Snootch

iTrader: (3)

Thanks for all your compliments.

Mcheap

great tut. Now would a mod throw some sticky on this bitch?

Blue's_Z28

iTrader: (2)

I tried using this technique with the Photoshop here at work and when I get to the part where you use the "Transform" feature, when I pull down the meny "Transform" is always greyed out so I can't select it. What would cause that?

Complicated

You might have to rastorize the layer first, You cannot transform text or a vector image, it has to be rastorized! But remember that once you rasterize text it is no longer editable!

To Rasterize the layer Right click on it in the layers palette and click on rasterize type or just rasterize if it is a vector image that you created with the pen tool!

Blue's_Z28

iTrader: (2)

Wow. That was all Greek to me!

I created the 150 x 500 background, then opened my first photo to change it's scale to fit the background better but like I said, I pull down the menu and "Transform" is greyed out, unclickable.

Mcheap

control + a and then control + t

Snootch

iTrader: (3)

I have noticed that sometimes certain tools will not work on images you dragged onto another if they are not the same mode. The blank 500 x 150 canvas uses an RGB mode. Maybe you dragged a different type of image onto it? Click on your image you want to transform in the layers palette (bottom right corner) and then go to Image>Mode. there RGB color should be checked. If it's not, then click it to change the color mode. All the tools should work then. If it still does not, than it's the rasterization problem Complicated pointed out.

Blue's_Z28

iTrader: (2)

The picture I dragged onto the background, on the title bar above it, says '<photoname>@100% RBG'. Does that mean that that photo is RGB? BTW, I'm using Photoshop 7.0.

Complicated

Your layer is locked! If you start out with a new document filled with any color it will automatically lock that layer and then you cannot make changes to it. Double click on the little lock on the layers palette!
Also remember to always create a new layer when you are gonna add a new image or make a change, that way you are not drawing on the actual image and you can erase what you have done with out disturbing the pixels of the original image
Here is where the lock is located on the layers palette:

Blue's_Z28

iTrader: (2)

Well, I got it unlocked but nothing else seemed to be working as it should. With zero photoshop experience I guess I'll just go get Photoshop For Dummies (me) and start from scratch. Thanks for the help though!

PendragonZ

We'll sticky this for a little while Nice writeup.

tylerdj

iTrader: (31)

I've got a question Snootch. I'm making a sig and I get the picture sized up the way I like but there's probably a 1/4 of the area that the picture doesn't cover. Whats a good way to fill that in other than adding another picture to cover it? Thanks!

02trns_am

iTrader: (4)

How about a little help with that GIMP program? I have no idea how to use it and I can't get the adobe one to work. (ofcourse I didn't buy it)

Snootch

iTrader: (3)

There are two ways I know of to "extend" a pic. The first way is to select the smudge tool, (icon looks like a hand/finger) adjust the size to fairly large (60 pixels or so), and maximize the window your sig is in. Next click and hold over the edge of the pic, and drag or smear it over the area you want to cover. This will give the illusion that the pic continues, but another picture should be blended on top of it, as upon closer inspection the pic does look stretched on that end.
The other method is a bit harder, and involves using the clone stamp tool.

Select a portion of the pic at the edge you want to extend, and hit the ALT key. this copies the area under your cursor to memory. clicking on the blank area will copy it back.

you can extend a portion of a picture like a fence or a wall using one or both of these techniques.

Snootch

iTrader: (3)

I haven't used that program at all. I just know it's freeware. Maybe someone who uses it can chime in.

tylerdj

iTrader: (31)

Thanks Snootch

Also, how do you add a 'glow' type effect to the text....similar to what is in your sig now?

Snootch

iTrader: (3)

Simple, Select your text layer, go to Layer>Layer style, Outer glow. Turn it on, and play with the settings.

98SS1LWEE

iTrader: (25)

Thanks man, I just did my first one, You walked me right through it, It is deff a work in progress but Thanks for the help

FireSilverLullaby

iTrader: (5)

Great tutorial. I Made a few sig pics, any suggestions?

My first one, maybe add some text or something.

I like this one alot.

OR i could do this and put something out to the left?

_LS1_

iTrader: (1)

Is mine too big?
I made it 500x150 It just looks too big