Introduction
Anyone who has ever posted in forums (or Bulletin Boards as we used to call them) knows that you need a signature to fit in. Some people use crafty quotes or one-liners. But if you really want to be unique, make your own sig image. I’m going to start from scratch using The Gimp, a free image manipulation program similar to Photoshop.
Canvas
After opening up The Gimp, click File>>New. This brings up the Create a New Image dialog.
I like for my sigs to be 400 pixels wide by 150 pixels high. Go ahead and set that and click OK.
Background
Here I’m going to create a random breakup type pattern using the gradient tool. I’ve selected default colors (black and white), and set the to “Difference”.
Now just experiment by dragging the gradient repeatedly on the canvas. The more you do it, the more random it gets. Try varying lengths of the gradient and different angles and locations. If it gets weird looking, just hit Ctrl-A then Ctrl-K to start with a blank canvas again. Here’s what I got so far:
Now to add some color. Ctrl-G should bring up the Gradients dialog. There is a list of interesting gradient sets there to use. I’m going to use the Incandescent set.
Now, select Filters>Colors>Maps>Gradient Map. Voila! Color! You can play with the color curves using Tools>Color Tools>Curves. Here’s what I got now:
Character
Now we insert a character. You can find stock images on the web. I found mine with a quick google image search. Drag you image onto your canvas. On the Layers dialog, you should see a new layer. Make sure it is highlighted, and select Layer>Scale Layer. Resize the new layer to fit your background the way you like. Now you end up with something like this.
Text
Now for some text. Use your text tool to create a slogan or name on the top layer. Play with the font and color until you like it. It doesn’t have to match perfectly because we’re going to blend it all together next.
Blend the Colors
Obviously, the colors aren’t a good match. So, create a new layer (Layer>New Layer) on top of the other layers and name it “Blend”. Take your Paint Bucket (Shift-B) and fill that layer with something colorful. I used the dropper to select a red tone from the background. After that, set the Mode for that layer in the Layer dialog to “Overlay” now you should see some color relevance. Play with the opacity until you like it.
Conclusion
I have by no means created a work of art here, but covered a few simple ideas that can be used in infinite combinations to create a nice unique sig. Also, keep in mind that I’m an engineer, not an artist. I’m not very creative at all, but I love to know how things work.Here are a few sigs that I have done using some of these methods. some of them have intentional empty spots to be used with http://www.livecard.net.
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Entries (RSS)
one of the best tutorials i’ve seen on sigs.
thanks.!
Glad to be helpful. Thanks alot!
How do you remove the white background from the image?
I’m not completely sure what you are asking, but if you have a layer that is labeled “Background”, I think it has to have an alpha channel in order for you to delete it. If it is a solid white background layer, right click it > click “add alpha channel” (I think). Then, you should be able to delete the layer.
Is that what you were asking?
I have made a cool sig and need to add it to a forum, however all there is is a box to put in text etc and i don’t know how to put my sig in there. Can anyone help if you understand what i’m saying.
You will need to post BB code. There should be instructions in the forum you are using. It usually looks like:
[img]http://www.example.com/path/to/image[/img]
You should probably post this question in those forums, since it differs.
the links go to some other place not the images whats up wit dat?
Sorry, I made a database change the other day and missed those links. Should be fixed now.
G’day Kenny,
That was uber useful, already made one, now just to find where to use it. :)
Thanks for taking the time.
Mythmaven
yea like what paul says after u get the image and u rescale it the layer just getssmaller and the picture has a white backround in it
s.k I think I understand what is happening now. The image you are using for the “character” part is probably not a “PNG”, or it has a white background in it. I was assuming that the stock you would use would be transparent.
In order to remove that background from the stock image, you can use the “color select” tool to select the background, or the “freehand select” tool to cut around the character in the image. Then you can remove the background from the stock image. Check out http://www.linux.com/articles/44517 or google “gimp remove background” to find some help.
thx kennedy that worked, now all i wanted to know was after i add the layer, i use the bucket to fill the layer, the whole page turns that color, now where do i set the mode?
I’m not sure what you mean. With the bucket tool, you are going to fill the entire layer unless you have a selection, or click on a color (in which case only that color will be filled). Are you using the bucket on the layer containing the character (Master Chief in mine)?
nvm i got it thx and kennedy can u look at this sig i made, and tell me how to blend onlie the character not the whole thing? oh and i used some idea’s from other tuts.
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg259/bankiii/mysig.jpg
kenny*
To accomplish what [I think] you are wanting to do, you could right click the character layer and select “Alpha to Selection”. Then create a new layer above the character layer and fill in that selection, then set the blend mode.
BTW, nice looking sig, but you may need to keep it within size constraints on some boards.
I don’t know how to make the image blend with the backround, how do you make it so there is no white?
If you are talking about the “character” image, read comment #11. If that doesn’t help, try describing what you mean a little better. Maybe a screenshot?
Man this tutorial is simple awesome!
The best I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen lots of them). :)
Hi, i tried making a signature but i keep having problems. for example… I am using GIMP 2.4.5 and the menus compared to here are 90% different. When i finish making a nice background and I want to add a gradient colour. you said do ctrl-G which I do and i choose my colour like it is shjown and then you said go to Filters>Colors>Maps>Gradient Map to apply the colours! But, my menu goes like this Colours>map>Gradient map! and when I do that the picture just goes into a weird state, the background doesn’t pick up the Incandescent gradient it just flips into an inverted style! I have incandescent selected it is on the tools option dialogue…can you tell me what i did wrong? i followed it step by step…
uhh im at the step where we have to create a new layer to color match it all. but it doesnt work i keep bucket filling on overlay and nothing happens,
shehab,
You first make sure that the bucket fill type is set to “normal” and not “overlay”. The “Layer” should instead be set to “overlay” and must be on top of the other layers. Make sure you have the “overlay” layer selected also. Aside from that, I’m not sure what is going on. Sorry :(
once again i am confused how do i change the layer type to overlay
i found it turns out i didn’t have my layer window thing open
omfg how do u make the background clear? my “character” has white as the backround
Hi Haseo,
There are several ways of doing this. You could simply right click the image and click “add alpha layer”, and then use the lasso tool to cut around the character, invert selection, delete.
Or you could use a more advanced method like this:
http://www.photo-info.co.nz/articles/gimp/removing-backgrounds