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:

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The pattern we will use is (copy this pattern and paste it on a new file, then select Edit > Define Pattern):

1. Create a new file, and fill it with a dark greyish color:

2. On a new layer, fill a section of the top with the pattern I provided in the previous step.

3. Set this layers blending mode to overlay and reduce the opacity to 30%:

4. Create a new layer, and start brushing with a hard brush. Use a few different colors, and turn on airbrush to create some different colors. Smudge this with a splatter brush or other sharp type of brush. Sharpen whatever you end up with. Our result at this point:

5. Repeat the previous step, and texture some more in the background:

6. One more time to fill most of the background:

7. Make a selection horizontally across your canvas, and fill this with white. Divide the image like shown below:

8. Create the same effect vertically:

9. Add a cinema4d render effect on the canvas. Remove parts that cross the horizontal line we’ve made. Set this layers blending mode to Linear Dodge:

Blending mode set to Linear Dodge:

10. Repeat the previous step, add a render, remove the area on top of the horizontal line, and set it to linear dodge:

The result after setting the layer to Linear Dodge:

11. Add a render in the bottom left section of the canvas, and remove the areas outside of the lines. Change this layers blending mode to Linear Dodge again:

Layer set to Linear Dodge:

12. Select your gradient tool, and use the eyedropper tool to select some good looking colors on your canvas. Create a gradient, and remove everything outside of the bottom left section. Our result:

13. Add some more cinema4d renders, and remove some of it.

Set its layer mode to linear Dodge:

14. Add another cinema4d render, and use the eraser tool to remove parts of the render again. We’re going to set the layer mode to lighten:

Set this layer to Lighten:

15. Repeat the previous step, set the layers blending mode to Lighten:

16. Add a render to the bottom right section of the tag. Use the burn or dodge tool to make it match and blend into the side.

17. Add a texture to the bottom right section, and remove the outlines:

18. This step is optional. Create your text, and create some effect around it if you like.

19. Grab a splatter brush, and tap once on a new layer. We’re going to add a clipping mask to it.

20. Apply the image on a new layer, and either press CTRL + ALT + G, or select Layer > Create Clipping Mask, then move the render around.

This brings us to our final result:

Thank you for viewing this tutorial, we would appreciate any comments and suggestions!

1. First, open up Cinema4D. You’ll see the standard screen. To get a better view of our area, hit F5 to view 4 different camera angles:

2. Now, select the Freehand Spline tool, and randomly create some lines in different camera angle windows. My result after using the freeform spline tool (note the objects window on the right that says Spline 3 times, which means that I’ve made 3 different splines):

3. Now create a Loft nurb, and drag all 3 spines into the loft nurb by selecting the spines and dragging them under the loft nurb in the objects window. See screenshot below:

4. If you’re not happy with its current angle, click on the rotate tool in the toolbar above like shown in the screenshot, and twist and turn until you’re satisfied. My result after turning it around:

The rotate tool:

After rotating my render:

5. Now you have to add a material. This is a very important step, good materials will make this piece look good. You can find some great materials in our Miscellaneous Resources section. In this case, I added BaceMaterial 1. You can leave its settings the way I made it, or you can modify it the way you like.

To load a material, press CTRL + SHIFT + O. Drag and drop the material onto the loft Nurbs like shown in the picture. Your render should change color when you add the material like shown in the picture:

6. Create a Twist object, and change its angle in the bottom right color like shown in the picture. Try to get a view that you like. Remember to change camera angles too if you need a better view. Drag and drop the twist object under your Loft NURBS. My result:

Drag this underneath the Loft NURBS

Change the Twist Objects angle in the bottom right corner:

7. Select your Loft NURB, and copy + paste it. (CTRL C + CTRL V). Rotate this layer by pressing the rotate button, and move it around a bit by pressing the Move button in the toolbar. Drag one of the arrows. Place these renders the way you like them. My result:

8. You can apply a bend or twist again if your copied Loft NURB looks too much like the other one. Remember to turn and twist it around. Try to create some flow, which I failed to do in this piece:

9. Keep moving it around until you see what you like. Now add a few light sources if you like, play around with the light areas. I placed some underneath my piece. You can hit F5 again to get a better view of the light sources:

After pressing F5 to view different perspective (Stars shown are light sources)

10. Render the image, and you’re done! Optionally, you can add some more random splines into your piece to create some more items. My result (image downsized, original size is a lot bigger. You can find this one in our resources section very soon):

Here’s my model before renderring:

Result Downsized with different lighting settings:

If you would like to have a transparant background behind your Cinema4D piece, you have to change the render settings. We will post a tutorial on how to do this very soon, so be sure to come back soon!