Simple Grafix

The Assassin Photoshop Signature Tutorial

Welcome and thanks for reading this Photoshop Signature Tutorial. Today we will be making a signature from a wallpaper or stock image and using Topaz Vivacity. I will show you how to get some great effects from using Topaz Clean, and Sharpen. Here’s what we’ll be creating:

• First Open your stock or wallpaper and resize it to capture the scene you want to display. Remember when resizing to hold your shift key. This is what I am starting with:

• I always copy (ctrl+J) another layer of my resized stock or wallpaper and hide it under my Background layer in case I make a mistake.

• The next step is to find a C4D to add some effects. I went with a red to give the signature some blood splatters on and around the focal. After you add the C4D and position it erase what you don’t want. Put the C4D Layer On Lighten and 100% Opacity.

C4D Layer

C4D Layer + Image

• Here’s the C4D I used, credit goes to the author dogparry as this C4D was the perfect effect I needed.

• I added the same C4D again, this time working some red effects into the background. This time erase any effects that cover the render and any that don’t look good to you. I put this C4D layer on Soft Light and 100% Opacity.

C4D Layer

C4D Layer + Image

• You can add more C4D’s and change the lighting and Opacity to really enhance your signature, experiment to get something you are looking for. There is no “cookie cutter” approach to adding C4D’s to a signature, just lots of trial and error. For this signature I didn’t want to overdo with effects. I wanted to have some action on and around the focal and some subtle effects in the background. You may want to add more effects and really make your Background “pop” it’s entirely up to you so try it and if you don’t like it hide or erase the layers.

• Next we need to do an “Image>Apply Image” or (ctrl+alt+shift+e) and then got to “Filter>Sharpen>Sharpen” We want to sharpen the focal of this signature so erase all the effects on the background.

Sharpen + Background Erased

Sharpened + all layers

• Ok, let’s do another “Image>Apply Image” or (ctrl+alt+shift+e) and get ready to enhance this signature with Topaz.
• For the next step I used Topaz Adjust 3, this is a great addition to your Photoshop Suite. If you don’t have this I highly recommend you grap a copy over at Topaz Labs. Topaz Adjust has some great enhancement options that will give you control over exposure, details, and colors. If you don’t have Topaz Adjust, you can get close to the effects by adding a few filter layers like Curves, Levels, Color Balance, and Photo Filters.
• I used a preset called “Spicify” Which for my image really enhanced the clarity and colors.

• Do another “Image>Apply Image” or (ctrl+alt+shift+e). This time we will enhance the background with Topaz Vivacity Sharpen.
• If you don’t have this addition to Photoshop, you can do a “Filter>Sharpen>Sharpen” and erase the effects from the focal. Of Note, you will not come up with nearly the same effects as I am on this tutorial using Topaz Sharpen.
• Follow the settings below for the two tabs (Main and Advanced) to get the background effects.

Main Tab:

Advanced Tab:

• Erase the effects from the focal:

Topaz Sharpen + erased Focal:

Topaz + All Layers

• Ok, let’s do another “Image>Apply Image” or (ctrl+alt+shift+e) and grab the Blur Tool. For this signature I wanted the background to have a blur to help add some depth. The settings I used was a 64px soft brush set at 100% strength for the four corners away from the focal. As I got closer to the focal I dropped the strength down to 58%.

Blur Settings:

Result:

• Looking good! I think we needed a couple of adjustments so I added a Photo Filter and a Color Balance using the following settings:

Photo Filter: Normal, 100%

Color Balance: Normal, 100%

Result:

• Add another “Image>Apply Image” or (ctrl+alt+shift+e) and then add a Gradient Overlay in the blending options of that layer using these settings: (I left this layer at normal and 100% adjust as necessary)

• Add another “Image>Apply Image” or (ctrl+alt+shift+e) and then grab the “Burn Tool”.  Here are the settings I used:

• Start burning in the corners to darken them up, then look for any areas of shadow that should be enhanced. For the shadow areas you can find them by looking at the light source on your image and work from that also, you may need to drop the brush size to work these areas. This really helps with adding depth to your signature, it may not look like you are doing much but it helps take away the “flat” look.

My Result:

• Add another “Image>Apply Image” or (ctrl+alt+shift+e) it is now time to work some lighting into this signature. There are several ways to this and ultimately it is up to which style you prefer. I originally added the standard 100px-200px white soft brush lighting effect but felt it washed out a lot of details so I changed my lighting to an “Omni” light. My light source looks to be coming down and from the left (his right shoulder) so I will enhance that.
• Add the Light source: Go to Filter>Render>Lighting Effects, here is what I changed: 1. Change to “Omni” 2. Move and resize circle to place the light source in the right spot and increase the depth of the lighting.

Result:

• I was unhappy with a couple lighting spots so I added a layer mask and with a soft black brush I removed them.

Bad Spots:

Layer Mask:

Result:

• I added another “Image>Apply Image” or (ctrl+alt+shift+e) and this time I took the “Dodge Tool” to highlight and lighten some areas that were too shadowed or areas the I thought would add some pop to the focal. For example: the area under the hood where the eyes are and the knife in his left hand.

Result:

• The Final steps to complete the signature are to add your border and text.

Border: ( new layer, ctrl A, edit>stroke 4-6px inside. I block erased the L&R sides)

Text: Choose the font and position your text close to the focal.

Final Result:

Thanks again for taking the time to read this Photoshop Tutorial, I hope I have explained it well and if you have any questions feel free to ask one of us at Simple Grafix