Things Elements will do ... No 3

[Wendy]

Make a Simple Signature Brush:

Create a new Document File>New ... lets make it 5cm X 5cm, 300 pixels per Inch and background transparent

Select the text tool and choose any font you want
Set the foreground colour to black and type your name
Now do Edit>Define brush ... give it a name and click OK.
Go to your brushes palette and last one on the list will now be your new signature brush.

To use it simply create a new layer above your image, select your brush (resize if need be), choose your colour and stamp with the brush ... don't forget that you can always apply a layer style to it. Experiment a little ... add a bevel, a drop shadow ....

One note of warning if you do want to keep your brush then I suggest that you use the Preset Manager and save it to a new brush set.

If anyone is interested in making a more complex copyright brush then just say and I'll do one :)

Wendy

[MikeH]

Wendy,

That was quick!!! :)

Mike

[Wendy]

Mike,

Well I thought if you were going away then I had better get it posted sooner rather than later ....


Wendy

[MikeH]

Wendy,

Thanks... I will get to work with it. :) :)

Mike

[Chuck S.]

Wendy, I think you deserve your own section of this forum: "Wendy's Wonders"!

Or something like that....!!

:D

p.s. Great stuff!

[kerriann85]

oo, oo, I did it! Hmm, was I supposed to put a little copyright symbol in front of it? (and what in the world do I need it for?)

[Wendy]

Kerri,

A lot of people add signatures to their photographs, scrapbooks etc ... I tend to use mine on Challenge entries. If you want to know how to do copyright symbols ... just let me know.

You could use your new brush on this weeks Challenge entry .. :)


Wendy

[Foxhound]

Thanks Wendy 8)

This neat new tool just may replace the 'ol drag and drop layer like I've been doing. And it's easier to resize too!

Got anymore gadgets laying around ?

[Wendy]

Foxhound,

I'll see if I can think of anymore :)


Wendy

[Anonymous]

WOW that was fun doing the technique. I am willing to learn the complex type.
SarahMB

[Anonymous]

How do you stamp with a brush? Whenever I try, I get, well, a trail. No matter how fast I click, I always get more than one image. There must be a trick to this--can you clue me in?

Bobbie :?:

[Wendy]

Bobbie,

You don't need to do it quickly ... what you do need to do is just hold the mouse still in one place ... then without moving the mouse just click on the button. When I first started using a mouse I found it difficult to click without moving it slightly but what you can do is steady it by putting your little finger on the mousemat.

It gets easier the more you do it :)


Wendy

[Wendy]

Sarah,

Hopefully I will be able to post details on a more complicate one later today.


Wendy

[Wendy]

A more complex Copyright Brush

Create a new Document File>New ... lets make it 5cm X 5cm, 300 pixels per Inch and background transparent. (In the example I have used white but that is simply to make it show up better)
Select the text tool, and choose a font
Create a new layer
Set the foreground colour to a dark beige and type your first initial
Create a new layer and type your next initial
Create a new layer and do a third initial (if you want to)
Now lets do the copyright symbol ... so create a new layer and still using the text tool click on the layer ... Windows users hold down Alt and on the numeric keypad type 0169... Mac users hold down the Alt key and press G. (Care this only works in some fonts so if it doesn't work just change your font)
Each of your items is now on its own layer ... and if you use the move tool you can arrange them, resize them .. stretch them out. Just play around until you get an arrangement you like. Don't forget that you can also add shape to your initials by applying a style to each of the layers. In the example I have used a scalloped edge bevel.
Now do Edit>Define brush ... give it a name and click OK.
Go to your brush palette and the last one on the list will be your copyright brush.

To use it simply create a new layer above your image, select your brush (resize if need be), choose your colour and stamp with the brush.

One note of warning if you do want to keep your brush then I suggest that you use the preset manager and save it to a new brush set.


The examples show ... the basic letters, the basic letters after moving around and applying a bevel style and finally how the brush looks in use. Here is the link to them:

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1aHuUFxIeO3uKiyUUAIWr2HMmlJa01_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?pic=1aHuUFxIeO3uKiyUUAIWr2HMmlJa01)

Hopefully it all works ... :)


Wendy

[kerriann85]

That was nice Wendy, On purpose or coincidence?
Here's what I did the day you posted the instructions.
I think I'll go back and put the bevel in or whatever that "Texture" in the letters is called.

