How do you make the cool photo sigs?

[lowepg]

After losing a couple hours of my life in photoshop -I'll never get back - I figured Id just ask....

Is there a common template or something folks here have used for the nice sigs?

Sorry for the dumb question....

[The Terminator]

I think there a few folks on the board who has the talent to do the sigs you have seen. I am sure they will post up soon. By the way, it's a great question.

[lowepg]

whew.... I was hoping that I wasnt the ONLY person here artistically challenged!

[761.2MPH]

No your not the only one with the question, I have been working on one for myself. Don't know much about them or where to get the HCMC logo from. Hint Hint... Having fun learning new software anyway. Good luck with yours and mabe I will finish mine someday as well.

[lowepg]

hmmm- I guess the thread didnt attract any of the resident artists.....Doh!

[FastRyde]

I haven't come across any templates. What I did though is download one of the sigs and see how it was done. I took a shot at it using Photoshop CS (and PS Elements) and did one for me and one for my wife (Slowryde). Not that good though, but it's a start. :D

Hope this help:
1. Create a new image (transparent background) of 550x175 (this is for your sig)
2. To remove the background of your car's picture; using the Magic Wand Tool, I started marking the area's I want to remove around the car's image
3. I then used the Eraser Tool (switch to Background Eraser) and started erasing the areas I marked.
4. Once I've removed the larger; areas around the car's picture, I then zoomed in;, close enough that you can see the image pixels and used the Erasor Tool this time to clean it up some. (The hard part is getting to the area's closer; to the car. This is the part where it's very time consuming.)
5. If you're going to put a background on your sig, copy that first and paste it on your sig.
6. Then select your car's image, then paste it on the sig and just move it around where you want it.
The complete cropping of the car's background makes it look like 3D; once it's pasted on your sig. Also, if you want to put light effects, use the Filter->Render tool on PS. Or blur the background a little using Filter->Blur tool.
That should do it.
I'll check back here again, in case you have questions.

Thanks.
Ariel

[LoudEnuf]

I've made a couple for other forums, I just dont have PS anymore, sorry.

[FastRyde]

No your not the only one with the question, I have been working on one for myself. Don't know much about them or where to get the HCMC logo from. Hint Hint... Having fun learning new software anyway. Good luck with yours and mabe I will finish mine someday as well.

David,
Here's an image of the HCMC logo. The background is transparent, even though it looks blue...:burnout: Have fun!
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m91/5thgen/hcmc.jpg

[kryptonite]

It's not that hard. Just have to play with PS until you get exactly what you want. Just keep plugging away at it.

[761.2MPH]

Thanks for the logo Ariel. :rockon:
Maybe one day I'll get around to finishing my sig.