Options bar.

2. Click the Tool Preset button next to the tool at the left of the options bar — or — Choose Window>Tool Presets to display the Tool Presets palette.

3. Click the Create New Tool Preset button — or — Choose New Tool Preset from the palette menu.

4. Enter a name for the tool preset, and click OK.

Hope this helps!

[KitFisto]

Pretty cool. I wish I had photoshop software on my computer, but seems like the cheapest one I have seen for sale is $100.

[FrankenFan]

Pretty cool. I wish I had photoshop software on my computer, but seems like the cheapest one I have seen for sale is $100.
Thanks, Kit!

If that $100 is for version 7, CS, or CS2, jump on it! You can upgrade to the current version, Photoshop CS3, for $199. That's a savings of $351 off the street price of $649.

[lcummins]

Thanks Kurt, that helps a lot! A sig and avatar soon... :rock

[FrankenFan]

Thanks Kurt, that helps a lot! A sig and avatar soon... :rock
:banana Can't wait! :banana

[lcummins]

OK, here is something I was playing around with, but it is not going to be my sig... I'm still trying to find some images and come up with some ideas for the real thing! In the meantime, what do you think about this, and please, don't be afraid to be brutally honest!!! I can take it! :D

I need something else for the background, I already know that much...


http://www.non-sport-cards.com/UniMonSig.gif

[FrankenFan]

OK, here is something I was playing around with, but it is not going to be my sig... I'm still trying to find some images and come up with some ideas for the real thing! In the meantime, what do you think about this, and please, don't be afraid to be brutally honest!!! I can take it! :D
Brutal? Never! Helpful? I hope so! :)

I like the busts, and I think you did a good job sizing them relative to each other, given the difference in the height and width of the pedestal bases, and Drac's overall ginormity :lol. You may want to think about lightening the shadow of the emboss on the Monster and Drac, as it appears a bit severe, at least to me. In addition, I would lose the drop shadow on the banner, and add the effect to the busts. I would also increase the height of the banner, to have a bit more of the busts against the background. (BTW, the current width of your banner is in violation of Darklord Dave's size restriction! Bad Mod!)

If you want to use text as a background element over which other elements are placed, select a bold sans-serif font (top), with tight kerning (space between letters), rather than an open, serif face (bottom):

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c383/FrankenFan/Photoshop/fnts.jpg

You could also resize the logo to fit between the busts, and add one of those snazzy Web 2.0 reflections:

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c383/FrankenFan/Photoshop/ssc_logo_rflct.jpg

I need something else for the background, I already know that much...
For the background, I'd choose something neutral, to make the busts pop. Here, I chose a taupe color and added an abstract shape with the brush tool. I also added your name to the background, rather than having it "float."

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c383/FrankenFan/Photoshop/UniMonSig_rvsd-1.gif

Hope this was helpful and keep us apprised of your progress on the real deal!

[lcummins]

Brutal? Never! Helpful? I hope so! :)

I like the busts, and I think you did a good job sizing them relative to each other, given the difference in the height and width of the pedestal bases, and Drac's overall ginormity :lol. You may want to think about lightening the shadow of the emboss on the Monster and Drac, as it appears a bit severe, at least to me. In addition, I would lose the drop shadow on the banner, and add the effect to the busts. I would also increase the height of the banner, to have a bit more of the busts against the background. (BTW, the current width of your banner is in violation of Darklord Dave's size restriction! Bad Mod!)...

I used the same settings on all four busts, so I will have to look at the Frank and Drac; I thought it was a little too severe as well. The reason it became to wide was that I started at a width of 500 pixels and when I added the drop shadow, I had to increases it for the shadow to show up! :lol


If you want to use text as a background element over which other elements are placed, select a bold sans-serif font (top), with tight kerning (space between letters), rather than an open, serif face (bottom):...

For the background, I'd choose something neutral, to make the busts pop. Here, I chose a taupe color and added an abstract shape with the brush tool. I also added your name to the background, rather than having it "float."...

I haven't really decided on the background yet. On this piece, I started with the logo, but wasn't happy with the way the busts covered it. I tried transparency, but that just didn't look very good and I also tried to resize it between the busts, but that didn't look very good either.

I do like what you did with my User Title!! I may borrow that idea... I can already see it with a font that would make it look very "monster-ish"! :D

Thanks for all the suggestions! I don't get a lot of time at work to play around with Photoshop, so that is why I am a little slow at this, but now that I am actually beginning to understand some of the tools and effects, I may have to get a copy for myself! A new signature and avatar are still being worked on, so soon...

[FrankenFan]

I used the same settings on all four busts, so I will have to look at the Frank and Drac; I thought it was a little too severe as well. The reason it became to wide was that I started at a width of 500 pixels and when I added the drop shadow, I had to increases it for the shadow to show up! :lol
Results will always vary dependent on the base image to which the filter, effect, or mode is being applied. The Emboss worked well with the colors and the harder edges of the armored Iron Man figure, but may not be the best choice for the softer contours of the heads on the busts.

As you become more familiar with the results the various FX produce, you'll eliminate some of the guess-work in setting up your canvas size. For instance, I know that the default Drop Shadow settings will produce a gradient that adds 7-pixels to the right side of an image, and 8-pixels to the bottom (see attachment). After applying an effect, zoom-in to examine how it altered the original image.

Thanks for all the suggestions! I don't get a lot of time at work to play around with Photoshop, so that is why I am a little slow at this, but now that I am actually beginning to understand some of the tools and effects, I may have to get a copy for myself! A new signature and avatar are still being worked on, so soon...
You're off to a good start, Lonnie! Photoshop is an incredibly complex program to master; The more I learn, the more I realize how little I truly know! :lol

[ChrisCJ99]

Holy crap man! This is supposed to be for BEGINNERS??? :monkey2

Man, I'm supposed to be going to school in January for graphic design.... They recommended that I familiarize myself with Photoshop and Illustator before stepping into class. I've never used these programs, and man I'm REALLY intimidated right now :o

But here's my attempt at the sig tutorial. Today was the FIRST time I've EVER opened up Photoshop. I skipped a few steps in the tutorial, as I couldn't really understand it. But I though it came out ok. What do you guys think?!?! :naughty

[FrankenFan]

Holy crap man! This is supposed to be for BEGINNERS??? :monkey2

Man, I'm supposed to be going to school in January for graphic design.... They recommended that I familiarize myself with Photoshop and Illustator before stepping into class. I've never used these programs, and man I'm REALLY intimidated right now :o

But here's my attempt at the sig tutorial. Today was the FIRST time I've EVER opened up Photoshop. I skipped a few steps in the tutorial, as I couldn't really understand it. But I though it came out ok. What do you guys think?!?! :naughty
:lol Chris!

Photoshop is an incredibly feature-rich professional-level app with a virtually bottomless toolbox that can be quite daunting to both the novice and experienced user. But don't let that discourage you from getting in there and getting your hands dirty!

I'm sorry that you had trouble following some of my instructions. If you would name the specific steps you did not understand, I'll do my best to clarify them for you.

I must say, if this is your first time time using Photoshop, I think you have a very bright future ahead of you in the graphic design world!

:duff