The font is one of my new ones called "Adorable". Hard to resist that!

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?pic=1J05fCmaBp3IM3nuYohPdfuIKKeu51

[Wendy]

Kerri ....

Your brush is great you did really well with it ... and that font is so nice. I have just been to the site and downloaded it.

As to the example ... well I needed some initials as its very hard to make WEW look OK .... so I used yours :)


Wendy

[kerriann85]

Okay, here's version 2.
I enlarged it way too much and it got jaggie but you get the idea.
Ready for use on the photo challenge!

(I'll have to fix it if I ever need a 5 inch copyright mark for anything!) :lol:

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?pic=1BUTSzkAOHZWCVCjLSRVieoBRmTu1

[Wendy]

Kerri,

Thats brilliant ... I really like the way you have put the 2005 into the loop of the A. Nice one !!

Probably the reason you have a jagged edge is because you enlarged it quite a bit and you may have used it on a low resolution image.


Wendy

[Jodi Frye]

wow, haven't been over in a while. You guys are having way too much fun with this. One of these days I'll update my 'boring' signature. Keep up the great work tho !

[MikeH]

Wendy,

Well, looks like I need to play catch up this weekend. Thanks to my work trip this week I never got to use the simple brush or enter the Challenge
:( .

Kerri's work looks really good 8)

Mike

[Wendy]

Come on Mike ... there is plenty of time to make a brush :)


Wendy

[MikeH]

Wendy,

Indeed there is.... watch this space over the weekend - or maybe later tonight :D

Mike

[MikeH]

Wendy,

Ok here goes...

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?pic=1gY2p4wQvmSU3NOX4B184WEejPquqD

Mike

[Wendy]

Hey Mike ...

I like it ... did you use a text font or did you draw the initials?


Wendy

[MikeH]

Wendy,

I used a font - ABSALOM and just joined the two letters together 8)

For some reason I couldn't get the copyright sign to come up on my laptop though :|.

Great technique :)

Mike

[Jodi Frye]

Mike, very cool ! I like it !

[MikeH]

Jodi,

All I need to do now is come up with a creation to add it to. Your entry to this week's challenge is - well just brilliant :) I'm struggling but I will put something in...

Mike

[MikeH]

Wendy,

So, was the copyright brush "Things Elements will do ... No 3" Part 2 or actually "Tings Elements will do ... No 4"!

I've got to looking forward to these :)

Mike

[Wendy]

Mike,

:) ... Guess it was just an extra to No 3.

... Ummmm I'm still thinking about No 4 :)


Wendy

[Mary]

Wendy

Thanks again for a great exercise - my only problem was I have way too many fonts - I kept looking and changing and looking --- finally just went for it. :shock:

www.pixentral.com/show.php?pic=1OhFWeWevOUn2iqwVkruEA48cD2kt0

[Wendy]

Mary,

Oh Mary that is really nice, it looks so elegant ... which font did you use for it?.

I know what you mean about fonts ... I used to have so many of them .... then a few months ago I decided to sort them all out and I reduced them by about half :) At some stage I must do the same thing with styles .... trouble is once I go over to the Adobe Exchange I am like a child in a sweet shop :)


Wendy

[Mary]

Thanks Wendy for the encouragement - the font is Old English Text - MT

I thought that was where I should stop - you being in England and my family from Brighton - just seemed like a good choice.

Now I am going to try your next step - Oh Dear - not another way to find hours fly by!

[Wendy]

Mary,

Brighton is a nice place ... do you still have any family there?.

The trouble with using Photoshop is that the hours just go by ... I tell myself that I will just have ten minutes and two hours later I'm still playing with it. I've been hooked from the moment I got it.

Wendy

[MikeH]

The trouble with using Photoshop is that the hours just go by ... I tell myself that I will just have ten minutes and two hours later I'm still playing with it. I've been hooked from the moment I got it.

Wendy

Tell me about it, I am exactly the same... a half hour play turns into a half day session... last night I didn't finish until gone 2.00am :shock: and that's only because I realised what the time was...

