Sig Making For Dummies

[SilverTears]

Table of Contests

Introduction
Sizes
Effects and such
Brushing
Fonts
Installing/Using
Coloring
Borders
Basic Commands

Introduction

Hello, this guide doesent actually show you how to make a signature. Just a quick thing of what people who are new to signature making should look at. Well.... Lets get started.

Sizes

Well, sizes you stay normal. Not to big, and not to small. Look at some of the members signatures here. If it seems like a decent size then you should use it. Here are some examples. 300x100 320x120 350x120 350x125 and 400x100

Effects and such

People who are new to signature making dont want to start all this yet. You have much time to learn to dont just think you can download photoshop and start making all theese cool graphics. I'd hate to bust your chops but thats not the way it goes :p

Brushing

So, here we go.. if someone is new to signature making they are obviously are going to wonder how people get those awesome graphics in the background. Well... of course theese are called "Brushes". The best place for brushes I would say is www.deviantart.com. If your new and dont know how to get to the brushes there you click on Browse>Resources>Photoshop brushes. And there you go.

Fonts

To complete a signature you need to have a good font. Although some people dont do this because some of their fonts ruin the signature. Always remember to try to find a nice looking font that goes with the signature. For a n-e-w-b-i-e atemp at a font I would do a nice arial font with some colors and such. A suggested site for fonts would be www.dafont.com. Its very good and lots n' lots of people use it.

Installing/Using

Installing the brushes
The easiest way to install brushes would be find a nice site to get the brushes from.... ( look above for the site ) Now download the brush and save it in your Photoshop file. Now inside of photoshop open the brush selector thingy and the Top Right there should be a little arrow. Click that and then click load brushes. Now select the brush file which will be a .abr file and then open. And now they are in your brush selector and ready to use.

Installing the fonts
Fonts are easy to install. So like said above find a good site for the fonts ( mentioned above ) and downlaod the font. Now save it in your "Fonts" file located at (C > Windows > Fonts. Now in photosho they should be ready to use in the fonts selection.

Coloring

When your new to signature making you shouldnt worry about all those nice colors for your first signature. For your first try making it all one color which would be the color balance. We will talk about theese commands later.

Borders

Every signature needs a border. Do this by simply getting the rectangular marquee tool and select your signature and do CTRL-A and right click and stroke it. If you cant stroke make sure you rasterize the layer then do it. Or just make a new layer.

Basic Commands

Theese are some commands you should know about in photoshop when you are new

Color Balance
Filters
Fonts
Brushes

Those are the commands you really need to know about in FIRST signatures or if you are a n-e-w-b-i-e at doing them.

This guide was made by

Divine AKA Evan and may not be used anywhere else without my permission.

If I made any mistakes or left anything how please tell me.

Comments please.

[fleaflickerx]

rep ^^ for helping dumb shits like me

[SilverTears]

woohoo! <3 thanks for the rep dude

[FraterPerdurabo]

Oh man, I am a real dummy at this, but your guide helped a lot. By the way, maybe add in a few example, i.e. under "Size", include the default size of allowed signatures on most forums, etc.

[SilverTears]

kk added, glad you guys like it

[10 man]

good job on the tut man.

[Arc]

if i was artistically inclined id love you, but i dont understand any of that, but nice tut man if i had the ability id + rep you