Baaaaw...Pika wants tips on making nice signature backgrounds again.

• Byte wrote on 2010-08-15 23:06
  Okay, I'm going to make you start over.
  
  Follow these steps.
  
  1) Make a new document & place render where you want it.
  2) Copy the render 4 times and move to places you feel they should go.
  3) Merge the 4 copies AFTER you move them (ctrl+e)
  4) Move the render above the 4 you're about to smudge if you havn't already.
  5) Smudge. Mess with the brush settings, [Window -> Brush(F5 for CS5)] Use a brush like "chalk" in the default brushes.
  6) Add C4Ds under the Render, NEVER PLACE THEM ABOVE THE RENDER LAYER. Erase parts you don't like.
  7) Add a few Gradient Maps, but make sure not to over brighten it. I like the Violet, Orange on soft life with a lower opacity.
  8) See if you need to force lighting, this can be done with a white soft brush about 150-400px, if there is natural lighting in your signature, dont follow this step.
  9) Is it to bright? To dark? There's a brightness/contrast adjustment layer for that! :)
  10) Make a blank new layer, no color[no white/black either].
  11) Go to Image > Apply Image and it should take what you have and put it on your blank layer.
  12) Go to Filter > Sharpen > Smart Sharpen (I'm not sure if CS3 has it) my usually settings are 50% at 1px.
  13) Name and a Boarder.
  
  Now I know it seems like a lot, but it really isn't. Please post results of a new one :D
• Piko wrote on 2010-08-16 00:18
  What's a C4D? Also isn't it less original of me if I'm just following step by step directions and not attempting to do the signature myself? o3o;
• Skye wrote on 2010-08-16 00:47

  Quote from Pikablu;126339:

  Also isn't it less original of me if I'm just following step by step directions and not attempting to do the signature myself? o3o;

  
  
  I agree. It isn't Pika's sig if Byte tells him exactly what to do. Then it's Byte's sig.
  PIKA DO WHATEVER YOU WANT!!!
  /runs
  I actually like your most recent one. :/
• Byte wrote on 2010-08-16 00:51

  Quote from Pikablu;126339:

  What's a C4D? Also isn't it less original of me if I'm just following step by step directions and not attempting to do the signature myself? o3o;

  
  
  Well, the first few are a good way to do BGs.
  
  

  Quote from Skye;126385:

  I agree. It isn't Pika's sig if Byte tells him exactly what to do. Then it's Byte's sig.
  PIKA DO WHATEVER YOU WANT!!!
  /runs
  I actually like your most recent one. :/

  
  
  Liez!~
• Piko wrote on 2010-08-16 01:38
  After a few hours of rendering this and messing around with my newly obtained knowledge in Photoshop, I made this signature o3o;
  
  

  [Image: http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/Pikabluu/HitakiSignatureTesting1.png]

  
  
  Are I improving yet? D:
• Byte wrote on 2010-08-16 03:12
  Take out the fractal/c4d [the lines in the back/on her stomach] and I luv it :D
• Piko wrote on 2010-08-16 03:43
  Used a brush for those o3o; Anyway, I accidentally saved that one with the brushing done on the actual render and not the Layers, so I had to start from a previous version to not have the lines and redo a few things. I also added a little more to it, but I dunno if I'm going too far with that :/
  
  

  [Image: http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/Pikabluu/HitakiSignatureTesting2.png]