First of all, the Chronus Crusade signature (2 versions) created by Castro:

Download this signature.

The Full Metal Alchemist (?) signature, created by Roroni:

Download this signature.

This Sprite signature, created by nfx:

Download this signature.

What’s next?

I have several signatures that I am considering to write about. I plan to have it finished by next week. I would also like to write about another large piece artwork. I have my eye on a good looking retro piece that I will post an update about this week or the next. Would you like even more signature PSD files? The premium section holds extra PSDs, tutorials, and more! sign up now!

Start by creating a new file, the size was set to 385 pixels by 110 pixels:

Place the render you want to use (we used the Final Fantasy render that can be downloaded here) on your canvas. Don’t resize it yet, we will use this to create a background.

Select Filter > Liquify, and use the swirl tool to transform the render. Using the liquify tool we can create a nice signature background:

We’ve covered the left part of the signature:

Duplicate the layer , and move it around to fill the entire signature with the liquified final fantasy character:

We will be using this cinema4d render. You can easily make the cinema4d renders color match the color of the final fantasy or whatever render you selected by using a Hue/Saturation adjustment. Press CTRL + U, and change the Hue around (make sure you didn’t check Colorize, the outcome will not look as good).

This is the render shown on the signature:

Change the blending mode to Lighten:

Add your render on the signature, on top of the cinema4drender:

Duplicate the cinema4d render, and move it to the side and over your final fantasy character,

Change the blending mode of this layer to Lighten as well:

Using the render, we will create more detail with the Liquify filter. Add the render on top again:

Select Filter > Liquify, and use the eraser tool to remove some parts of the character:

We’ve only kept the right side, going over her shoulder:

Add the cinema4d render on top again. We’re going to create some detail to the left of the character:

Erase everything that covers the final fantasy character, by CTRL + Clicking on the layer image:

Delete and erase the render:

Repeat this step a few times, add detail around your character by placing the cinema4d render on top and erasing it:

Change the blending mode of the cinema4d render to Lighten:

Create a few light sources by using the eyedropper tool, and tap with a soft brush underneath your character:

Change the blending mode to Screen:

Use the eyedropper tool again to select a color from your character. Then using splatter brushes, tap once or twice or twice on your signature.

Select a contrasting color, and brush on the signature again:

We’re going to blur some parts of the signature by using the Blur Tool. To do this, first we have to apply the image on a new layer by selecting Imaeg > Apply Image:

Select the Blur tool:

Use the blur tool to create depth on the signature, you can do this by keeping the focal point untouched, and gradually blurring to the sides of the signature:

We’re going to add some more depth by changing the lighting. First, Apply the image on a new layer again:

Then press CTRL + U to bring up the Hue/Saturation window. Now, drag the Lightness bar down:

This will darken your image, our result shown below:

Grab the eraser tool, and erase around your focal point. Make sure you select a soft brush, and play around with the opacity to achieve the best looking result:

Outcome after fixing the depth:

We’re going to add a light source underneath the final fantasy render again. Use the eyedropper tool to select a color from your signature, and tap with a soft brush once or twice underneath your character:

Change the blending mode of the brushing to either Screen or Lighten:

Time for your finishing touches, optionally you can sharpen with the shrapen tool, add some more splattering, or your text. This brings us to our final result:

We hope you’ve enjoyed this signature tutorial. Premium members can download the PSD file in the premium section. Optionally, you can join for as low as 6 dollars! Feel free to ask questions or comment about the result!

Create a new file (File > New), our size was set to 420 pixels by 130 pixels.

We’re going to use a stock photo of what seems to be a building on fire. Place a stock photo somewhere on your canvas, and resize it if needed.

Paste your render somewhere on the canvas. We’re using this Full Metal Alchemist character.

We will be creating a sort of flame effect by brushing, which we will edit on to achieve a good looking result. First, you have to set your Brush opacity a little lower and turn on Airbrushing at the toolbar.

