I've noticed the main problem new sig makers have is that most of the parts in their sigs have differing, although small, coloring. Another common problem is render contrast, or depth. Here are just a few little tips for people to help them learn how to blend their sigs, that I use in almost every one of my sigs.Today's word of the day is EXPERIMENT boys and girls.Gradient Maps and Photo FiltersGradient Maps are a near must for every sig, except on the rare occasion where every part of sig matches coloring. (maybe if you had your render, and used your render and your render only to make the background and color it) Gradient Maps provide consistency to your entire sig. A black to white gradient set on multiply at about %40-60 opacity provides a great way to make your colors become more alike. Another way is to take two contrasting colors and set it to hue or color and playing with the opacity. Adding two colors that are alot different than the colors on your sig and setting it on soft light on very low opacity works good also. Photo filters are great for this too, setting a few warming/sepia or cooling filters (depending on your sig) at low density and opacity along with a color that matches your sig on a blending mode that you like (try playing with all of them).Color Balance and Channel MixersThese two are the similar in what they do (they could theoretically be used to accomplish the same thing), but do it in two completely different ways. Try experimenting with these to get the best effect. Color balances can target 1 of 3 of the broad ranges of shades, shadows, midrange, highlights, and will change the selected color to your tastes in those ranges. Channel mixers have the option of either mixing red, blue, or green, and then 'mixing' that color range to your tastes. The best way to learn how to use these is trying them out for yoruself, and while these often and normally look good set on normal, try setting it to another blending mode and different opacities.Adding DepthOne easy way to add depth is sharpening your render and blurring your background, this is one of the best things you can do, especially if your using a stock image. The easiest way to do this is to apply the image (image > apply image, make sure it's set on normal as photoshops default mode is multiply, stupid adobe) and take the blur tool (right click your smudge tool) and brush around the areas your want to blur. Take the sharpen tool if needed and brush around your render.Another easy tip for beginners to make your render blend with your background is duplicate your render (ctrl + j when selected), set the top layer to soft light or overlay and your bottom to normal, take a large soft brush at middle opacity and flow and brush around your bottom render. Another way is to duplicate your two renders and smudge the bottom one, or motion blurring it. (normal blending mode)Adding light sources is another great way, and it's super easy. Take a large or small soft brush (depending on what you want) pick a nice bright color, click once or twice somewhere on your sig (near the head or on the back is a good place) then try all the blending modes. (soft light is good, color dodge, linear light, but as always, experiment)Dodge and burn tool are your friends. Apply the image, and take the burn tool on a large brush and brush around edges of your sig you think might look good darkened, on the other end of the spectrum, take the dodge tool and and brush around areas of your render, this creates a nice contrast. Remember, experiment with this, don't overwhelm your sig with it, try to make the sig flow. Use the dodge and burn tool not only to create contrast, but points of interest and focus.Applying the image and adding effects, then erasing most of it and leaving a few spots and messing around with the blending modes and opacity is nice also.Playing with blending modes on pretty much all of your layers is always a good idea too, until you get an idea of what you're doing.-I hope you enjoyed this little guide and I hope it helps some of you newcomers to build great sigs.
