How to Make Forum Signatures With Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop comes with filters to edit images, like giving them the appearance of being old.

It is a popular trend among Internet forums to create an image signature that appears under the user's posts. These signatures usually include some information about the user and some art that encompasses these interests. While some might be intimidated by Photoshop's interface or their own lack of artistic skill, it's easy to make a put-together signature.

Things You'll Need

• Adobe Photoshop (any version)
• Keyboard and Mouse setup
• Stock Images and Textures

Instructions

Signature Creation in Photoshop

1. Check the website or forum you intend to use this signature to determine the image size or content restrictions before working on your signature. As a rule of thumb, you will never want your signature to be taller than it is wide.

2. Start Photoshop. You will be prompted with a window to create a new image file. Input the desired size of the canvas and select the "OK" button. Make sure that the "Layers" window is open at all times, if it isn't, press the "F7" button to open it.

3. Create a new layer by pressing "Shift+Ctrl+N." The layer that is highlighted will be the "active" or "working" layer, meaning it is the only layer that can be modified.

4. Drag a file to Photoshop. If you are going to be using an image for a background, drag the file from where it is saved into the Photoshop window. Photoshop will place the image into an active layer. From here you can press "Ctrl+T" to use the "Free Transform" tool to resize or move the image around the canvas.

5. Add filters or colorize the image by using the Filter tab from the toolbar at the top of Photoshop's window. Try several different filters to gets the desired effect on your image.

6. Add text by pressing "T" on your keyboard and using your mouse to drag the text tool to create a box where text can be input. The text box can be modified to be larger if the text doesn't fit well.

Tips & Warnings

• Be creative and have fun!

• Remember that a signature represents who you are on a forum.

• Try adding original artwork to add uniqueness to your signature.

• Save your work often. While Photoshop is a reliable program, accidents do happen, and you could lose your work if you do not save throughout the process.

• Using copyrighted material without permission is illegal.

• Always check with the webmaster before including potentially offensive material in a signature.

• Double check to make sure the layer you are working on is the correct one.

References

• Adobe: Photoshop Basics
• Atahost: Forum Signatures Tutorial

Resources

• Pixel2Life: Adobe Photoshop Tutorials
• Tutorial Hero: Photoshop Forum Signatures
• Mel.Net: Photoshop Signature Effects