How to add fancy subtle signature to your image by KariS

This is a quick manual giving an example how to do such with style that doesn’t disturb the image itself. Example is made with Photoshop 7.0, so with other programs terms and menus may be different.

This part one uses simple typed text as example, use of scanned/photographed signature is still similar. Or in case you’ve made a personal logo.

1. Open your high resolution image
2. With type tool type text, and leave it as text in its own layer:
   

1. Keeping size in mind, as the largest poster at redbubble is A0, 841×1189 mm,
   the size of the “signature” is here about 15cm (150mm or about 6 inches).
   Scale and position it. View as 100% to see how it will be on large poster.
   

1. Change Blending Options (of that text layer) to Linear Burn
   
2. Decrease amount of Fill (leave opacity to 100%) until text is barely visible
3. From Layer -menu > Layer Style > Bevel and Emboss

1 – Make sure you have selected Preview to see changes you make
2 – Structure:
- Adjust Depth -value between 11-31%
- Direction: Down
- Soften: 0 for hard, 1-2 ok, bigger values have tendency to look like plastic
- Size: 1-4
3 – Shading:
- If you have done your document digitally, leave that Use Global Light On
(it means all light sources comes from same place)
- Moving that little cross around the center of the circle is your joystick to adjust the light that defines direction of lights and shadows.
- If your image has one clear direction of light, use the aiming cross to match that
(gives smooth and stylish illusion that the signature “have always been there”)
- Change Highlight Mode to Color Dodge
- Change Shadow Mode to Linear Burn
- Adjust Opacity sliders to give good looking, subtle effect.

You can go back and adjust that Fill of the whole layer if the text looks too dark.
If your image is very dark, try other blending modes.
But keep in mind, that potential customer, does not buy your signature, but the artwork itself.
- – - -

1. Making “raised” version:

1. Change colour of the text to white.
2. Change Blending Options to Linear Dodge (or screen or hard light etc…)
3. This time Direction is up,size & soften has used to create “soft & bumpy” look
   like letters had swollen up from image.
   
   - – - -

1. Using your scanned / photographed signature works the same way, it only needs to be in its own layer to create those effects, and strictly either totally black or totally white.
   - – - -

I have not yet not tested this quick-manual, I have no idea whether anyone understands it – please comment …

K