***Before you do this tutorial, get your self grunge brushes either from DeviantArt or here (<-- I recommand that you press 'here'). And yes Im well aware of laMe's tut.. but oh well

Intro:
Grunge is one of easiest skill to achieve in Photoshop, and when its done nicely, it looks great =) Grunge can also be used alot in 3d abstracts etc... you just needs right ways of doing it really.


1. Open up new picture file

2. Go to Filter>Render>Cloud, play around with it, you may do diff coloud, invert (ctrl + I) etc... just dont go too far. Heres what I chose (just plain cloud) Name that layer 'Cloud Background'
(you dont have to use cloud as your background, you can just use pictures, like buildings and such, Ive seen some that turned out to be great!)

3. Now, create new layer (Ctrl + Shift + N), and get your grunge brushes.

4. This is a part where it all depends on your 'taste' in grunge, if you prefer your sig to be light and unsaturated, give around 10~30 brush opacity, if you prefer your sig to be dark and sort of 'strong' or 'saturated', give around 50~100 brush opacity. (Ill be using 10~30 brush opacity)

5. Now, brush away on your new layer, just remember, dont go too far, and whenever your using new brush, create new layer, and give 'soft light' or 'normal' or 'overlay' blending option for every layers you have except the background.

AND BE CREATIVE WHEN YOUR BRUSHING

Now save the file as psd, and call it 'w/e name -- Backup'

6. Well, you need text now right? Go to text tool, and write your name, w/e you want smile.gif

7. Now, right click on the text layer, and click on blending options

8. You can mess around with the settings, Im not gonna tell you the exact values yet, but I use (most of the time) Bevel, Stroke (very low opacity) and Gradient Overlay.

*** OPTIONAL: 9. You may duplicate text layer, give it motion blur, gaussian, etc etc. (Im skipping this step for tutorial)

10. This is where you can add pictures, such as anime, games, or real-life. I added Raven Shield Picture.

11. Now, lets add border! The easiest part of the sig-making IMO.... since this is making basic border

Click on Rectangular Marquee, and make your settings like mine:


Now, click on the middle of the picture, DO NOT MOVE IT WITH YOUR MOUSE!

Press up arrow twice, and Left arrow twice (on your keyboard). Right click on the selection > Stroke.

After that, right click on border layer, and go to blending options.

You can basically do what you did for text, except, give it a outer glow.

12. Now, ctrl+D to deselect. Well your technically done now, but somethings missing... Ah yes.. the colour smile.gif

Save the Pic to the back up, then push ctrl + shift + e to merge all layers.

Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Color balance (or ctrl+B )

Now, you'll have to play around with the settings here, just make sure you dont go over board in highlight and shadow section, or it will screw you over.

Heres settings I used

Shadow:
[0] [0] [0]

Midtones:
[+16] [+49] [+77]

Highlights:
[+42] [+24] [-7]

p.s. Thats right, Im lazy to take pictures


Also, you can try Duotone (or tri tone... or quad tone.. heh)

Make your pictuere into Greyscale, then go to that drop-down box again, you'll see an option called 'Duotone', just play around with the colour, I normally use Tri tone instead of Duotone.. but mind you, they dont work well with grunge sigs/works most of the time, they are more like for 3d and abstracts.. but sometimes they work with grunge so smile


There you go! Your all done! heres few examples of what you can get:











~Zero Legend Production, copyright 2004, tutorial brought to you by Ntrik_

REVISED & UPDATED: Nov. 01, 2004