Sulitan
03-09-2013, 10:38 AM
Okay a few people have requested forum signatures after I used the this signature;
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/991/oszelaxion.png
So I am going to show you guys the method i used, this can be done in a small amount of time depending on how many images you want to use. For this example i am only going to use 1 image.
I am using Photoshop CS4, some thing may vary depending on your version and/or operating system
Key:
Red = Important Information
Purple = External Website Links
Light Blue = Titles and Sub Titles
So, lets get started :3
Lets get Started!
Lets make our canvas, you can use many different sizes, I usually use around 500x142 but in this case we want to save some room for anything else we want to add out signature room so I choose 500x100.
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/4374/imagemask.png
Now that you have your canvas you can start to add your text, as I have a slight problem with my version I used two text layers you can always use one if you desire.
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/796/imagemask1.png
Make sure you have a nice large font for your name, this is so you can fit more of the image into the text as well as letting people know that it is you (because some people don't look at the small text above your avatar). The font I used will be located at the bottom of the thread. If you wish for 1 text layer then you do not need to rasterize as it can be directly linked and edited on a text layer,thus you can skip ahead to the red text marked with stars.
Now, you want to make a copy of your text layers so you don't have to wright them out again, for those who are familiar with Photoshop can also use Small Images, but that can be in a tutorial for another time. We need to duplicate our layers, to do this select last text layer you were on then Shift + left click on the first text layer you created (if you have more that two text layers), or you can use Ctrl + left click to select a specific text layer you want to duplicate, for this though you can use whatever you feel comfortable with.
Now that they are selected right click your layers to open up the drop down menu and select "Duplicate Layers..." shown here;
http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/2915/imagemask2.png
You should see two layers exactly the same Layer Names with copy at the end, both of which are selected.
we need to Rasterize them now, like before right click the selected layers but select "Rasterize Type" this will allow the layer to be edited with a brush tool and our next step, Merging the layers (you can not edit the text with the text tool). both of which require the same principle shown in the 2 images below;
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/6536/imagemask3.png
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/2324/imagemask4.png
*Start here if you are only using 1 text layer*
Now its the moment you wanted to see, adding you image. you can pick whatever image(s) you want, you be aware that not all images will generally look as good as you expected.
Once you add you image to the canvas it should block everything, if it doesn't the drag the image layer so it on top of all the others, now you can add the image to the text, to do this hold Alt and hover over the line in between the image and the merged text layer until you see a small bucket like icon as your cursor, if you left click it will apply the image on the lower layer in this case the text, like it was a mask.
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/411/imagemask5.png
When that is done you should see something like this;
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/5/imagemask6.png
It may seem a little hard to see, so you can (if you wish) create a new layer at the and move it underneath you other layers and apply a dark grey, like it was the the same as the signature background on the forum.
dont forget to hide the original text layers and background when producing the final product. you don't want unexpected lines or colours in it, save the file as a PNG for the transparency around your text.
Final product:
http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/5094/imagetexttutorialsig.png
That's all there really is too it, and have fun creating you text.
Resources
Name font: Xirod (]http://www.dafont.com/search.php?q=xirod)
Otaku-Streamers font: Space Age (http://www.dafont.com/search.php?q=space+age)
http://hiddenskin.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/konachan-com-145891-sample.jpg
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/991/oszelaxion.png
So I am going to show you guys the method i used, this can be done in a small amount of time depending on how many images you want to use. For this example i am only going to use 1 image.
I am using Photoshop CS4, some thing may vary depending on your version and/or operating system
Key:
Red = Important Information
Purple = External Website Links
Light Blue = Titles and Sub Titles
So, lets get started :3
Lets get Started!
Lets make our canvas, you can use many different sizes, I usually use around 500x142 but in this case we want to save some room for anything else we want to add out signature room so I choose 500x100.
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/4374/imagemask.png
Now that you have your canvas you can start to add your text, as I have a slight problem with my version I used two text layers you can always use one if you desire.
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/796/imagemask1.png
Make sure you have a nice large font for your name, this is so you can fit more of the image into the text as well as letting people know that it is you (because some people don't look at the small text above your avatar). The font I used will be located at the bottom of the thread. If you wish for 1 text layer then you do not need to rasterize as it can be directly linked and edited on a text layer,thus you can skip ahead to the red text marked with stars.
Now, you want to make a copy of your text layers so you don't have to wright them out again, for those who are familiar with Photoshop can also use Small Images, but that can be in a tutorial for another time. We need to duplicate our layers, to do this select last text layer you were on then Shift + left click on the first text layer you created (if you have more that two text layers), or you can use Ctrl + left click to select a specific text layer you want to duplicate, for this though you can use whatever you feel comfortable with.
Now that they are selected right click your layers to open up the drop down menu and select "Duplicate Layers..." shown here;
http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/2915/imagemask2.png
You should see two layers exactly the same Layer Names with copy at the end, both of which are selected.
we need to Rasterize them now, like before right click the selected layers but select "Rasterize Type" this will allow the layer to be edited with a brush tool and our next step, Merging the layers (you can not edit the text with the text tool). both of which require the same principle shown in the 2 images below;
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/6536/imagemask3.png
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/2324/imagemask4.png
*Start here if you are only using 1 text layer*
Now its the moment you wanted to see, adding you image. you can pick whatever image(s) you want, you be aware that not all images will generally look as good as you expected.
Once you add you image to the canvas it should block everything, if it doesn't the drag the image layer so it on top of all the others, now you can add the image to the text, to do this hold Alt and hover over the line in between the image and the merged text layer until you see a small bucket like icon as your cursor, if you left click it will apply the image on the lower layer in this case the text, like it was a mask.
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/411/imagemask5.png
When that is done you should see something like this;
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/5/imagemask6.png
It may seem a little hard to see, so you can (if you wish) create a new layer at the and move it underneath you other layers and apply a dark grey, like it was the the same as the signature background on the forum.
dont forget to hide the original text layers and background when producing the final product. you don't want unexpected lines or colours in it, save the file as a PNG for the transparency around your text.
Final product:
http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/5094/imagetexttutorialsig.png
That's all there really is too it, and have fun creating you text.
Resources
Name font: Xirod (]http://www.dafont.com/search.php?q=xirod)
Otaku-Streamers font: Space Age (http://www.dafont.com/search.php?q=space+age)
http://hiddenskin.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/konachan-com-145891-sample.jpg