Before we start, it must be noted that I used the "Lava" pattern from my Pattern Set 1 in these banners. I will upload a jpg image of the pattern which can be used as a substitute for non-large graphics though.

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OK, welcome to my fourth tutorial. Here is what we'll be making today:



Step 1

File > New. Set the size options and click OK. I'll be using the usually 400 x 125. Fill the canvas with black solid fill. Go to File > Open as Layer and navigate to the render you wish to use. OK it, then resize and reposition as needed. Go to Layer > Layer to Image Size.



Step 2

Create a new layer beneath the render layer and call it "Gradient". Grab a colour from the render as the foreground colour. Select the gradient tool. Change the gradient option to "FG to Transparent". Drag out a gradient on the Gradient layer to get something like this:



Step 3

Create another new layer between Gradient and the render layer. Call it "Pattern". Simply fill this with a suitable pattern. I used my lava pattern. You can copy and paste this image onto the layer (won't work for images larger than 200 x 600) if you want the lava style without downloading the lattern set. Desaturate the layer. Alpha to selection the "Gradient" layer. Invert selection and delete selection from the "Lava" layer. Set to Overlay and duplicate once.



Step 4

Hide the render layer and go to Edit > Copy Visible. Reshow the render layer. Paste the copy as a new layer and name "Pick Background". Position below the render layer. Go to Filters > Noise > Pick. Set both slider values to 50 and OK it.



Step 5

Paste again and set as new layer. Name it "Dodge Background". Position over the "Pick Background" layer. Set layer mode to dodge.



Step 6

Duplicate the render layer twice. Name the lower of the three "Pick Base". Go to Layers > Transfrom > Offset and set the x value to 20. OK it. Select the layer above that and go back to the Offset option. Change the x value to -20 this time and OK it. Merge these two layers and desaturate.



Step 7

Run the Pick filter on the Pick Base layer at the same settings as before. Set the layer mode to "Grain Merge".



Step 8

Hide the render layer and copy visible. Reshow the render layer. Paste as new layer and set name as "Blending". Uncheck the "Keep Transparency" box on the layers dialogue (this'll save us from having to do it later). It should default to top of the layer stack, which is where you want it. Alpha to selection the render layer, then make the Blending layer active. Shrink the selection by 5 pixels, then activate quickmask. Gaussian blur by 30 pixels, then run the Pick filter again on the same settings as before. Deactivate quickmask and delete selection.



Step 9

Do a copy visible and paste as new layer. Name it "Gradient Map 1". Set foreground colour to black and background colour to white. Set the gradient option to "FG to BG (RGB)". Now run Filters > Colour > Map > Gradient Map. Set layer to colour at 60% opacity.



Step 10

Copy visible again and paste as new layer. Name it "Gradient Map 2". Now pick two colours that you want to see in the final version. I'll be using Pink and Purple. Once your foreground and background colours are set run a gradient map and set the layer to overlay.



Step 11

Duplicate the background layer and called the copy "Shadows". Alpha to selection the Gradient layer and delete the selection from the Shadows layer. Move the layer to the top of the stack and set to overlay. Duplicate it once.



Step 12

Time to soften up the image. Go to the Blending layer. Run a Gaussian Blur by 3 pixels.



And there we are. Now you just add your finishing touches, such as text, and the graphic is done.

Outcomes

Nice tutorial, I'll definitely try this.

Here's my outcome:

Nice tut.

Cool. Thanks for using the tut A90. ^^

Looks an awfully lot like your last 2, but I like your style so Ill try :w:

omg i will try this but i cant find a good render >.<

btw IP wat was ure text?

Good old size 10 arial.

Well im done mine. Nothing compared wit u guys =/

I love my result! Here it is!

wow nice parrappa.

I. Love. This. Sig.



Great tut. Very easy to follow. I also liked how you made sure to explain every step IN DETAIL.

Thanks for the awesome tut!

Keep 'em coming!

i love the outcome, but, what is the quickmask in step 8?

Oops. At the bottom-left of the window is a little button with a square icon. Click this to toggle the quickmask.

Thanks for trying the tutorial people. I'll add the outcomes when I get a chance.

oh, ok tyvm i'll post my outcome in a bit

I'm gonna try this I love your tuts

ok i'm finished

great tut here is mine

I loved this tut so much....

I just had to do it again.

2nd result:



Thanks for the amazing tut.

Amazing tut. I love this sig. Current?

E: Damn! Borders!

E2: Fixed

Current it, looks sweet. Thanks for using the tut.

I also made V2 And V3 And V4:

V2


V3




Wich one is best?

Looks like a great tut as always. Super detailed and well explained. Why are your tuts not official yet? Do yourself a favor and move them :w:. Really, your tuts are some of the best written sig tuts around here.

Tried it and got a nice outcome. Made a sig for a friend of mine.

Nice tutorial! Here are my results! Not too shabby, lol.

Hey! Another tutorial!

My results:



I like the first one better. Great tutorial by the way. Heh, and now I sound like a broken record.