So apparently I do sigs now

[Pheesh]

Looking really good dude, especially the first one. You can tell you're getting a lot better with each new sig.

Fonts can be tricky if you're after something very specific, in the end I always have a 'less is more' approach, and usually stick with small arial. Backgrounds aren't as hard as you would think, next time you're screwing around just put a bunch of brush strokes down on seperate layers, put on a gaussian/motion blur, change the blending to overlay or light screen or basically whatever looks good and then move the different layers around a bit. You'll be surprised how good it can look.

[Jiro]

That certainly sounds like something I can manage. Motion blur, gotta find that option somewhere!!

[Pheesh]

Are you using Photoshop?

[Jiro]

I am indeed! CS5 and all! Fancy software automatically makes my work better, right? :P

[Rantz]

Motion Blur should be under Filters > Blur.

Edit: Ace sig is looking good. For the others I'd try to "dissolve" the rectangle shape a bit. Not necessarily literally, but there's a lot of focus on the rectangle shape they have. Giving them a non-plain background would help focus attention on the actual design.

Edit2: Obviously transparency is another good way, as you've already discovered.

[Jiro]

I hate rectangle shapes but I love borders so it's hard

[Rantz]

Make borders with the pen tool and bend them!

[Jiro]

I have made a fair few signatures lately, but I can only show you a handful because ~!*SECRETS*!~

For dandy da oak


For Kuroshima


For Tifa's Boobs


My current sig



Also made Wolf Kanno's current one but that wasn't using a range of skills so I won't post it up here

[Rantz]

Nice batch! You weren't terrible to begin with, but I definitely think your design has improved a lot.

Also, [joke about supplying a signature for Tifa's Boobs]

[Jinx]

Nice batch! You weren't terrible to begin with, but I definitely think your design has improved a lot.

Also, [joke about supplying a signature for Tifa's Boobs]

Dak can sign my boobs any day.

[Jiro]

I have actually discovered how a few different functions work. So it's not just messing with Brightness/Contrast any more, there's other filters and adjustments being experimented with. I have a couple of sweet ones but they're commissions for Wolf Kanno and secret at this point

[Pheesh]

Awesome work dak. You're obviously getting a lot better at your backgrounds and blending work. Can't wait to see what else you start experimenting with!

[Jiro]

I tried doing something that wasn't a rectangle and it was going alright until it buggered up around the edges so I got sad and wanted to quit

[Jiro]

Decided to stop being a pussy and give the blitzball sig another go. Wanted to smurf about with animation too. So, voila. Missed one frame but whatever I don't understand this trout.
Attachment 36556

[Jinx]

I think I prefer the first one.