Select a light color (yellow in our case), and brush a little over your signature.

Now select Filter > Distort > Displace…:

This screen will come up. Experiment with the settings to create different outcomes. When you press OK, it will ask you for a file to displace with. Select any image you like:

If it still looks too much like the brushing, repeat it again. When you’re done displacing, Sharpen it by selecting Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen…

Outcome:

We’re going to apply an outer glow to add a flame effect to it. Select Layer > Layer Style > Outer Glow, and pick these settings:

This brings us to our outcome:

Repeat this again, add brushing:

Set the same outer glow effect:

We’re going to add some blue flames to it now. Select a light blue color, and brush softly on the signature:

Apply the same effects, Filter > Distort > Displace… (once or twice), then Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen…

Now apply this outer glow settings to it (Layer > Layer Styles > Outer Glow):

The outcome:

Now change the blending mode of the blue flames to Screen to blend it in a little:

We’re going to add a Color Balance adjustment layer. To do this, select Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Color Balance. Obviously, use your own settings, ours probably won’t work on your signature. Here’s an example animation of the adjustment layer settings:

Outcome of the Color Balance layer:

We’re going to add a Black and White adjustment layer. To do so, select Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Black and White (or select the ying/yang ish icon on your layer panel):

Our settings:

We’ve set the blending mode to Lighter Color:

We’re going to use the Reduce Noise function. You can also use Topaz for this. First, select Image > Apply Image:

Now select Noise > Reduce Noise, and play around until you’re satisfied:

The Reduce Noise function:

To create the good looking blue effect, select Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation, and move the Hue a lot (experiment with the colors):

With the Hue changed:

We’re going to remove some of the blue effect. To do this, select the Layer Mask in the adjustment layer like shown below:

Select areas on the signature with the Elliptical marquee tool, and press delete. Optionally, you can use a splatter brush to do this:

Outcome:

Add a Gradient Map (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map). The settings are set Black to White:

Change the blending mode to Darker Color:

Another Color Balance layer with these settings (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Color Balance):

And an exposure adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Exposure…). Set the opacity to 50%:

Outcome after the adjustment layers:

Now add some dots with a soft brush on your canvas to create some extra lighting effect.

Change the blending mode to Screen afterwards:

We’re going to sharpen the image. First we have to Create a new layer, then select Image > Apply Image.

Optionally you can use the Topaz filter if you have it.

We’re going to blur some sections we don’t like with a lens blur. Apply the image on a new layer:

Then select Filter > Blur > Lens Blur:

Outcome (experiment with the settings):

Erase most of it except for the parts that you want to blur (in our case, the cape and the corners):

To finish up the final coloring, add another Color Balance layer:

We’re nearly done, finish up the coloring with some more adjustment layers, experiment.

We finished with a Curves adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves):

This brings us to our final result:

We hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial. You can download the PSD file in the premium member section. Good Luck!

Start by creating a new file in Photoshop (File > New), our size was set to 420 pixels by 130 pixels. The first few steps will be used to create some detail in the signature, we will then continue changing colors and lighting.

Apply some sort of texture on the canvas to get some detail. Here, a cracked texture was used.

We’re going to use some splatter brushes, with a bright red color. It’s best to create new layers (CTRL + SHIFT + N) every time you brush, so you keep maximum control of the looks.

Some more splatters on a new layer with the same red bright color.

Change the blending mode of the last splattering to Multiply:

We’re going to add a cinema4d render on the signature. You can find some renders in our resources section. The render that was used can be found here.

Change the blending mode of the render to Screen:

Add your render to the signature. The good thing about this render is that we can work with his hand to create some special effect. Try finding a render that has some activity in it that you can use.

Add another render on top of character, and rotate it (CTRL + T) to follow the flow of the character (in this case, his arm):

We’ve added the same render that we’ve added a few steps back on top of the signature again, and used the eraser tool to remove some areas covering our Code Geass character.

