Basic Signature Knowledge and Tips :: League of Legends (LoL) Forum on MOBAFire

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*Please note that because I am the one who made this thread, it will reflect my style and technique*

Welcome to my basic signature knowledge thread. In this thread, I will attempt to explain in detail all the thoughts and reasons that goes into creating forum signatures. I will split the process up into 6 sections: Vocab, Background, Render, Lighting, and Text. Each section will have multiple examples, as this thread isnt a tutorial on how to make a single sig, but rather how to make a variety of sigs.

Vocab

This section will attempt to teach you the terms you need to know to create forum sigs, and the meaning behind the terms.

Render:

A render is an image of a character with a transparent background. It is the focal point of the signature. Some examples:

Flow:

Flow is the direction the signature is going, and is generally defined by the render used to make the sig. I will outline the flow of the renders posted above to help illustrate that a picture can have a "Direction". A general rule to use when in doubt is to go the direction the render's back is facing.

Depth:

Depth is the range of distance objects appear to be in from the render, such as far away in the background, or close up in the foreground. For instance, look at the example bellow. The circled area on the left is clearly closer to the front than the circle on the right.

C4d:

A c4d is a 3d shape that is used to add depth to a signature. Some examples:

Blending:

Blending is all about the render looking like it matches the background of the signature. This can be done in various ways by using lighting, smudging, or overlaying objects. These methods are exemplified bellow.

This used lighting to make the render match the background.

This used smudging on the renders back

This sig used some c4ds over the renders right shoulder to make it blend.

Background

This section will show you how to set up a background for your sigs.

Starting Colors: Make a new project with the dimensions you want. I use 420 x 150. Then open your render in the new project. Using the radial gradient tool, select a light and dark color from the render to make your back ground.

I used an orange and dark brown

This used a light and dark blue.

Smudging: Smudge the render all over the canvas, but try to smudge in the flow of the sig. Then set the layer to soft light. This helps add variance to a boring gradient background, and livens it up some.

C4Ds: Now add some c4ds to the background, also on soft light. This helps add depth to the sig, but its not to blatant. I like to keep my c4ds on 100 opacity, and just erase it with a slightly opaque eraser until the c4ds look faded and subtle. Try to make the c4ds match the flow of the sig. As the examples show, the c4ds are pretty faded. Dont be afraid to erase.

Render

This section will teach you how to properly place your render, aswell as some effects you can use on your render. This includes c4ds, fractals, splatter brushes, and clipping masks.

Placement: Place your render into the signature. When choosing where to put it, try to follow the rule of thirds. This means to place the render off to one side, rather than the middle.

Good Placement:

The focal point of the render is on the right third of the screen, and the top third.

Bad Placement:

The render should be further to the left, not in the middle.

Smudging: At this point I like to smudge my render (make sure you have a back up). This helps add color to your sig, and can help it blend. Try to smudge with the flow of the sig. keep the smudging layers behind the unsmudged render.

Before:

After:

Splatter Brushes: Next I add a splatter brush that matches the flow of the I erase most of it, and try to keep it subtle. I then hide the splatter brush layer, and apply image. I then flip the applied image horizontally and create a clipping mask with the splatter brush.

Before:

After:

Effect C4ds: Effect c4ds are a good way to blend the render, add color, and add flow. I set them to linear dodge, and end up erasing most of the c4d. Effect c4ds should never cover up the focal point of the signature (usually the face) and should be placed with meaning, not just random.
Here are some before and after shots with effect c4ds.

Before:

After:

Smudging the Focal: Lastly, I like to smudge the edges of the render. It helps it blend with the back ground and can create some cool effects. The amount of smudging varies from sig to sig, but I use the technique in all of my sigs. Some examples:

Notice how the left side of the render is smudged. It makes the render look like its fading away, and helps it flow. it also helps the render blend with the background, creating a visually pleasing focal.

This example has some more blatant smudging on the back of the render. It makes it hard to see where the background ends and the render begins, which is exactly what we want.

Lighting

Lighting is really easy when you get the hang of it. It basically consists of determining where the light is on the render, and matching that with a light source in the sig.

Determining light sources in the render: This part is really easy. Just find where it looks like light is reflecting off the render. Some examples:

In this example, I've circled the light on the render, which is on his shoulder and side of his head. It looks like the light is coming from behind him, so in the signature the light source should be behind the left side of the render, like this.

To create a light source, you can do 1 of two things. The first of which is just a soft white brush set to soft light. It can be used in different locations depending on the signature. Try to match the light on the render. This mean that if the light is on the right side of the render, than the light source should be on the right side of the signature.

