As usual, SignatureStop premium members can download the signature PSD in our premium section!

This is the wallpaper we are going to use, which you can find at the following link. However I encourage you all to find one of your own wallpapers to create your signature. This tutorial will teach you mainly how to create a detailed textured background, so do not worry too much about selecting your source. You could potentially even use a render cutout without a background, and create the background from scratch as we will be covering all of the soldiers anyway:

A little sidenote: even though I try to be really detailed in my tutorial, I leave out a few essential basics such as creating new layers, which I expect you to know before you start. However because of a new photoshop version I am using (CS 5.5) I will still show you what the tools look like.

Place your wallpaper on a new canvas, the size we picked for our signature is 440 by 190 pixels. We’re going to use the blur tool to make our character stand out in the signature. Grab the Blur Tool, as shown below:

Blurring tool used on the Helghast soldiers next to our focal point:

Using the brush tool, we will make our focal point stand out by using a black soft brush, we will make the background nearly invisible. Don’t worry about covering the main character in black, we will be erasing it in the following step.

Here’s the brushing we did on the canvas:

Or shown below, here is the brushing on a white background to make it more clear exactly what we did:

Using the eraser tool, we will remove the black brushing covering our character. We will use a technique a bit more sophisticated than simply click-drag removing, called airbrushing. First, select the eraser tool as shown below (or press E):

Now reduce the opacity on the toolbar on top, make sure you select the airbrush button. The longer you hold your mouse click, the more your brush will erase:

This is the brushing after we’ve removed some of it, shown on a white background:

We’re going to repeat this step with some grey brushing, grab a brush tool a a greyish color to brush over the background and sides of the signature:

This is the grey brushing done shown on a black background to clarify:

At this point the character is getting quite blended in, and it is time to start making lighting and details. We will be using the brush and smudge tool to create the desired effect. It’s not very simple to explain the smudge technique, basically it requires experimenting, and no outcome will be the same. What I suggest though is while smudging, you switch around the brushes. First, start by brushing some low opacity white colored dots next to your focal point:

This is what our brushing looks like on a black background:

We will now be using the smudge tool. (Here are some other tutorials in which we use the smudge tool, if you want to practise the techniques: kickflip signature tutorial, smudge tool tag tutorial. ) Grab the smudge tool:

This is the smudging we did , keep trying until you are satisfied, and use the eraser tool if the lighting is covering the focal point:

This is the result of our smudging, if you like you can experiment with the layer settings, you could set it to Color Dodge or perhaps Overlay. We’ve kept it on normal however:

We are going to do the same on the left side of the character, now with a different color however. You can use the Eyedropper tool (Press E) to select a color from your render to use. We’ve used the red color inside his helghast logo, and brushed a little around his shoulder. Play around with the opacity and airbrush settings:

We’ve smudged the red brushing, and tried to have it twirl around the character:

Change the layer settings to Color Dodge. This depends however on the color that you’ve chosen to create the effect with, you might not get the desired color by changing it to color dodge. Experiment with the settings:

This is our outcome after changing the layer to color dodge:

We will be repeating this step a few times, until we have a colory detailed effect around our focal point. Do not worry too much about which color to pick, as we will be using Adjustment Layers later on in the process the change the colors anyway. Yellow smudging (with the layer style set to Hue):

Blue smudging on the left side of the killzone signature:

White smudging on top, repeat these steps until the signature starts to have some texture and detail:

We will now be finishining the texture on the left side of the signature by using the Liquify tool. This requires a lot of experimenting and practise to receive a good result, and has to potentially be repeated a few times to get something to look good. Start the process by creating a new layer, and applying the image by going to Image > Apply Image:

We’re going to be taking all of the color out of the part of the signature that is not covering our focal point. Press CTRL + U or go to Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation, and change the Saturation to -100. You could also change the Lightness if you’d like:

Now erase the greyscale that is covering our focal point (Press E), don’t bother being very precies as the liquifying filter in the next step will take care of it:

Go to Filter > Liquify, or press Shift + CTRL + X:

