I way overdid the blending on the first graphic, but it was the only way to make it not look crap. Rate?

The first one I can tell that you used the default brush on PS, download some new ones cuz youcan get some pretty sweet brushes online .

The second one doesn't work for me because the background is too solid for the render. They don't equally match in tone. the shade is good because it's dark and greyish like the render but you could have done more.

No discouragement intended.

But good nonetheless for a starter. :)

Yes, I have downloaded two brush sets, but they're both grunge, and I thought they didn't suit that sig.

I never thought about the background of the second one, but I realised it's too big.

Yeah the second one is way too oversized, get a good portion of the render and then crop it.

Oh and Borders do wonders in finalizing sigs.

tutorials tutorials tutorials tutorials

that be the key to photoshop.

that doesnt look 2 good, especialy the 1st image, whre you can barely see whos on the pic. the 2nd pic is ok, but too big to use it anywhere here.

it's ok for your first, but you definatly need practise, just use the like jc provided. you'll be an expert in really no time atall

well my first graphics weren't even blended and consisted of 2 layers so your doing allright, but like JC87 said read lots of tutorials.
Also check out www.gamerenders.com where you can find personal tut's :thumb:

I only saw tutorials section today.
very sweet, i will perhaps leave my good ol paint behind and ave some more advanced graphics :)

hmm I would advice Photoshop CS2 then. Very advanced program with loads of options. It will take you some time to be able to fully use it tho.

Thing is, I was doing OK with a beginners graphic program, Serif's PhotoPlus. As soon as I upgraded to PhotoShop, I was a n00b again :P It has so many functions and secrets to making good graphics, when I read a tutorial I'm stuck on like step 2 lol.

you should try gray's grunge tut or my gradient tut. Mine is really 'n00b' based so it contains screencaps of every step and tool so it doesn't get any easyer :D