Render Blending How to blend a render to your sig in Photoshop

[Johnny 1]

Okay, this is a relatively simple tutorial on how to blend a render into your signature in Photoshop, like this:

 

STEP 1 -- Brush up your background

Okay, the first thing you want to do is to brush your background. Right now I'm using some grunge brushes. For this tutorial, we're going to use black and white, then color it in later, so on your white background, use a black brush (or vice versa) to put down your basic brushing. You should end up with something similar to this, if you're using grunge.

http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/

Tip - I usually like abstract brushes. You can find some good brush sets at http://www.deviantart.com/

 

STEP 2 -- Add your render

Next step is to add the render you want to blend into the final sig. I've already posted a render adding tutorial, so look for that. (If it's not there, it's still awaiting approval) Once you have your render on there, place it in a nice place where you think it'll look good blended. Here's mine, I'm using a Cloud (Final Fantasy character) render:

http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/

Tip - Make sure the render is not on top of any really dark spots, or it'll be blended too much.

 

STEP 3 -- Make your render b&w

Okay, to get a better blend, you should have the render the same colors as the brushing in the background. To make your render black and white, click it's layer, press ctrl+u and use the following settings:

http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/

Tip - You don't have to do this step. If you don't, the render will general stay it's original colors, and it will just fade into the brush shape, not the brush color.

 

STEP 4 -- Select your "stay-there" part

Okay, now, using the "Rectangular Selection Tool" or the "Lasso Tool" with the feather settings set on 30 (less, if you want less blending, more if you want more) select the part of your render that you don't want to fade as much. This part will stay fairly visible compared to the rest of the render. Here's what I'm using:

http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/

Tip - You can also select multiple areas by holding shift and making another selection. Unless the sig and render are really big, this tends to make the overall render more visible as well.

 

STEP 5 -- Add your mask

Now, with your selection still on, click the "Add Layer Mask" button, at the bottom of the layers toolbox. It looks like a Square with a circle in it. Your render should now be blended with the background, moreso in areas away from where you selected. Here's what I got:

http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/

Tip - If you don't like the result, you can go back and redo your selection with a different size or feather.

 

STEP 6 -- Color your sig

Now, lastly, here's a slightly more fun part. Go to "Layer" --> "Add adjustment layer" --> "Hue/Saturation". Click the colorize checkbox, then modify the settings until you get a color that you like. Here's what I'm doing:

http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/

Tip - You can also replace this with a "Layer" --> "Add adjustment layer" --> "Color Balance" layer, or add it on top of the hue/saturation. And you could also add an adjustment layer under the render and on top of the background, to have the two elements different colors.

 

Here's a sig I did after adding a few more touches to the product.

 

This tutorial is also fairly modifiable. You can try adding, replacing, or removing steps, to get your sig how you like it. This should only be a guide. You should do your sig just how you want it.

 

If you see any errors or have any suggestions to better the tutorial, I'll try and do so.

*BTW, this tutorial is done in Photoshop CS. Things may vary in different versions, but you should be able to get the same result.

 

NOTE TO STAFF - I'm very sorry, I had to make a few modifications to the post. If you could just delete the other one, and use this, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[beeseven 0]

Nice tutorial. I don't have PS, but in GIMPshop I could find where everything was. I even made this (attached in case the image suddenly stops appearing like it usually does on these forums):

 

 

I think it's pretty good for my first thing.

[Johnny 1]

Hey, not bad. Glad the tutorial helped.

[JaVe 0]

Whoa, simple but actuallypretty neat, i like your spiderman one the best though.

[Johnny 1]

Heh, thanks, so do I.

[Good Grief Graphics 0]

Everyone and their mom does this for their grunge sigs, but it works.

[ZacN 0]

That was very helpful, thanks.By the way, do you have to use black and white, and the color i in? Or can you use twoi different colors for it?

[Johnny 1]

No problem. I love helping new artists.Anyways, you don't have to use black and white. Like I said, feel free to experiment. If you use different colors, and then use Colorize later though, it'll essentially still be the same result. It'll all be shades of one hue, as that's what the Colorize feature does.Hope that helps.

[look4prog 0]

there is aproblem.the problem with images>please post the images again.thanks again

[striker_rage 0]

Although the images are not available for some reason.....but i was still able to follow ur tut.Great job

 

Here's my outcome

 

I like my outcome since this is my first signature:lol:

[Sprnknwn 0]

Well, pics don?t work, but anyway great tutorial for we people who don?t know a word about making sigs.

Edited November 14, 2006 by Sprnknwn (see edit history)

[TeeCee06 0]

This is a very good tutorial. Im gonna try out some of these here in a bit and ill post what I came up wth

[TeeCee06 0]

Here is the signature I made using the blending technique shown in this tutorial.

 

 

I used the same render that is in my current signature but I brushed a background to give it a different look, I also changed the color and text.

Edited November 19, 2006 by TeeCee06 (see edit history)