Play around with the liquify options, use all the different settings. If you feel you have overdone it, you can use the Reconstruct Tool (2nd from the Top). We’ve mainly used the Twirl Clockwise and the Mirror Tool to create our outcome, these tools are highlighted in the following picture:

Our outcome, this may take a few times to repeat and practise to get it right, is shown below. The liquify filture has made our primary texture, and we will be using the Dodge and burn tool from this point on to improve it:

Select the Dodge tool, and start softly brushing around the twirls. Switch up the Burn tool in and outside of the bubbles to create a form of depth in the texture. Be creative, and switch around a lot. Make sure you duplicate layers and keep backups in case you feel you’re overdoing it:

This is the dodging and burning shown in a few different steps, keep going until you are satisfied:

First we started highlighting the in and outsides of the bubbly twirls:

Now we’ve moved on to the background and right side of our focal point, creating a darker atmosphere:

The final touchups of the burn and dodge tool, making the twirls and bubbles stand out of the backgorund:

As we’ve covered quite a bit of the smudging we did in earlier steps, we’re going to be creating some more. Scroll up if you’d like to see more examples of how the smudging should be done. We will be covering our blue beam of smudging first, with a bright red color:

After smudging, this is our result shown on a black background:

You can set the Blending mode to Color Dodge, however we decided to keep it on Normal:

Repeat this step a few times until you are satisfied, dont be afraid to overdo it as you can always erase it later. We’ve done some more blue smudging:

With the layers Blending mode set to Color Dodge:

Purple smudging on the sig:

With the blending mode set to Color Dodge, by this point we have probably created enough effects around our focal point. Try creating up to 5 or 6 if you are not satisfied. Once again, do not worry too much about the use of the colors, we can fix this later on with adjustment layers:

Let’s focus on the background a little bit, we will be covering some of the twirls that look good with bright brushing, and we will play around with opacity and blending modes to get desired effects. Here we started by brushing red and blue colors over our liquified textures:

Play around with the opacity and blending modes, for example set it to overlay, color dodge or reduce the opacity slightly:

Orange brushing covering the twirls:

More orange, blue and red brushing, with various blending modes (overlay and color dodge):

Set the Layers blending mode to Overlay:

The left and right side were standing out a little bit too much, so we are going to brush with a soft brush like we did when we started the tutorial to make the focal point stand out. There is no real rule to where you brush, as long as you reduce the opacity properly:

We have reduced the opacity of the black brushing to 30%, and we have also set the layer style to Overlay:

We are now nearly finished with detailing our background, it is time to move on to the proper coloring. There’s different ways to approach this, the easiest way to reach a good looking result is by using Adjustment layers. We start by using a Selective Color, go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Selective Color:

The settings we have used in our signature will be potentially horrible on different color schemes / backgrounds, however as an example of how to do it, here’s an animation of our settings. Please post a comment if the picture moves too fast and I will elaborate on the settings:

Our result at this point:

This could potentially be an outcome for your signature, as it starts to look really great. We’ve added some touches with the sharpen, soften, dodge and burn tool here and there, and created this outcome so far. If you like you could place your text somewhere in your signature now:

To make the signature blend a little better however we’ve decided to add another Selective Color adjustment layer and a Color Balance adjustment layer as finishing touches. Below are the settings for the selective color layer, and the color balance layer. These are simply indications of possible settings, they might or might not work on different color schemes however, so I encourage you once again to be creative and pick your own settings. An animation showing the selective color layer:

This gave us the following outcome, nearly finished:

The color balance adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Color Balance):

This leaves us with just the text to put in, there are people that prefer to leave the text out alltogether as it can potentially ruin a perfectly good signature. We’ve used simple text with the layer style set to Overlay, with lowered opacity. Watch out to not overdo the text, and play around with fonts and font sizes:

Our final signature outcome with the font set to overlay and 80% opacity will conclude this Killzone Photoshop signature tutorial:

hopefully you’ve enjoyed the killzone 3 signature tutorial. Premium Members can download the PSD file in the premium section. Good luck everyone!

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:

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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!

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