Signature Stop, Photoshop signature tutorials, renders, tag tutorials and signature backgrounds!

In this tutorial we will be making this awesome Half Life photomanipulated signature. We start out by taking a good looking background, and place a totally random character that has little to do with it into the canvas. We will show you methods to blend this character in, and how to add depth to the background as well as making a scenery that seems to make sense. This awesome tag was designed by Castro. Let’s get going!

Outcome of this tutorial:

or alternatively with a blurred Cinema4D effect:

Start by creating a new file, our size was set to 400 pixels by 140 pixels.

Now find a good looking background. Theres plenty of awesome wallpapers on Gamewallpapers.com you can use. Here’s the one we’ve used, resized to fit into our canvas:

Now duplicate this layer, and select Filter > Blur > Blur More:

We’re going to erase the blurred areas in the foreground, but keep the blurryness in the background to add a feeling of depth. Grab your eraser tool, and erase the areas that lead to an area further away. In our case, the left side of our tag. (we also blurred the right side a little because it took the attention away from what we want the focal point to be)

Create a new layer, and tap a soft brush a few times somewhere in a corner. We will be creating some lighting:

Add a cinema4d render, that has a little detail. Erase sections that you don’t need. You can find plenty of renders in our Resources section.

Set this layers belnding mode to Linear Dodge, and reduce the fill a little. We’ve reduced it to about 40%:

The next layer contains some random black brushing, use whatever brush you like to create some detail. This is our brushing shown on a white background:

The brushing shown on our canvas:

We’re going to add some extra lighting, grab two light colors (we picked yellow and blue) and brush on either side with a color on new layers.

Set these layers to overlay, and reduce the opacity. We’ve reduced the opacity to about 20%

Find a stock that fits into the scenery. We have this Half Life stock image. Resize the image to fit onto your canvas if needed, and place it next to the lighting you’ve created.

Let’s get started blending the Killzone character in. We’re going to make 2 Gradient Map adjustment layers, and convert them to Clipping Masks on the stock. First, select Layer > New Adjustment Layer, and create the gradient maps:

Settings of the second gradient map:

Now set the first gradient maps blending mode to Hue, and the second to Multiply. Then Select them both, and go to Layer > Create Clipping Mask (or SHIFT + CTRL + G). (notice that we also brushed a little on the second layer mask, this is because it didn’t look good on our render. This is optional, if your gradient map doesn’t look good be sure to change it)

Result of the clipping masked Gradient Maps:

We’re going to make some more Gradient Maps. The settings are shown below, however you should use your own if it looks better. Remember: we’re trying to blend our character into the background, if your background isn’t blueish like ours but has a red glow, use red gradient maps instead.

Set this layer to Overlay and reduce the opacity to about 50%:

We made this Gradient map twice, and we set the first layer to Overlay with the opacity set to about 40%, and the second had its opacity set to 20%.

You will have to start brushing on the layer mask to make the character blend in, click on the layer masks in your layer palette, and brush on top and around your character to fix the lighting. You shouldn’t try copying me, however here are our layer masks shown in the layer palette:

Result of adding the 3 gradient maps:

The following step is optional, and will give us our alternative result shown above. Add a cinema4d render onto your canvas:

Blur this render by going to Filter > Blur > Blur More

Select a light color and a soft brush. Brush over the left side of your render (don’t cover it entirely) like shown below:

Set this layer to LinearDodge, and reduce the fill to about 20%:

We’re going to add some more lighting on the character. CTRL + Click your original render, if done correctly this should bring up the selection around your render like shown below.

click in the red area:

Selection should come up:

Grab the Gradient Tool, and select the Foreground to Transparant Gradient. Using the same light color we used earlier, we’re making a gradient from left to right (or wherever your lighting comes from).

Gradient tool used:

Set this gradient to overlay, and reduce the opacity a little. We’ve set it to 20% (optionally, you can set it to LinearDodge if that looks better, and reduce the opacity there.)

Grab a small soft brush, and with a light blue color we used earlier, brush a little at a lighted area:

Set this layer to Overlay, and reduce the opacity if needed.

Repeat that a few times, create new layers, and brush with light blue on top and next to your character.

Change the blending modes to LinearDodge, Overlay, Soft Light, whatever works. Experiment.

Create some more light blue bulbs, and set this layer to Linear Dodge:

Reduce the fill of this layer to about 5 to 10%:

The next few steps work only if the render you choose for this signature has something interesting, such as a torch like ours. yours might possibly have some sort of explosion, a beam, or even glowing eyes that you can use. Use the light orange color to brush on top of the Torch:

Now set this layer to Linear Dodge, and reduce the fill to about 50%:

Add a fractal cinema4d render onto the torch (or in your case, the area that you’re enhancing). Erase the area around it:

Now change the blending mode to Color Dodge, and reduce the Fill to about 40%:

We’re going to add a Color Balance adjustment layer (Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Color Balance) to make the colors a little more attractive. You should pick your own settings, however here are the settings we’ve used:

result of the color balance adjustment layer:

optionally, find a sparkly cinema4d render, and add it somewhere in your canvas.

Set this layers blending mode to Linear Dodge, and reduce the fill to about 50:

We’re going to add a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer. Select Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Hue/Saturation. It’s important that you select your own settings, here are the settings we’ve used to help you achieve a good looking result:

This is the outcome of the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer. Remember however, be creative and use your own settings:

Time for some finnishing touches, apply the image on a new layer (new layer, Image > Apply Image) and start using the sharpening tool on the foregound.

Use the sharpen tool especially in the foreground to create depth:

Or, if you hide the blurred cinema4d effect, here’s another result:

We hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial. Premium Members will be able to download the PSD and additional tips in the Premium Members Section.