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Warning! This tutorial is not for GIMP beginners! You will need
some experience with GIMP to be able to do this tutorial
successfully.
Note: This tutorial will not work well with all renders. Try
to pick a render that has a limited color range, i.e., one
that is several shades of the same color.
Start out with a basic new canvas. Take a look at your render
and pick a color that is similar. Fill your canvas with that
color.
Now, paste your render in on a new layer. Position it slightly
to one side.
Now, duplicate the render layer, and pick a new dark color
from the render. Then go to your gradient tool, and set the
gradient (double-click on "gradient" in the tool options) to
'FG to transparent'.
Then, go to Filters > Colors > Map > Gradient Map.
You should get this:
Now, in your layers dialog, right click on the Gradient Mapped
layer, and choose "Alpha to Selection". Make a new layer.
In your Paths dialog, click the button at the bottom that looks
like this:
That is the "Selection to Path" button. While you are in the
Paths dialog, click to the left of the path you just
made to make it visible. Then select the Paths tool.
You should see something like this:
Now, with the Paths tool selected, click on one of those
thin red lines. The picture will change to this:
Go back to your Paths dialog, and click the eye to make the
path invisible again. Then click this button at the bottom of
the dialog:
That is the Path to Selection button. You should have this:
Now, go back to the Layers dialog and make sure that you
have that new blank layer selected. Then fill the selection
with the Paint Bucket tool. You should get this:
Your sig looks half-vectored already! But it is very dull and
flat. Let's spruce it up. Set the bottom render layer to Dodge.
Move the Filled selection Layer down underneath the
Gradient Mapped layer, and set it to Difference. Set the
Gradient Mapped Layer to Hue. You should get this:
Now that's a lot more vibrant! AND it looks vectored, but
without the hours of labor with the Paths tool. ^_^
Let's add some cool effects. Make a new layer, and use the
Paths tool to make a diagonal line across the sig:
Pick a new lighter color, and then go to Edit > Stroke Path.
Set the width to about 15. You should get this:
Repeat this with a new path to the side, and a new color:
Now, make a new layer, and get out your Sparks Paintbrush.
Brush lightly around the render, flowing upward.
Go to your Layers dialog, and right click on the layer with the
sparks on it. Choose "Alpha to Selection". Then go to your
Paths dialog and click the button at the bottom that looks like
this:
Now go to Select > None and then go back to the Paths dialog.
Click the button at the bottom that looks like this:
Now, make a new layer above the sparks layer, pick a new
matching color, and fill in the selection. Then delete the
sparks layer. You should have something like this:
Repeat this process with a new spark layer, and a new color.
After doing that several times, you'll get something like this:
The sig needs something more...In your Paths dialog, select
the original path that you made from the Gradient Map.
Make a new layer, pick a new color, and then go to Edit >
Stroke Path. Set the width to 2 or less. Move the layer to the
side a few pixels, and then erase where it doesn't
look good. You should get something like this:
Repeat this process with new layers and colors:
Now it's time for a border. Follow these directions to get a
border similar to the one i have.
Make a new layer. Go to Select > All, then Select > Rounded
Rectangle. Set it at 35. Leave the other settings alone.
Fill the selection with a color. Go to Select > None.
Move the layer up and to the right about 15-20 pixels.
Go to Layer > Layer to Image size. Go to the Layers dialog,
right click on the selected layer, and choose "Alpha to
Selection". Go to Select > Invert.
Make a new layer.
Fill the selection with color. Delete the mostly filled rounded
layer. Go to Select > None. You should get this:
It's time to add text. Try to choose a font that is sleek
and modern. Make the text color similar to the other colors
in the sig. Angle the text with the Rotation tool to make it
line up with the stripes.
Now your Splatter/Vector sig is complete!
. Please PM instead of spamming.
