Basic Sig Making Tutorial (Photoshop)

This tutorial will help you try and make a decent sig, using my preferred method. (Just so you know, I'm in school, so I'll have to edit and add a result later) First, you'll need some good brushes. The site I went to (I think) is www.greycobra.com for my brushes. You'll also need some good text, so go to www.dafont.com and look for some kind of text you like. Now, once you've done this, start up Photoshop and load your brushes. You can do this by clicking your brush tool, clicking the menu to select your brushes, and up at the top right corner of the menu, you'll see an arrow. Click on it, and hit "Replace Brushes" and load your brush files. (You will need multiple brush sets for this one.) You should hit "Replace Brushes" because you won't be needing the default brushes PS gives you. Now, we can start.


1) Open a new file, transparent background, at 400wx130h pixels.

2) If you're using dark colors for this, go Edit>Fill>Black. If you're using light colors, Edit>Fill>White.

3) Once you've done this, hit CTRL+J three times. You should now have 4 layers.

4) Click the visibility off, except on your original, background layer. Start with a darker color, and use maybe two different brushes to put on random blots on your layer.

5) Switch to a different shade of your color, it should be brighter this time. Click the next layer on your canvas, second from last (The first copy). Repeat Step 4 with your new color, and 2 new brushes.

6) Repeat step 5 for your two other layers, switching to different shades of your color each time, and two different brushes.

7) Starting with the top layer, switch your blending mode to something that looks cool. This is up to you.

8) Repeat step 7 with your other two layers. Switching the blending mode on the bottom layer won't do anything.

9) Hit CTRL+SHIFT+E to merge all your layers. All layers must be visible for this to work correctly.

10) Select>All

11) Select>Modify>Border Set to 2 px

12) Edit>Stroke>1 px Make sure it matches your color scheme, or is black for dark colors, or white for light colors.

13) Add your text.

**Optional**

13) Cut out a stock, by using the magic eraser and magnetic lasso.

14) Paste it into your sig, and if you're not happy with it in the middle, use the tool next to the rectangular marquee to move it. Make sure you have that layer selected with the stock on it.

15) Use a 2 px feather on your polygonal lasso around the edges of your stock. Hit vector mask.

16) You're done!

[fantasygurl1227]

yeah but how do u get your pics into the sig???

[Cloud_Unchained]

It's the optional steps.

Stock=Picture.

[Mr.SpaceShipDriver]

what are scrath disks? cause mine says i cant fill it with layers cause the scrath disks

[~X~]

hmmm its kind of hard to understand

[ProtoMan3212]

I think i need personal help

[Burningheart]

DAM making sigs is complicated

[Crasendolls]

It's a great tutorial but I think you made a mistake shouldn't it be 400wx130h you have it 400hx130w.

[logpile]

Why would you possibly want ot merge all layers just for a border?
Make a new layer (should be top most) hit d, ctrl a, edit, stroke 1 px center.

[Soulless leader]

Nice tut... really helped me out, tho im not using it for sigs ;)

[RikusGoddess]

you have to have photoshop don't you?

[C4strife]

It's a great tutorial but I think you made a mistake shouldn't it be 400wx130h you have it 400hx130w.

Ha cool! Congrats on being like one of the first to notice that.

Why would you possibly want ot merge all layers just for a border?
Make a new layer (should be top most) hit d, ctrl a, edit, stroke 1 px center.

True... just make a new layer and put it at the top. Center I guess is okay... I usually do inside though XD.

you have to have photoshop don't you?

Yup... most tuts out there require Photoshop. preferably 7 and Up.
A lot of tuts can work with Elements 2.0 though. (and the program is way cheaper XD)

[Lord Sesshomaru]

Where can i get or download photoshop or anything else to make sigs and sprites
( I mostly want to know how to get that mspaint thing to for sprites )
and if anyone has a sig they maid on normal paint thats something id want to see also