We’re going to create a glowing sphere in her hand. Select the brush tool, and pick a decent size soft brush:

With a yellow color, tap once on top of his hand:

Apply a bright outer glow to it, with the following settings:

This is what the sphere looks like on a black background:

We will be erasing some of it to make it seem as if its inside of his hand. To make the erasing a little easier, CTRL + Click on the layer of the character. This will turn it into a selection.

Zoom in and carefully erase with a small brush, parts of the yellow sphere:

Using the smudge tool, we will be creating some sort of light flow that comes out of his hand. First, tap again with a soft brush, then use the smudge tool to create some light flow coming out between his fingers:

This is the light brushing shown on a black background:

Result shown on the signature:

Apply the same outer glow that we used earlier:

Outcome of the glowing sphere in his hand:

We’re going to make his eye color match the red background a little more. Pick a small brush, and tap on top of his eyes with a bright red color:

Set the blending mode to Color, and reduce the opacity to 80%:

Apply the image on a new layer (Image > Apply Image). Then, select Filter > Distort > Ocean Ripple:

Play around with the settings a little. This is our image with an Ocean Ripple applied:

Now erase most of it, keep some sections of the render surrounding our character, and the light sphere coming out of his hand:

Change this layers blending mode to Lighten:

We’re going to add a Color Balance adjustment layer. You should be using your own settings, as our settings probably won’t work for your signature. Here are our settings anyway to illustrate an example. To create a color balance layer, select Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Color Balance:

Outcome of the color balance adjustment layer:

We don’t want the Color Balance to cover the code geass character. Click on the adjustment layer, and start brushing with darkish grey over your character:

This is our outcome:

Time to add another color to the signature. We will be using a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer for this. To create a Hue/Saturation layer, select Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation…

In the adjustment layer, select Master from the dropdown menu, and move the Hue bar around.

Our outcome:

We’re going to use a splatter brush to hide some part of the Adjustment layer. Select the layer mask:

And tap with a black color on the layer. This will hide the adjustment layer:

We think the signature is a little too dark. Using another Hue/Saturation layer, we will lighten it up a little. Once again, select Master from the dropdown menu, then drag the Lightness Bar:

You should also move the saturation if this makes the signature too greyish.

Add some text to your signature. Select the eyedropper tool to pick colors from your signature:

To finnish it up, select the Dodge and Burn tool, and add some lighting.

Go crazy, use some brushing or adjustment layers if you think that finishes it. Sharpen if needed. Our final outcome:

We hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial. Premium Members can download the PSD file in the premium section. Good luck!

Start by creating a new signature, the size was set to 420pixels by 130 pixels.

We will use a spacestock as a background. Before you grab just about any picture, make sure the author has given permission for you to use it. You can find the Space Stock photo here. Resize it to fit somewhere nicely onto your canvas:

Place the Final Fantasy Render on your signature. Resize if needed:

We’re going to add some coloring. Grab a soft brush, and change the opacity and flow on the toolbar a little:

Brush toolbar:

Use the eyedropper tool to select a color on the canvas, and set it a little lighter. Brush into the direction that matches your render, in our case it follows the flow of his weapon:

Place the layer underneath the character. Optionally, you can set the blending mode to Color Dodge:

Now we’re grabbing another starry sky stock, and place this on top. You can find good Space Stock photos here.

Now change this layers’ blending mode to Lighten on your layer panel:

This should blend the stars into the background:

We’re going to be making some light beams with the elliptical marquee tool. Select the Elliptical Marquee Tool:

Make a selection somewhere near your character:

Now stroke this selection, by going Edit > Stroke, and set the color to white. Set the Width to about 3 pixels. Here are our settings:

Press OK, you should now have a white circle like selection going around:

Now apply an outer glow to this circle, by selection Layer > Layer Style > Outer Glow. Set the blend mode to Linear Dodge, and opacity to 100%, and select a bright color with the eyedropper tool:

Outcome:

We’re going to make some mor ebeams. Grab a soft brush:

