Okay this is the raw version but first we are going to make something like this



Step 1
First make a new document. You can either make it in signature shape or make one 500x500.


I'm going to make it a sig shape, so I'm going for 400 x 125.

Step 2
Fill the first layer with black using the paint bucket.

Step 3
Make a new layer. Either through the menu layer or by pressing cntr+shift+n. Click yes.

Step 4
Now for the gradient stuff.

Right click on the paint bucket icon and select gradient tool.



Step 5
Now using the default settings start drawing lines across the sig. Mix vertical lines with horizontal lines to create the busy effect.
You decide on how many lines you want to create.

Remember:horizontal lines means a vertical gradient en vice versa.



Step 6
Then make a duplicate of the gradient layer and go to Filter -> Distort -> Wave and use the default settings.



Set the layer to Lighten.


You see the difference right?

Step 7
Now duplicate the original gradient layer and repeat step 6. Everytime you open the effect 'Wave' window hit randomize to create the cool effect. Do this about 3/4 times.
Also flip certain layers to make it look even more cooler. Do this by going to edit->
transform-> flip horizontaly.



* Remember to set each new layer to lighten, you can also use overlay, soft light, multiply and other settings but only to your likings.

Step 8
Merg all of the gradient layers. Do this by pressing control and clicking all gradient layers. Then press cntrl + e to merg them all into one layer.

Step 9
Select the merged layers and press cntrl+u. This will open up the Hue and Saturation menu. Click colorize and set the hue to 50. The top bar is for the colour. Slide it around till you get your colour for your sig.



This is it. You got yourself a groovy background.


Okay now for the next cool background effect.

I learned this from a movie tut from Frozen Flame.

Step 1
Put a render into the sig. You can find renders on www.gamerenders.com.

Duplicate the render

Step 2
Right click on the rectangular marquee tool and select the single column marquee tool.



Click in the middle of your render with the marquee tool and press cntrl + t.

Then with cntrl + t pressed drag the line to the right of your sig in a straight line and from the middle of your render again to the left.



Remember to stretch them so that it covers the entire sig.

Now I played a bit with the stretched render I copyed it and merged it to make it look cooler but this is something you should figure out :).

Step 3

Set the stretched render to overlay and you should have something like this.



Step 4

Now we need to add some effects.

I added some scanlines wich for downloads can be found in gray's grunge tut.

Select the paintbucket again and select patern where you can select foreground.



Make a new layer and select all (cntrl+a). Now fill the layer with your pattern. Set the layer to soft light and drag it to under the stretched render layer.

Step 5

Make a new layer and select the pencil, its under the brush icon, and draw some horizontal lines.
Now go to filter->blur-> motion blur and use the settings: angle 0 distance 35



Make another layer and draw some vertical lines and use the same blur only angle 90 degrees.
Merge both the pencil layers and set them to soft light.

Step 6

Now for some text. Usually I put loads of text in my sigs but for now I'll only will insert my name. Select a font you like and type in your name. You select size and stuff. For a cool effect check: outer glow, drop shadows and a stroke of 2 pixels. Then set the fill bar to 0.

Step 7
All we need is a border.

Ease make a new layer. Select all. Go to edit -> stroke. Make a stroke of:
- 4 pix black
- 2 pix white
- 1 pix black
and set the layer to soft light.



if you followed my tut all the way this is what you should have come by.

Hope you enjoyed it and for question or anything pm me :thumb:

Outcome looks cool.
I'll read through it later, when you get the pics done. :P

allright. :thumb:

I'll add some of the other effects I used in the tut-sig.

sorry for double post forgot to edit my previous one :ph43r:

but eh I finished my tut. its done. Hope you all like it :thumb:

Nice work Sigint, it looks really great. Now all I need to get is Adobe Photoshop :lol:

Hmm... I'm sure I could get some of that stuff to work in PhotoPlus...

Nice work. :thumb:

Greatly detailed tutorial there and the outcome looks good to congrats :)

Here's what I came up with using Serif PhotoPlus 6 and trying to go with that background. It sorta worked, but the software's not hugely powerful so I put a swirl effect on for good measure. ^_^



Frankly I'm more pleased with the render; this is the first one I've done that's actually any good. :P

Great tut Sigint. Ill post my finished sig when done.

wow some real nice aspiring graphics peeps on mgsf these days. looks like i have to step up my game :haha: . nice tut man, i might give it a go.

haha dang, i remember this technique from long ago ... that was my main method of creating backgrounds. good stuff.

thnx guys, kinda odd me giving tut's here, when I first got here I didn't even know how to make a pic black/ and white :P

but eh ADJ you should use PS CS2. Awesome program

Good Tutorial. I added it to the Tutorial List in the pinned topic.

Great Tutorial Signit, really well explained.

I'd love to; but it costs like... $600 doesn't it?

Anyways I'm reasonably happy with my PhotoPlus/GIMP/MS PowerPoint combo. There's just a lack of decent effects. ^_^

My third graphic, thanks to the tutorial, it was able to come out pretty good, brilliant job Sigint :D

I only just seen this topic that is why, I'm posting this late.

Here is my sig from the tut.

nice sig Pete :thumb:

Im glad my tut is still some use :lol:

:o That was one hell of a bump! It's a great tut though, so I can let him off without TOO much swearing ^_^

I know it is that's why I explained in the post why I did it.

The tut is brillent, very simple to use. Even my little brother can use it :P

Great tut Sigint :thumb: