signatures and photoshop

[perfectpixel]

Hi all,
is there an easy way to add a visible watermark/signature line to pictures in photoshop 6.0?
Maybe someone has an action doing this?
I'd appreciate any help.
cheers!

[henkbos]

You can do the following:
- make a new PS-file
- put your signature in there as text
- save it as a brush
- next time you want a signature, just click on the brush

Don't have all the details of the process anymore, but this is the general idea.

[robertwgross]

The trick to the signature is that sometimes the photo background will be light in color, so you would want a dark signature. If the background is dark, you may want the signature to be light. If the background were red, you might want the signature to be blue.

Wouldn't it be great if the program could figure out the background and automatically suggest a couple of signature color options?

---Bob Gross---

[neilcowley]

Here's the steps I use:
pre: size image to consistent size
1. make text layer with desired text and font.
2. add layer style to have drop shadow
3. make layer 75% transparent
4. select all
5. select> contract 10px
6. align text to bottom, align text to right
export

[rodbunn]

I havn't tried any but at download.com there are several
programs that add watermarks to your pics... Here is one:

AiS Watermark Pictures Protector lets you protect from thieves your images and digital photos published on the Web by adding to them visible watermarks. The watermarks can be solid or transparent, they can include your logo, company name, your site URL, date and time or any custom text. The level of transparency can be manually adjusted for best results. Special emulation option is available for black and white images. You may also use the program for other 'non-protective' purposes - for example, for applying watermarks such as 'Sample', 'On Sale', 'Sold', 'Demo' or for adding dates/time/comments to your digital photographs. The program can handle over 40 popular image formats (including TIFF, BMP and JPG), it lets you process multiple images at once and automatically create thumbnails and Web galleries.

[rodbunn]

I actually downloaded this program and tested
it and it works great to add a watermark.....

Photo Watermark 3.01

[IndyJeff]

An aqaintence of mine did the best watermark ever. It was transparent when viewing on the PC, however when you tried to click and save then print the words "I stole this print from Wilson Photography via the internet" shows up in bright red letters all across the very bottom of the photograph.
Sorry I can't remember how he did it in PS and haven't talked to him in over a year.

[JABACo]

errrr

[Default9]

the brush method like henkbos said is a decent way to do it.

just some additional info:
+make shure the background is transparant.
+then edit>define brush
+then don't forget to save the brushes with the new brush in it.
+open up the brush panel hit the arrow top right and "save brushes..."

[ThePhantomsGirlfriend]

I use the Waternark program too and it has been worth it. Easy to use. I did a lot of concert photos and didn't want them showing up all oer the 'net as someone elses. I have a friend who took some good photos and found them being sold on eBay by someone claiming that they were theirs! Watermarking is a good idea - and very easy with this program.

Smiles,

Holly

[Slow]

http://graphicssoft.about.com/cs/photoshop/ht/apswatermark.htm

[martcol]

IndyJeff wrote:
It was transparent when viewing on the PC, however when you tried to click and save then print the words "I stole this print from...shows up in bright red letters...

That sounds coooooool! Any suggestions for alternative messages to hide in those photos? How about, "copies of your expeses forms are also embeded in this image" or "I've also got shots of your wife." ....

:D

Martcol

[phidong]

If you're displaying your images on the web and want to do that transparent thing.. just make a trnsparent gif and mask it with like GREEN or something (when u open it up it'll say it in green) but whatever.. that doesn't matter.. make a table in html on your webpage and set your photograph to the background, then the transparent gif over it as an IMG.. so when u right click to save.. oops.. its the gif not the img..

=x could work, unless they view source.

As for your signature.. how about going to actions, recording yourself making a border around your photograph and then signing in the border. Eh. :) Then go to file?automate>droplet.. make a droplet and drag all your pictures into it. Done.

[Default9]

phidong wrote:

As for your signature.. how about going to actions, recording yourself making a border around your photograph and then signing in the border. Eh. :) Then go to file?automate>droplet.. make a droplet and drag all your pictures into it. Done.

how about you write us a nice little tutorial on how to do that.
sort of a step by step basics ;)

[Shaner (Ut)]

Heres a good link for making a translucent text using PS ...
http://www.eyewire.com/tips/mini/embossed2.html
I created a similiar method and made it into an action then when I want toadd my signature all I do is click play and then resize after its done... if you want the steps in the action then just let me know and I'll post them later tonight.

[Shaner (Ut)]

Heres a couple of examples I did for another forum.
The text is a little large in these but ya get an idea of what it would look like.
I usually make it a lot smaller and then place it in the photo somewhere towards the bottom in a spot that would make it difficult for someone to clone over it.... you can adjust the opacity to barely make it visible.
http://www.pbase.com/image/21959620/medium.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/image/21958555/medium.jpg

[perfectpixel]

Shaner (Ut) wrote:
... if you want the steps in the action then just let me know and I'll post them later tonight.
That would be great! I'll look forward to your post :)

[Shaner (Ut)]

Sorry I didn't get this posted last night, I got busy but heres the steps I use.
I first should tell ya I'm self taught on Photoshop so I might not have some of the terms right. I also use PS 7 so PS 6 might be a little different.
I pretty much use the same steps as they use in the link I posted above.

I bring up my actions window and create a New Action and name it Signature.

Next make a text layer and type in your signature using black for the color and whatever font ya want... I use a font size of 36pt, you can make it smaller if your pics are small or you can make adjust the size after your done.

Now Rasterize your text by clicking on Layers, Rasterize, Text.

Then click on Filters, Stylize, Emboss... I use 145 for the angle, 5 pixels for the height and 100% for the amount.

Now go to your layers palette and change the text layer to Hard Light

Next, still using the layers palette, I lock the Transparent Pixels

Then click on Filters, Blur and Gaussian Blur and use a radius of 1.0 pixels

Stop recording.

Click on your Move Tool to size it and place the text where ya want it.

You can adjust the Opacity to make it less visible if you want

Now flatten your layers and your done.