[WIP] The Ultimate Signature Making Guide!

[Azura 1,107]

PROGRESS: 36%

 

Introduction

As one of the best, I've decided to make a simple yet very informative guide, the very basics to get you started, on how to create any sort of signature you want, whether if it's a abstract signature or a simple smudge signature, this guide will allow you to create your very own unique signature.

Index

This is where you can easily locate whatever you want to know, but if you're a complete newbie, I'd suggest you to read from the very start. I'll be color-coding them so you can hopefully easily locate it.

Basics

First off, you'll need a program called Photoshop or something similar. Since I'll be using Photoshop as I teach everypony on how to create a signature, I apologize if you don't have it and that things are hard to understand.

Once you've installed it, hit File>New and choose Preset>Custom and in Width, type in 500-600, and Height, type in 100 if you're a Member and 101-200 if you're a Donor. After doing that very simple step, you can now move on to the next part, creating the signature itself.

Background

You'll need a background for any signature, and there are countless ways to create them. Here's a list of all sorts of ways you can create a background for your signature. I'll be creating examples for each technique.

Pick a vector that you would like to use, I'll be using Fluttershy since she's the best pony.

Smudge

Re-size the vector and place it

Duplicate the stock and smudge it

Finish

Paint

Re-size the vector and place it

Pick a brush, apply scatter and paint background

Tip: Feel free to mess around with your brush settings!

Positioning

The positioning of the vector is very important, so if you plan on making a good signature, you'll need to be able to place your vector in the right spot. As easy as it sounds, a lot of people that make signatures can't seem to place the vectors in the right spot.

 

Do NOT stick vector at the sides of the signature.

Put it near the middle, occupying around 1/4 of the signature.

 

It depends on what signature you're making, but in my opinion, I think the main focus of a signature is to make the vector stand out as much as possible. Unless you're trying to make a signature with a meaningful quote, you should make the vector big enough so that it'll take up at least 1/4 signature or even more.

Tip: You could toggle the grids on in Photoshop by going to View>Show>Grids.

Vectors

Picking the right vectors are very important, but it's kind of hard to explain what's a good vector and what's not. Front view vectors aren't the ones you need when you want to create a signature, so just ignore those when you're searching for them.

If you plan on making a high quality signature, you should check if the vector's resolution is over 800x800. That's the minimum to create a good signature since you'll be re-sizing it and possibly making it bigger, so if you don't have a high resolution vector, your pony will be blurry.

Effects

Now that you've got a vector and a background, you should have something like this.

 

 

In this part of the tutorial, I'll be giving you an idea on how to turn that into something like this.

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED..

Edited June 8, 2013 by Azura

[Red Diamond 549]

I could probably use this, since I don't how to make great 1337 paint strokes on the background.

 

You could use some pictures to show if we were doing it right.

[Azura 1,107]

I could probably use this, since I don't how to make great 1337 paint strokes on the background.

 

You could use some pictures to show if we were doing it right.

This guide isn't anywhere near done, so please be patient and wait until this guide is completely finished.

[repsol rave 2,963]

already liking this! i've been dieing to create my own signature!

i hope this thread will be updated soon and  a big thank you for doing this! 

[Azura 1,107]

already liking this! i've been dieing to create my own signature!

i hope this thread will be updated soon and  a big thank you for doing this! 

Thanks for the support! I'm hoping that I can finish this thread this month and maybe get it pinned by one of the admins.

 

To show your appreciation, it would be awesome if you could just hit that brohoof button!

Edited June 5, 2013 by Azura

[Iridian 71]

Ooh, cool! I have actually made a video tutorial on how to make a signature in GIMP. I just have to edit it now.

[Meirno 550]

Brilliant timing on this. I just started attempted making my own signature. I will for sure be stopping by on occasion to check it out. =D Thank you very much (\

[Azura 1,107]

List of things I'll be putting in this guide:

 

1. Positioning

-Grids

-Re-sizing

-Vectors

 

2. Flow

-Definition

-Tutorial

 

3. Special Effects

-Resources

-Tutorial

 

4. Finishing Touches

-Gradients

-Brightness and Contrast

-Depth of Field

-Dodge and Burn

-Tutorial(s)

 

5. Others

-Liquify

 

I'll be adding a lot more than just that, so keep an eye out!

[repsol rave 2,963]

Yay,updates! Thank you again for doing this,i'm making a pretty bad-ass sig because of you XD

Will you be covering animated signatures too?

That would be awesome!

[Azura 1,107]

Yay,updates! Thank you again for doing this,i'm making a pretty bad-ass sig because of you XD

Will you be covering animated signatures too?

That would be awesome!

I'm terribly sorry but I have no idea whatsoever how to do animated gifs and signatures, but maybe I'll learn it over the week and add it in as well.

[DaReaper 1,945]

Ahh nice you went through and did it, i'm gonna have to get hold of photoshop one of these days. I'm working on a new sig myself gonna be better....i hope lol

[Azura 1,107]

Ahh nice you went through and did it, i'm gonna have to get hold of photoshop one of these days. I'm working on a new sig myself gonna be better....i hope lol

This guide will definitely help you out a lot on making signatures, I'll be sharing everything I know with everypony as detailed as I can!

[Flow 1,629]

I find this guide to be very helpful, I'd love to see more updates and tips for making a signature as I could learn from it. Thanks.

[Azura 1,107]

I find this guide to be very helpful, I'd love to see more updates and tips for making a signature as I could learn from it. Thanks.

I'm glad it's useful! I'll be updating this thread every single day until it's completely finished, possible within these two weeks.