Ethereal Tutorial [ps] *---***

[musical zombie.]

Okay, guys. I've gotten some positive feedback on my "ethereal" signature, which is my current, actually, and I've decided to make a tutorial. This has been something I've been doing for a while, and the main technique I use is, no, not filters, not brushes, not c4d's, but macros (high quality images of anything) and stock images from the best site ever (in my opinion) for effect photos.

http://www.sxc.hu/
If you haven't already, register and look in their image category called "playing with light". Very interesting stuff in there.

Anyways, I'm first going to categorize the images I used in here so you can see what sorts of images I use. You can really use anything, but really look for stuff that you think would give some cool effects.
(warning, gigantic images :D
http://www.uploadthis.co.uk/uploads/...8_63397513.jpg
http://www.uploadthis.co.uk/uploads/...2_35121028.jpg

Believe it or not, but those are the only two images I used. And, despite popular belief, I'm probably not going to provide images to go along with this tutorial, but I probably will, so yeah.

REMEMBER!
The secret to success with this sort of signature is to experiment and mess around! That's how I get stuff done!

Okay, so first, put your stock image (whatever it may be) into your signature, resize it, position it nicely.

Take a second stock image (I used that rainbow one up there, it looks quite nice. Position a couple of times (I used mine three or four times to get the wanted effects). Try out different blending modes and opacities or filters, as well, until you get what looks good.

If you don't like your colours right now, take the chance and add in some gradient maps or gradients or whatever you feel like.

Next, this step is really actually optional, but I added some pentooling to match it up; the lines outward, and the circles around my focal.

Do a Curves layer (click the ying-yang lookin' symbol and click "Curves"). I raised the blue up and the red down and green up, as well, but you should do whatever you want according to your vision of your signature.

I made a new layer, and applied the image, and did some dodging and burning to make parts lighter and parts darker.

Lastly, a black gradient map set to hard light at 50% opacity to make it look more contrasted and sexy. Then, add your border (I did a 2px white border set to overlay) and add text, if needed, and then you're done.

There's only one real reason why I didn't include images to this tutorial (other than the fact that I'm lazy), and that's because you need to...

BE CREATIVE AND EXPERIMENT!

I wouldn't be teaching you anything if you just copied exactly what I did, right? Go off and do something crazy! Use your own stock images! Do whatever! Your mind is the canvas and Photoshop is the paint! GOGOGOGOGOGOGOGOGGO

[Shroomeh]

sweet. cheers mz. ill get onto this soon, today maybe.

[sugarpoultry]

I will try it, be watching out for it.

[Shroomeh]

After some experiments i made these. i like the sig one. not sure about the other.

[musical zombie.]

Quite cool, the signature one is very nice. You did a great job on these. :>

[sugarpoultry]

I did one, course, I did a few things to it myself... It's kind of bland...