Creating A Signature Brush Revisited
Submitted by mitch on Sat, 01/31/2009 - 15:26.
I posted a "tip" this week that demonstrates how to make a signature brush. The same technique can be used to add a copyright watermark, etc.
http://www.thelightsright.com/CreatingASignatureBrush
The immediate reaction as positive. Overnight, more than 350 people read the tip.
Two comments were posted in other forums:
- You can scan your signature and follow the same steps.
- You can do this better with a custom shape.
You can write your signature on a piece of paper and scan it. My advice would be to get as much contrast as possible. Use a bright white paper and a black felt tip or rollerball pen. Then use something like Levels in Photoshop to get as much contrast as possible.
You can use a custom shape. It's debatable whether a Photoshop custom shape is "better" or not. What's great about Photoshop is that it often gives users multiple options for achieving the same (or similar) effect.
I posted a "tip" years ago that describes how to make a copyright watermark using a custom shape. Time to revisit that tip and demonstrate how you can use a custom shape for your signature.
http://www.thelightsright.com/EmbossedCopyrightInfo
Step 1. Create A Text Layer.
Choose an appropriate font. Set the font size to something reasonable. I chose Brush Sript Std. at 18 points. Originally I chose Sharp for Anti-Aliasing but later decided to change it to Smooth.
Step 2. Convert Text Layer to Shape.
Ctrl-click (right-click on the PC) on the text layer to open the flyout menu. Select the Convert to Shape option. You could also select the Layer | Type | Convert to Shape menu item.
Step 3. Define Custom Shape.
After converting the text to a shape, you can save it as a custom shape. Why enter the text for your signature everytime?
Go to Edit | Define Custom Shape. You will be asked to name your new signature shape. I named mine Signature.
At this point, I suggest you delete the text layer and try your new custom shape. Just grab the Custom Shape tool. Then go up to the Options bar and select your signature. It will be the last custom shape added to the active shape library.
Be warned! Custom shapes are stored in the Preferences file until they are saved as part of a shape library. If the Preferences file becomes corrupt, you will lose any unsaved shapes. So it is a good idea to save your custom shapes from the flyout menu for the Shape panel.
Step 5. (Optional) Rotate Signature.
A common embellishment is to rotate the signature so that it runs along a diagonal instead of a horizontal line. Go to Edit | Transform | Rotate. You can rotate the text and even move it. Just remember to click the checkmark to finish the transformation.
Step 6. (Optional) Embellish Signature.
You can add all sorts of artistic embellishments. You can choose a different color for your signature. You can adjust layer opacity, fill, etc.
Let's start by looking at the signature with a plain white fill.
For this "tip" let's go ahead and add an embossed effect. That's a popular effect for signatures. It's especially popular for watermarking files with copyright notices, because it tends to be invisible in thumbnails.
The idea here is to save a layer style. That will save us work in the future. We only need to apply the layer style and "Voila!" we get the embossed effect.
To add a Layer Style, you can double-click on the layer just to the right of the name: that's the quickest way. Otherwise you can select Blending Options from the layer's context-sensitive menu or from its flyout menu.
Below are the settings I used to add an embossed effect.
- Set Opacity to 50% and Fill to 20%
- Add a White Color Overlay
- Add a Drop Shadow
- Add a Bevel and Emboss Effect
Once you create a style, you'll want to save it. Why reenter all the settings everytime? With the Layer Style dialog open, just click on the New Style . . . button. Give the style a name. You can then find it on the Styles panel.
Same warning I gave you with the custom shape. Until you save the library where a style is stored, it is only added to the Photoshop Preferences file. To be safe, be sure to save the active Styles library after creating a new style.
And here is the final result . . .
You can also download a .PDF version from this URL:
Technorati Tags: 