And make two lines on your signature, following the flow of the character:

Apply the same Outer Glow to these lines:

Add some light brushing on top of the lines. We’re going to apply another outer glow to this to add some lighting:

Outer Glow settings ( Layer > Layer Style > Outer Glow):

This will give the beam a lighter touch. Optionally, you can set the blending mode to Color Dodge for a brighter result:

Finish up the beams, add some final glow and effects to the beams:

We’re going to use the Liquify function to create some “waves” around our character. First, Create a new layer, and apply the image (Image > Apply Image):

Now Select Filter > Liquify, and select the Forward Warp Tool in the top left corner:

Change the brush size in the top right corner to about 130 pixels, and start warping the layer to form some sort of beam:

Warp it into a shape that will fit around the character. Keep going untill you get an outcome you like:

Place the beam on your character, and erase the section covering the end of our Final Fantasy Kain character. This will make it seem as if the beam is going around our character.

Now Change this layers’ blending mode to Pin Light:

Time to fix some lighting. Apply the image on a new layer:

Now grab the burn or dodge tool, and start brushing and fixing some lighting:

Outcome:

Now we’re going to use the Liquify function once again, combined with the smudge tool to create some distortion in the bottom corner. Select the smudge tool:

Smudge, liquify warp forward tool until you like the outcome:

We’re going to apply a Selective Color. Obviously, you should select your own settings. However, here are our settings to illustrate a possible outcome. To create a selective color layer, select Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Selective Color:

Outcome:

We’re going to add some final finishing touches by applying a Color Balance adjustment Layer, and the dodge and burn tool to create some depth. First, add a color balance layer by selecting Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Color Balance:

I will not be displaying our settings, because our settings will not work unless you have the exact same colors. Just experiment with the settings.

Our outcome:

Optionally, you can use the smudge tool to distort the beam:

Add some text, finnishing touches, and you’re done!

We hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial. Premium Members will now be able to download the PSD in the Premium Section. Join Now!

Create a new signature by selecting File > New File. The size was set to 420 pixels by 160 pixels.

Find some cinema4d renders. You can download some renders in our temporary Resources section. Erase some of the render, and change the blending mode to Screen.

Paste another render on the canvas. You can find this render here. Resize it (CTRL + T or edit > transform > free transform), erase it, whatever you like:

Add another render on the signature, and blur this a lot. To do this, you can either use the blur tool, or select Filter > Blur > Blur More, and repeat this step a few times.

The render blurred:

Change this renders blending mode to Hard Light. To do this, select Hard Light from the dropdown menu while you have your layer selected:

This should color the renders:

Add a metal gear solid render, and paste it somewhere on your signature. Resize it (CTRL + T) if it doesn’t fit in.

Add another render on the signature, and blur it a lot. Erase the area covering the Metal Gear Solid render.

Change the blending mode to Hard Light again:

Another cinema4d render, erase the sides and the area covering the metal gear solid render:

Change the blending mode to either Color Dodge or Hard Light. Notice the colors are starting to become interesting:

Repeating the last few steps. Add another lightish material or render, and blur it. Erase the section covering the metal gear solid character.

Experiment with the blending modes, set this layer to either Overlay or Hard Light.

Time to start blending the metal gear solid character into the background.We’re going to do this with the use of Adjustment Layers. First of all, create a gradient map by selecting Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map. When you click on the gradient, the gradient window comes up. Select the premade Purple to Orange gradient:

Reduce the opacity and fill of this layer to about 35:

Add a Photo Filter. (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Photo Filter). We’ve selected Deep Yellow:

Signature after the Photo Filter:

We’re going to apply the image and blur it. To do so, select Image > Apply Image:

Then select Filter > Blur > Blur More.

