How To Do A Good Multi-color Abstract Sig

Discussion in 'GR Classic Archive' started by KillSpan, Mar 12, 2005.

  1. KillSpan

    KillSpan Well-Known Member

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    Well this is my first tut everyone and i hope you guys enjoy it. I'll try to go thorugh everything in detail, so everyone can understand.

    1. First off you need to create a new signature. Make sure the size is reasonable. For this sig i made the size 350X150 pixels.

    2. The first thing you want to do is go over to Layer>Render>Clouds. The color boxes should be black and white. I do this, because it adds in some light and dark spots initially in the sig.

    [​IMG]

    3. For the next step, i recommend you download some of these brushes to use. I use them alot when making abstract bg's, so i hope these can help you out.

    Rust and Grunge <<< yes i know its a grunge brush, but in a sec you will see y i use it to make abstract sigs.

    abstractTieskevo

    Nightsky

    The other brush i have is one of my favorites is WW-brush set 11, but unforutunatly he has pulled all his brushes off devient art and all other sites, so i can't give you a link to that one. If you still want it, im me at W4caster88 on aim

    Now first i use several layers of grunge brushes to create dark and light spots in the sig. Just splash 2-3 brushes in the sig, but don't overdo it. You want to change colors during each layer, so for example i started out for my first layer white, and the second layer was black, so you just want to keep alternating black and white.

    [​IMG]
     
  2. KillSpan

    KillSpan Well-Known Member

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    4. Next up, I'm now using some abstract brushes. My style here is not to overcroud one layer (in case you screw up and need to delete it). So i only put one-three brush strokes per layer. Somtime if the brush covers up too much, then use soft light, and even lower the opec if you need too. You don't want it to become overcrowded. Remember to keep alternating from black and white. On average you want to do 5-10 layers of abstract brushing. Don't use star dust brushes yet...

    [​IMG]

    5. Next step you have several choices that you can do. You can continue brushing if you don't think it looks good enough, or you can go ahead and add the color balance. Go to Layer>New adjustment layer>color blanance. When you do this, make sure you get a deep color that doesn't look plain. You should do color balance at least 2-3 times but don't be worried if you do it 5+, its just all about getting the right color you like.

    [​IMG]

    6. Now its time to add in that stardust that i talked about before. Below the color balance layers, make a new layer and make sure you have the white color box selected. Then brush. You just want to do 1 to 2 layers at the most. Don't overdo it.

    [​IMG]

    7. Now you can take it too the next step if you want, but this is not a requirement. If you want to multicolor brush this is how it goes. First above the color blanance layers make a new layer. You need to use a soft grunge brush for the colors to blend nice. Pick a color you like (red, green, blue ect...) and then put the layer on soft light. Then brush. If you find its a little too much, then lower the opec untill it looks right and blends in the sig. I recommend that you use colors close to the sig color to make it blend better. Also keep colors together, and just use one color per one layer as a rule of thumb.

    [​IMG]

    8. Add 1 or 2 more color blanance layers above the mult-color layers

    9. now it would be wise to add a boarder on your sig before you put your text. For my sigs i like to use a 3px boarder with the bg in between two black lines. Heres how you do it.

    a. First, create a layer above everything even the color blanace
    b. Then, right click>select all
    c. Right click again>stroke

    [​IMG]

    d. Now first have color black with a 3pxl boarder. hit ok
    e. Repeat steps a-c
    f. Now this time do a 2pxl boarder and under mode click clear. hit ok

    [​IMG]

    g. Again repeat steps a-c
    h. Now this time do 1pxl and have it black with the mode of normal again. Hit ok

    And thats it, you just made a good 3pxl boarder.

    10. Finally the last step, its time to add text.

    When you do this i would recomend you use a simple text, but not too plain. If you get text from dafont, remember to have the text file, save your sig and close photoshop, then come back in. That way the text will show up on photoshop.

    For the main text, i would use the color white, make sure you have the text below ALL of the color balance layers, regardless if its under some mult-color layers. For main text font, use any anti-aliasing except none (that will make it look choopy). Now to tweak the text, go into the text layer, right click> blending options. There you have a varity of effects that you can preform to the sig. I use mainly gradient overlay, stroke, and bevel and Embross. You want that look that blends in with the bg, but at the same time, is also plain to see.

    For good blending into the sig, i lower the fill in the text to a number around 10-50%. It also looks good when you check the button blend interior effects as group, although i didn't use it in this sig

    [​IMG]

    For the pixel text i used visitor, and thats what i use for most of my sigs. I use similar effects to this text as well. One thing to note is that you will want to put the anti-alasing to none for pixel font.

    after you are done with text, you need to look over at your sig, and see if there is anything you forgot, for me, i added a layer of brightness and contrast because i wanted to increase the contrast of the sig some.

    [​IMG]

    and there you have it, a nice abstract bg sig ready for some action

    here is the final prouduct

    [​IMG]

    I hope this can help all of you out there to make better abstract sigs

    good luck ;)
     
  3. manuelpc

    manuelpc Active Member

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    great tut :D
     
  4. KillSpan

    KillSpan Well-Known Member

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    thanks :)
     
  5. samven582

    samven582 Well-Known Member

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    awsome tut :D . Very detail. +rep
     
  6. Zitech

    Zitech Well-Known Member

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    Nice tut dude. Will try later
     
  7. KillSpan

    KillSpan Well-Known Member

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    thanks guys
     
  8. Tomo2k5

    Tomo2k5 Well-Known Member

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    Very awsome tut, im really liking this. Will try it out tomorrow.
     
  9. pwnzor

    pwnzor Senior Member

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    hey dude, great tut.. this is what i got (i still have to learn how to do nice text.. just gotta find a tut on that hehe..)

    [​IMG]

    but yea.. +rep ^_^ great job!
     
  10. Theory

    Theory Well-Known Member

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    that's a nice tut... love the outcome great job
     
  11. NeT-WoRlD

    NeT-WoRlD Member

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    Nice Tut
     
  12. Rami

    Rami Well-Known Member

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    Great tut, I did it and got.
     
  13. Retro.

    Retro. Well-Known Member

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    it would look better if you put outer glow on the layer with the star brushes, gj ;)
     
  14. LITTLE-Z

    LITTLE-Z Well-Known Member

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    thnx that helped
     
  15. Umberger

    Umberger Well-Known Member

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    Very nice job, it's a cool tutorial.
     

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