Using a signature is one way that you can add a personal touch to your layouts. We will cover several different ideas for creating a custom signature for your layouts.
OPTION 1 Using your name
1. Open a new canvas.
FILE > NEW > instead of using a typical square select the size you would like to make your signature block. For this tutorial I will make my signature 1.5 inches in height by 4.5 inches in width. Like any design, create this at 300 pixels (dots) per inch.
2. Using the paint feature and your mouse or Wacom Tablet draw/write your name inside the square.
EFFECTS > PAINT BRUSH > FREEHAND
If you find that you can¡¦t create a good signature with your mouse or tablet simply find a font that suits your style and create your name using the text feature instead.
Font: wolves, lower
3. Save the signature as a .png file so that the background is transparent. (If you happened to insert a background shape be sure to remove it before saving as a .png.) Be sure to give it a unique name and then insert it into your layouts ļ
OPTION 2 ¡V Using your initials
If you want to be more creative than simply using your name your initials can make a great signature stamp.
1. Open a new canvas. Create the canvas in a square. I am using a 4 inch by 4 inch square, 300 pixels per inch.
2. Insert a circle shape.
INSERT > SHAPE > CIRCLE. Make the circle about 3 and 7/8ths an inch.
3. Remove the fill color from inside the shape. Click on the paint bucket icon and select NO FILL.
4. Increase the line thickness on the circle. Click on the line thickness icon and increase the size to 4 pt.
5. Center the shape on the canvas.
FORMAT > CENTER OBJECT ON CANVAS
6. Find a font for your initials. Insert your first initial. Make your initials bigger than the circle. You can crop the excess away after you have everything set to your liking. Once you have your first initial set, place your next initial.
FONT: Maiandra GD (altered)
7. Once you have your initials placed group the two initials together. Select the first initial, hold down control and select the second initial. Click on the little puzzle piece below them to group them together.
8. With the initials selected click on the marquee tool.
In the marquee tool palette change the marquee to a circle.
Tick the shape proportions box to keep the ratio at a 1 to 1.
Draw the marquee over the circle on the canvas using the thick line as your guide.
Once you have the areas aligned, select invert in the marquee tool palette. This will change the shape from a circle to lines around the excess pieces of your initial.
Select the cut icon (scissors) to remove the excess pieces.
You can alter this idea many different ways by using one initial alone or creating one initial oversized and adding the rest of your name to it. (See examples)
9. Save your signature stamp as a .png (like step 3 in OPTION 1)
OPTION 3 ¡V Create a stamp with symbols, shapes, etc. that is personal to you.
1. Create a new canvas. The size and shape will vary depending on the type of stamp you plan to make.
2. Insert whatever items you wish to use to create your symbol/stamp.
3. Save your creation as a .png
EXAMPLE:
For this example I scanned in a name stamp I had made in Japan.
In this example I used the turtle shape from the DIP gallery and then used the freehand paint tool to add a few lines through it.
In this last example I used several shapes and my initials (Maiandra GD).
I hope that this will encourage you to find a unique way to add your own personal touch (or siggy) into your layouts!
**First Published in TidBytes March 2007**
© Copyright by Scrapbook-Bytes.com
Top of Page