Outcome:

Now erase the area covering the metal gear solid render:

Apply the image on a new layer again (Image > Apply Image), and sharpen the layer by selecting Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen:

We’re going to use the blur tool to partially blur the area next to our render:

We’ve blurred the area to the right and left of the metal gear solid render:

Here’s an animation to illustrate what we’ve blurred:

We’re going to fix some sections that are a little out of flow, like the area inside the circle shown here:

To do this, simply create a new layer, and brush with a dark color. Optionally, you can use the clone stamp tool:

Create another Gradient map (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map). The black to white gradient should be set already:

This will desaturate the signature:

Now apply the image on a new layer ( Image > Apply Image), and select the smudge tool.

When you use the smudge tool, make sure you do it into the right direction following the flow of the signature:

Create a new layer, and select a large soft brush.

Brush with a white color at the top, where the lighting makes sense:

Add some finnishing touches (For example, use the sharpen tool or the burn tool to add some more depths), and this brings us to our final result:

I hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial. Premium Members can download the PSD file here.

The outcome of the tutorial:

Create a new file, sized 400 pixels by 150 pixels. Fill this with a dark color:

Add a space stock somewhere on your canvas. Erase the sides, try creating a focal point:

Add a cinema4d render effect on the space stock that we’ve placed. You can’t see the render properly , however it is rotated upwards to create some flow.

Change the renders blending mode to Linear Dodge:

Repeat this a few times, add a render, rotate it, then change the blending mode to either Linear Dodge or Screen.

Repeated one more time, with the cinema4d render set to screen.

Find a render with a light “exploding” feel to it. Rotate it sidewards, make it follow the flow. This will compliment the render we’re adding later.

Change the blending mode to Linear Dodge:

Place your render in the middle of the canvas. There’s a tiny section of light coming from the left of his head. We will use this later as a lighting point:

We’re going to blend the render a little by brushing on the sides of the render. You can do this easily by using a clipping mask. Create a new layer over your render, and select Layer > Create Clipping Mask (CTRL + ALT +G). This is what your layer panel should look like:

Here’s an animation to illustrate the brushing that was done:

Using the original render, we’ve cut out a piece of chain.

Paste this on the canvas. It’s rotated to match the flow of the exploding render on the background.

Duplicate the layer, and resize it. Place it upwards:

Adding another cinema4d render on the signature on top of his right arm, and change the blending mode to either Screen or Linear dodge:

Repeat this on the left side of his arm:

The outcome after setting the render to screen:

We’re going to start blending the render by using a Photo Filter. We’ve set it to Cooling Filter (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Photo Filter…):

This is what it should look like now, it looks a bit too colored:

Change the blending mode to Soft Light with the opacity reduced to about 40%:

Duplicate the PhotoFilter, and change the blending mode to Saturation while reducing the opacity. Experiment to blend your character.

We want to enhance the explosion effect a little more, it’s blended in with the rest of the background by the Photo Filters.

To bring the explosion back up, select the layer mask, and brush with a black color over the explosion.

This will bring the explosion back up:

We’re going to add an explosion on the foreground:

Add the render on the foreground, and make sure you rotate it to match the flow of the signature.

Set the renders blending mode to Linear Dodge:

We’re going to add some detail on the character. Using a detailed render:

Change the blending mode to Lighten:

We’re going to use a lens flare to enhance the lighting. Create a new layer, and fill this with Black. Then, select Filter > Render > Lens Flare:

Erase most of it where the lighting is not needed. We will be changing the blending mode in the next step, so don’t worry about the black colors still covering the canvas.

Now set this layers blending mode to Color Dodge:

We’re going to fix the lighting a little more. On a new layer, brush with a white brush softly. This is the brushing shown on a black background:

The outcome after fixing the lighting:

We’ve added a render on his left arm for some more detail:

Change the blending mode to Lighten, Screen, or Linear Dodge:

To add some more blending, we’re going to add a Gradient Map. There’s several ways to do this, you can achieve the same effect with a curves Adjustment Layer.

