How to create custom signatures? I struggle wondering if I should add a signature or watermark to my photos. First off, is there a difference between watermarks and signatures?

Copfer Loc: Gillette, Wyoming

I struggle wondering if I should add a signature or watermark to my photos. First off, is there a difference between watermarks and signatures? Secondly, how do you create custom signatures? I use Lightroom watermarks, but I've seen some cool signatures. How do I make those?

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Copfer wrote:

I struggle wondering if I should add a signature or watermark to my photos. First off, is there a difference between watermarks and signatures? Secondly, how do you create custom signatures? I use Lightroom watermarks, but I've seen some cool signatures. How do I make those?

They are alled called watermarks. Never made one in Lightroom, so I'm of no help there! I just use my Avatar as watermark, I used Illustrator to make it (nice program with layers)!

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Cheryl, I made a signature the old fashioned way. I wrote my name on a piece of white paper. Photographed that, then, in PS, selected and erased the white. This left just the black hand written signature. I could place that anywhere I wanted.
--Bob

Copfer wrote:

I struggle wondering if I should add a signature or watermark to my photos. First off, is there a difference between watermarks and signatures? Secondly, how do you create custom signatures? I use Lightroom watermarks, but I've seen some cool signatures. How do I make those?

Rongnongno Loc: FL

rmalarz wrote:

Cheryl, I made a signature the old fashioned way. I wrote my name on a piece of white paper. Photographed that, then, in PS, selected and erased the white. This left just the black hand written signature. I could place that anywhere I wanted.
--Bob

All great and good.. Problem? Pixelisation. Go one step further and make it a vector image that way it is 'scalable' and will not show any edge when used...

I did that for my own signature (except that I used a scanner).

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I create mine in PS Elements, export as a PNG file (so the background is transparent) and add it to the shot(s) in Fastone, but there are many other ways to do it

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

You can do graphics watermarks in Lightroom, as opposed to just text.
Look under 'edit watermarks' for 'Watermark Style'.
I do all of my watermarks as Photoshop brushes.
That allows for scaling, positioning anywhere and applying layer effects, etc. to the watermark.
Instructions for creating watermarks as brushes can be found on YouTube.

Copfer Loc: Gillette, Wyoming

Thank you. I did the brush preset in photoshop and really like it. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

TriX wrote:

I create mine in PS Elements, export as a PNG file (so the background is transparent) and add it to the shot(s) in Fastone, but there are many other ways to do it

You can do the same thing by saving it as a custom brush.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

I created a PNG file in PS then imported it as a graphic in LR

OnDSnap Loc: NE New Jersey

You really want a vector image, I use either Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, or Fireworks (PNG files), and my favorite is Autodesk's Sketchbook Pro with a Wacom tablet. Can't do transparencies in a JPG file so I use either a PNG or a TIFF. You can try a free download of Sketchbook PRO at
http://www.autodesk.com/products/sketchbook-pro/overview I own it so I don't know it's limitations with trial version, caution, it can be addicting if your an artist.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Copfer wrote:

I struggle wondering if I should add a signature or watermark to my photos. First off, is there a difference between watermarks and signatures? Secondly, how do you create custom signatures? I use Lightroom watermarks, but I've seen some cool signatures. How do I make those?

"Watermark" dates back to the days of actual water marks, made by rolling a water-coasted stamp onto the print. Although the term is still used, it's not technically accurate, so you can call it anything you want. There are many different ways to add a watermark, but you must have a reason to put it on your photos - generally for advertising. They can be removed so easily that they are not a security measure.

PhotoPhred Loc: Cheyney, Pa

You can also buy a bunch of fine point sharpies in different colors and sign you prints. If you have a MAC there is an app called fotor that has a lot of different fonts and any color. I find the sharpie technique saves a lot of time.

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

TriX wrote:

I create mine in PS Elements, export as a PNG file (so the background is transparent) and add it to the shot(s) in Fastone, but there are many other ways to do it

I used elements too, but just used the script tool to write my name and the code for the copyright symbol on a single layer and saved it in a tool folder at 85% transparency as a .psd file. I can open it, change the color if needed & paste on to any photo.

teacherdad48 Loc: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

There is a company called photologo.com, they will create one for you. Excellent results.

Morning Star Loc: West coast, North of the 49th N.

rmalarz wrote:

Cheryl, I made a signature the old fashioned way. I wrote my name on a piece of white paper. Photographed that, then, in PS, selected and erased the white. This left just the black hand written signature. I could place that anywhere I wanted.
--Bob

In PS (or PSE) you can then make it into a brush (Edit -> Define Brush) and place it on your photo in any size you like.