Before:

After:

The second way is to use c4ds and fractals set to linear dodge. This can look alot nicer than using a soft brush, as it adds texture to the light source. This method usually requires multiple layers, until you get the effect you want.

Before:

After:

Text

Text has 2 main aspects to keep in mind: Position, and Color. Proper text should follow the rule of thirds, just like the render, and should contrast from the colors behind it. I personally like to use two different fonts when adding text, a block text and a cursive font.

Placement: Text should always be small, and near the render, aswell as following the rule of thirds. Here is some text that is well placed.

Once again, the text follows the rule of thirds and is close to the render.

Here is an example of some bad text placement:

The text is far away from the render, and does not follow the rule of thirds.

Color: The color of the text should always contrast from the colors behind it. This makes the text alot easier to read, and it looks alot nicer. The color should also match the other colors of the sig. A good way to do this is to use clipping masks.

Good color:

The text is easy to read, and the colors go well with the sig.

Bad color:

Although the color of the text matches with the sig, it is a light color on top of a light color. This makes it almost impossible to read.

Conclusion

When making a forum sig, its important to take into account all the major topics discussed above, such as flow, light sources, and blending. I hope this tutorial helped you learn something knew, and helped you improve your sigs. Have fun making sigs!

[quote=Greynade]*Please note that because I am the one who made this thread, it will reflect my style and technique* Welcome to my basic signature knowledge thread. In this thread, I will attempt to explain in detail all the thoughts and reasons that goes into creating forum signatures. I will split the process up into 6 sections: Vocab, Background, Render, Lighting, and Text. Each section will have multiple examples, as this thread isnt a tutorial on how to make a single sig, but rather how to make a variety of sigs.[b] [color=#0080ff][u]Vocab[/u][/b][/color] This section will attempt to teach you the terms you need to know to create forum sigs, and the meaning behind the terms. Render: A render is an image of a character with a transparent background. It is the focal point of the signature. Some examples: [img]http://www.imageups.com/img/uploads/big/9d3be9c91c.png[/img] [img]http://www.imageups.com/img/uploads/big/5e277270a3.png[/img] [img]http://www.imageups.com/img/uploads/big/5379bdfab3.png[/img] Flow: Flow is the direction the signature is going, and is generally defined by the render used to make the sig. I will outline the flow of the renders posted above to help illustrate that a picture can have a "Direction". A general rule to use when in doubt is to go the direction the render's back is facing. [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/cWTUYu.png[/img] [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/MYJLjE.png[/img] [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/NfzfTe.png[/img] Depth: Depth is the range of distance objects appear to be in from the render, such as far away in the background, or close up in the foreground. For instance, look at the example bellow. The circled area on the left is clearly closer to the front than the circle on the right. [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/nPKfCJ.png[/img] C4d: A c4d is a 3d shape that is used to add depth to a signature. Some examples: [img]http://www.psychicmindgfx.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/c4d001.png[/img] [img]http://i54.tinypic.com/bhxfd3.png[/img] Blending: Blending is all about the render looking like it matches the background of the signature. This can be done in various ways by using lighting, smudging, or overlaying objects. These methods are exemplified bellow. [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/VNy3PV.png[/img] This used lighting to make the render match the background. [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/Mu1jbc.png[/img] This used smudging on the renders back [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/vBQgM3.png[/img] This sig used some c4ds over the renders right shoulder to make it blend. [b] [u][color=#0080ff]Background[/color][/u][/b] This section will show you how to set up a background for your sigs. Starting Colors: Make a new project with the dimensions you want. I use 420 x 150. Then open your render in the new project. Using the radial gradient tool, select a light and dark color from the render to make your back ground. [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/RjKLlg.png[/img] I used an orange and dark brown [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/t8rW0V.png[/img] This used a light and dark blue. Smudging: Smudge the render all over the canvas, but try to smudge in the flow of the sig. Then set the layer to soft light. This helps add variance to a boring gradient background, and livens it up some. [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/rbRrBz.png[/img] [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/NpkVLy.png[/img] C4Ds: Now add some c4ds to the background, also on soft light. This helps add depth to the sig, but its not to blatant. I like to keep my c4ds on 100 opacity, and just erase it with a slightly opaque eraser until the c4ds look faded and subtle. Try to make the c4ds match the flow of the sig. As the examples show, the c4ds are pretty faded. Dont be afraid to erase. [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/ciiLpZ.png[/img] [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/5DLDZR.png[/img] [u][b][color=#0080ff]Render[/color][/b][/u] This section will teach you how to properly place your render, aswell as some effects you can use on your render. This includes c4ds, fractals, splatter brushes, and clipping masks. Placement: Place your render into the signature. When choosing where to put it, try to follow the rule of thirds. This means to place the render off to one side, rather than the middle. Good Placement: [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/tmPaMX.png[/img] The