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In this tutorial we will be making this good looking Skateboarder Signature. We will be using two cinema4d renders to create the signature, you can dowload these renders here and here. Thanks to nFx for creating the original signature, I will be writing another tutorial about his work later on. Premium members can download this signature in the premium members section. Let’s get going, the outcome of this tutorial:

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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!