Change the blending mode to Luminosity, and reduce the opacity to about 50%:

We’ve added the logo on top of the canvas. Don’t worry about cutting it out, we’re changing the blending mode afterwards to blend the black background:

After setting the blending mode to Screen:

Create a new layer, and apply the image. Using the marquee tool, select a section of the signature and paste it over the text. We will be converting it to a clipping mask in the next step:

Convert it to a clipping mask by pressing CTRL + ALT + G or selecting Layer > Convert to Clipping Mask.

Finish up your text using clipping masks or other techniques. Our outcome:

Using the Burn and Dodge Tool as seen here:

We will be adding shades and extra lighting. This could take a few tries.

Apply the image on a new layer, (Image > Apply Image) and either use the sharpen tool, or select Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen…

To enhance the lighting, we will use the eyedropper tool to pick a color from the canvas. With this, we will make a dot with a soft brush, covering any lighted area (check the blue near his shoulders):

Set the blending mode of this dot to Linear Dodge:

Repeat this step at the main lighting point to color the lighting, tap with a soft brush and a light color:

Change the blending mode to either Color or Linear Dodge. Reduce the opacity of felt necessary:

This brings us to our Final result, give it some finnishing touches like the burn and dodge tool, sharpen or blur tool, and so forth:

We hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorials. Premium Members will be able to download the signature in the Premium Section.

The outcome of the Photoshop signature tutorial:

Create a new file, our size was set to 400 pixels by 97 pixels. Fill the background with black:

Add a render in your canvas. You can download the render we’ve used here. Erase the sides and the areas that are too bright. We’re going to smudge this and use it as our bakground:

Select the smudge tool, and use your favourite smudge settings. Erase anything that appears too bright. Try to create a focal point by creating a flowing direction from the center outwards:

We’re going to add a sprite on the stock. You can pretty much use any sprite you like, however try finding one that we can create a “blast” effect with.

Here’s the sprite we’ve used:

Placed on the canvas:

Paste the render we provided in the beginning back on top of the sprite. Try covering it only partly, and make sure it follows the general direction of the color flow.

Duplicate the sprite layer, and place it on top of the render. Using the eraser tool, we’ve removed a part of his backleg. This makes it seem like the sprite is partly behind the render.

Create a new layer, and select Image > Apply Image. Now grab the smudge tool, and slightly smudge the sharp edges on the right side:

Paste the cinema4d render on your canvas again. Erase most of it, but keep a light piece of the render next to his hand. We’re going to use this to create the “blast effect”.

Grab the eraser tool, and erase some more. Then grab the smudge tool with a hard brush, and smudge it upwards a little. Erase, smudge, repeat until you get something you like. Our blast effect:

Set this layers blending mode to “Color Dodge”.

Duplicate the layer (Layer > Duplicate Layer) to enhance the explosion:

Now create a new layer, and select Image > Apply Image. Now with a hard brush, smudge the render into an explosion coming out of his right hand: Smudge the background as well, create some detail into it:

We’re going to add some Gradient Map adjustment layers. Select Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map… The first gradient map is a black to white gradient to blend the signatures colors:

Set the blending mode to Multiply, and reduce the opacity to about 40%-50%:

Add another gradient map adjustment layer, This time the Purple to Orange adjustment layer:

Set the blending mode to Overlay, and reduce the opacity to about 50%-55%:

Create a Photo Filter (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Photo Filter). We used Deep Yellow, and the density set to 62%:

Outcome (Blending mode kept on normal and the opacity at 100%):

A final Photo Filter to finnish the lighting:

Outcome with the blending mode kept on normal and the opacity still on a 100%:

Next we’re adding depth by blurring the area around our sprite. You can do this manually by using the blur tool after applying the image (Image > Apply Image), or select Filter > Blur > Blur More:

Now use the Eraser tool to erase the blurring on our sprite, keep the area in front (his legs) and around the explosion and background blurred:

Apply the image on a new layer (Image > Apply Image) and sharpen everything we haven’t blurred. You can do this either by using the Filter > Sharpen, or by using the sharpen tool:

Add a Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Brightness/Contrast….). Don’t use the exact same settings as these probably will not produce the same result:

The outcome of the Brightness/Contrast layer:

Apply the image on a new layer (Image > Apply Image). We’re going to use the burn and dodge tool to add some extra depth.