focal point of the render is on the right third of the screen, and the top third. Bad Placement: [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/99N4P4.png[/img] The render should be further to the left, not in the middle. Smudging: At this point I like to smudge my render (make sure you have a back up). This helps add color to your sig, and can help it blend. Try to smudge with the flow of the sig. keep the smudging layers behind the unsmudged render. Before: [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/PwvFik.png[/img] [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/pbw1eW.png[/img] After: [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/eaRhQy.png[/img] [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/5xaJe1.png[/img] Splatter Brushes: Next I add a splatter brush that matches the flow of the I erase most of it, and try to keep it subtle. I then hide the splatter brush layer, and apply image. I then flip the applied image horizontally and create a clipping mask with the splatter brush. Before: [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/gPLX0j.png[/img] [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/KftCs5.png[/img] After: [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/yhAUFw.png[/img] [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/jhSo8e.png[/img] Effect C4ds: Effect c4ds are a good way to blend the render, add color, and add flow. I set them to linear dodge, and end up erasing most of the c4d. Effect c4ds should never cover up the focal point of the signature (usually the face) and should be placed with meaning, not just random. Here are some before and after shots with effect c4ds. Before: [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/950fXQ.png[/img] [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/mZ3Dl9.png[/img] After: [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/bUHlak.png[/img] [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/OmJSl1.png[/img] Smudging the Focal: Lastly, I like to smudge the edges of the render. It helps it blend with the back ground and can create some cool effects. The amount of smudging varies from sig to sig, but I use the technique in all of my sigs. Some examples: [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/oApkU5.png[/img] Notice how the left side of the render is smudged. It makes the render look like its fading away, and helps it flow. it also helps the render blend with the background, creating a visually pleasing focal. [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/FsKE3N.png[/img] This example has some more blatant smudging on the back of the render. It makes it hard to see where the background ends and the render begins, which is exactly what we want. [b] [u][color=#0080ff]Lighting[/color][/u][/b] Lighting is really easy when you get the hang of it. It basically consists of determining where the light is on the render, and matching that with a light source in the sig. Determining light sources in the render: This part is really easy. Just find where it looks like light is reflecting off the render. Some examples: [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/ifjn0b.png[/img] In this example, I've circled the light on the render, which is on his shoulder and side of his head. It looks like the light is coming from behind him, so in the signature the light source should be behind the left side of the render, like this. [img]http://www.imageups.com/img/uploads/big/4f1329f869.png[/img] To create a light source, you can do 1 of two things. The first of which is just a soft white brush set to soft light. It can be used in different locations depending on the signature. Try to match the light on the render. This mean that if the light is on the right side of the render, than the light source should be on the right side of the signature. Before: [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/WzW0YG.png[/img] After: [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/G94zsl.png[/img] The second way is to use c4ds and fractals set to linear dodge. This can look alot nicer than using a soft brush, as it adds texture to the light source. This method usually requires multiple layers, until you get the effect you want. Before: [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/CczAUJ.png[/img] After: [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/AtDk1O.png[/img] [b] [u][color=#0080ff]Text[/color][/u][/b] Text has 2 main aspects to keep in mind: Position, and Color. Proper text should follow the rule of thirds, just like the render, and should contrast from the colors behind it. I personally like to use two different fonts when adding text, a block text and a cursive font. Placement: Text should always be small, and near the render, aswell as following the rule of thirds. Here is some text that is well placed. [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/WfW1YX.png[img] The text is small, but readable. It follows the rule of thirds, and is close to the render. [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/3Rb5aF.png[/img] Once again, the text follows the rule of thirds and is close to the render. Here is an example of some bad text placement: [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/FCV0yU.png[/img] The text is far away from the render, and does not follow the rule of thirds. Color: The color of the text should always contrast from the colors behind it. This makes the text alot easier to read, and it looks alot nicer. The color should also match the other colors of the sig. A good way to do this is to use clipping masks. Good color: [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/LPrGYv.png[/img] The text is easy to read, and the colors go well with the sig. Bad color: [img]http://screensnapr.com/e/o2PfzX.png[/img] Although the color of the text matches with the sig, it is a light color on top of a light color. This makes it almost impossible to read. [b] [u][color=#0080ff]Conclusion[/color][/u][/b] When making a forum sig, its important to take into account all the major topics discussed above, such as flow, light sources, and blending. I hope this tutorial helped you learn something knew, and helped you improve your sigs. Have fun making sigs![/quote]