How to Create an Email Signature

An email signature is like a virtual business card. You can include all of your major contact information, design elements, logo and other details to help you stand out among the many emails your friends, family, clients and business relationships receive daily. Creating an interesting signature can be a fun process, but the end result is what makes it truly worthwhile.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Graphics software, or Paintbrush
• Email address

1. Open a new document in your favorite drawing or photo manipulation software, like Photoshop.
2. Set the new document to the width and height you want, 72 dpi and transparent background.
3. Create a new layer in your document. Fill the layer with a color, texture and/or background image. In Photoshop, play around with the controls under the Image, Layers and Effects menus until you get the background set the way you want.
4. Select the type tool and started adding text. Possibilities to consider are your name, title, company, land-line number, cell number, fax number, street address, email address and website address.
5. Add a photo, logo or other graphic. You can also add a meaningful or humorous quotation that goes with your personality.
6. Tweak your design until you are happy with it. Pay special attention to color, fonts, layer style properties and general layout. Remember that you are trying to create an interesting signature that serves as a virtual reminder of you to all of your recipients.
7. Save the project in a file format that will leave the layers intact, such as a .psd file.
8. Flatten the image and optimize for web.
9. Use the Save As command to save a copy of your project as a .jpg file.
10. Attach the .jpg file to all of your outgoing emails. It's fun to see if anyone comments on the interesting signature you created.

Tips & Warnings

• Be smart about the amount of personal info you include in your signature and who you send it to.