Using the dodge tool in the top of the signature to add lighting (You can also do this by brushing with a light color, then setting the layer to screen).

as a finnishing touch, add a Photo Filter adjustmetn layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Photo Filter):

We’ve kept the blending mode on normal, and the opacity on 100%. This brings us to our final result:

We hope you’ve enjoyed this sprite signature tutorial. Premium Members can Download the PSD file in the Premium Section. Sign up now!

Premium Members can Download the PSD file in the Premium Section. Sign up now!

Create a new file in Photoshop, our file was set to 400 pixels by 160 pixels.

Add a stock picture to your canvas, we used a skateboarder grinding off of a rail:

Resize this stock to fit nicely into the signature:

Now add in the first cinema4d render, (you can download the render here). We’re going to make it look as if the skateboarder is grinding on top of the render, so try placing it nicely onto the canvas”

Add in another cinema4d effect on the bottom. (You can download the render here) We’re going to use this to create some sort of “blast” underneath his skateboard:

We’re going to add an effect render on top, and erase the section around them.

After erasing the blue away, we have this pink effect left.

Place this render on the canvas, and rotate it a little.

Set the blending mode of the effect render to Lighten:

Apply the image on a new layer. We’re going to use the bottom render as a clipping mask. Select Image > Apply Image:

Now move this layer downwards on top of the second render:

Move the layer down in the layer panel as well, and set it on top of the bottom render.

Now go to Layer > Creating Clipping Mask (or press ALT + CTRL + G)

This is what your layer panel should now look like:

And this is the result of using that clipping mask on the render. Move it around until you’re satisfied:

Add a gradient map by going to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map. The default settings should be black to white:

Play around with the opacity, we’ve set it to about 31%, and reduced the fill to 80%:

Create another gradient map, and change the settings. We’ve used a purple to orange gradient map:

Set this layer to Screen, and reduce the opacity to 30%:

Add a Photo Filter Adjustment Layer ( Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Photo Filter ), we’ve used these settings:

Set the blending mode to Multiply, and reduce the opacity to about 73%:

Another Photo Filter Adjustment Layer ( Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Photo Filter ):

Change the blending mode to Screen, and reduce the opacity to about 50%. Our result:

Create a levels adjustment layer to adjust the lighting. Play around with the settings, here are the settings we’ve used:

We’ve kept the opacity on 100% and blending mode to normal:

Create another Photo Filter ( Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Photo Filter ):

We’ve reduced the Density to 43%, and kept the opacity on 100%:

Apply the image on a new layer, and smudge the bottom area a little as to create a “blast effect” under his feet.

After selecting the smudge tool, click on the brush settings in the corner right, and change the settings around. Use your favourite smudge settings and brush:

We’ve smudged the area under and around his skateboard:

Apply the image on a new layer by going to Image > Apply Image. We’re going to add depth by blurring the sides. Grab the blur tool:

And blur the sides of the image. Here’s an animation to illustrate the blurring done:

Apply a gradient map (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map), and use the eyedropper tool to select a color from your canvas:

Set this layer to multiply, and reduce the opacity to about 30-35%:

Apply the image on a new layer (Image > Apply Image) and use the sharpen tool to sharp the middle section of the signature, or use Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen and erase whatever appears to be too strong:

Apply the image on a new layer ( Image > Apply Image) , and select the burn or dodge tool. Use this to add some extra depth:

Our result after using the burn and dodge tool:

Apply the image on a new layer, and set this to overlay. Remove some of the layer with the eraser tool if it overdid the effect a little:

After setting the blending mode to Overlay:

Now grab a soft brush (we picked a color from the canvas with the eyedropper tool) and brushed softly on top of the pink render to enhance the effect of the blast a little:

Set this brushing to overlay, which brings us to our Final result. Do some finnishing touches if you like, blurring, sharpening, burning, etcetera. The outcome:

We hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial. Stay tuned for more updates!

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Start by opening a new file, our size was set to 425 by 175 pixels.

Add a render to your background. You can download the render we used Here. Place the render nicely onto the signature, resize and erase anything if needed.

Now grab the render you want to use, preferrably with a matching color, (You can download the render we used here) and place it somewhere on your tag. We’re going to resize this and set the blending mode to soft light:

To resize the render, select the layer and go to Edit > Transform > Free Transform:

As you can see, the render was turned upside down and resized a little.

On your layer panel, select the blending mode, and scroll down to Soft Light:

This will blend the tag into the background:

Now add the render again where you want the focal point to be:

Find a good looking render that matches with the color of your stock (you can find ours Here). Rotate it, resize it, and most of all, make sure you place it following the flow of the main character:

Here’s an image to illustrate the flow of the signate at this point. As you can see, the render we added sort of follows the main character.

Add another render, (you can download this one Here) and resize or erase if necessary.

Add the render we used before again, however try to use a different portion of it.

Here’s an image to illustrate the flow of this tag:

We’re going to use a splatter brush (we have some nice splatter brushes up for download in this tutorial) to brush a little next to our character. Tap once or twice (make sure you’re not using the same brush twice) with a dark color selected with the eyedropper tool from your canvas. Our splattering was done to the left of our main character.

Add a part of the render we used before on top of the splattering we just did, rotate it to showcase a different angle of the render:

Add some more splatters on your canvas, don’t overdo it though:

Reduce the opacity of your brush a little (for example, put it to somewhere around 80%) and grab a light color from your canvas with the eyedropper tool:

Now brush with the light color (ours was red) on the bottom of the signature. This makes it seem like the character is jumping or exploding out of something if the flow was done correctly.

We’re going to add some shading and depth to the signature by using the image we have now and changing the blending mode to Multiply. Create a new layer, and select Image > Apply Image. This will merge all the layers we have on one new layer:

Now set this layers blending mode to Multiply in the layer panel:

This will darken the signature you have now, our result at this point:

Grab the eraser tool, and erase some of the middle area covering out stock. Make sure you use a soft brush as to maintain some of the depth without leaving sharp edges:

Result after erasing some of the middle part:

Reduce the opacity of this layer, our opacity was set to about 25%:

We’re going to use a black to white gradient map to add some more depth. Do this by going to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map:

Your gradient map should probably have these settings already, however if they don’t , select black to white. Then, set the blending mode to multiply:

After setting the blending mode to Multiply:

The signature has some bad looking sections in the corner because of the first render we added.

Create a new layer, and use the eyedropper tool to select a color from the background. Now tap your brush a few times, covering these sections (alternately you can use the clone stamp tool if the colors vary a lot).

Create another gradient map (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map):

We’ve set this layer to Darken, and reduced the opacity to about 30%-40%

We’re going to add some decorations for the text, creating three squares in different colors and applying a gradient on them:

Here’s a picture of the squares zoomed in without the gradient overlay:

With the squares selected, go to Layer > Layer Style > Gradient Overlay, and add this setting (optionally, you can also add a drop shadow):

Result:

Now add the text itself, the text was modified by right clicking the text layer and selecting Rasterize type, then using the eraser tool to delete some sections.

The text result:

We’re going to add the final touches using the burn and dodge tool. Select either one of these tools, and play around with the settings in the toolbar:

For example, start with the highlights:

Use the dodge tool on the character, and the burn tool around him (make sure you apply the image on new layer first) :

If you slightly overdid it, reduce the opacity of this layer a little. Our result:

Create a new layer, and apply the image ( Image > Apply Image ). Now either use Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen or the sharpen tool to manually sharpen your outcome:

Which gives us our final result:

We hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial. This signature was made by the very skillfull artist Neuron. If you have any questions, feel free to post them in the comments below.