I think it's because there is so much you can do with it, but there is also so much more to learn. :)

Mike

[jimkovacs]

For Wendy, re: signature and copyright stamps.
I have been able to create brush with signature, and have created a layer above the layer I want to sign. The new brush has been saved in the brush pallette and I can retrieve. When I bring it to my image( it is clearly visible) and left click I get a faint image with the marching ants. I am unable to select . Please advise,
Thnks in advance,
JIm

[Wendy]

Jim,

If you have the marching ants around it then it sounds as thought you may have selected the selection brush instead of the paint brush. Check that and let me know if that is the problem :)


Wendy

[jimkovacs]

Thank you again, Wendy,
Your initial instr. were perfect I did select the wrong tool.
I have posted a still life with my first copyright stamp, hope you like it.
Thanks again.
Jhttp://www.pixentral.com/show.php?pic=15C9ospQHXCZyGGuUMlhzygfYYl5aim

[jimkovacs]

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?pic=15C9ospQHXCZyGGuUMlhzygfYYl5a


above is corrected url

[Wendy]

Hi Jim,

Oh I do like the still life ... and the brush is pretty neat too !!.

Glad you managed to sort it out :)


Wendy

[lghb]

A more complex Copyright Brush

Create a new Document File>New ... lets make it 5cm X 5cm, 300 pixels per Inch and background transparent. (In the example I have used white but that is simply to make it show up better)
Select the text tool, and choose a font
Create a new layer
Set the foreground colour to a dark beige and type your first initial
Create a new layer and type your next initial
Create a new layer and do a third initial (if you want to)
Now lets do the copyright symbol ... so create a new layer and still using the text tool click on the layer ... Windows users hold down Alt and on the numeric keypad type 0169... Mac users hold down the Alt key and press G. (Care this only works in some fonts so if it doesn't work just change your font)
Each of your items is now on its own layer ... and if you use the move tool you can arrange them, resize them .. stretch them out. Just play around until you get an arrangement you like. Don't forget that you can also add shape to your initials by applying a style to each of the layers. In the example I have used a scalloped edge bevel.
Now do Edit>Define brush ... give it a name and click OK.
Go to your brush palette and the last one on the list will be your copyright brush.

To use it simply create a new layer above your image, select your brush (resize if need be), choose your colour and stamp with the brush.

One note of warning if you do want to keep your brush then I suggest that you use the preset manager and save it to a new brush set.


The examples show ... the basic letters, the basic letters after moving around and applying a bevel style and finally how the brush looks in use. Here is the link to them:

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?pic=1aHuUFxIeO3uKiyUUAIWr2HMmlJa01

Hopefully it all works ... :)


Wendy
How does one change a brush setting. example, I now want 2005 to be 2006.

Thanks
Gale

[NMarti]

Gale
I just did a new brush. I don't think you can actually change it once it is defined and saved. If you kept your original layered file you can probably go change the 5 to a 6 and redefine the brush and save it again but almost not worth the effort since it is so easy to just create a new one.

[Wendy]

Hi Gale ...

Have to admit that I just make a new one when the year changes ... as Nancy said it is really easy to do :)

Wendy

[jazzfisher]

Now a dumb question--can you delete old ones? How?:confused:

[NMarti]

Sherry
Just choose the one you want to get rid of and right click - then choose delete. Gone!:D

[jazzfisher]

Nancy,
DUH? Easy enough--I accidently made a whole bunch of copys of one brush then didn't know how to get rid of them.

[NMarti]

Sherry
I had three copies of my 2005 brush because I didn't know how to get rid of it. One day I clicked the wrong button by accident.:rolleyes: Funny how that happens:p

[jazzfisher]

Nancy,
Only 3??? I have about 10!!! :D :D :D

[Wendy]

Oh my goodness :eek:

Why didn't you just ask how to remove them ...

Just go to the presets manager ... resave your copyright brush set but miss out the ones you don't need .. :)

Wendy

[jazzfisher]

Wendy,
Thanks!!! I'll do that!!!:D Sometimes I feel I should already know some of this basic stuff--:rolleyes:

[lockmaster1]

Hi Wendy:
I am a newbie. Just joined the forum a few days ago. I am also new to PSE4. Would you please tell us how to do a copyright symbol and signature brush?
Thanks,
Lockmaster1

[Wendy]

Hi there ...

If you look at the beginning of this thread ... Message one shows you how to make a simple brush and then message fourteen shows you how to make a more complicate one.

To get the copyright symbol hold down the ALT key and type in 0169 (Mac users Command G)

... if you need any more help then just let me know :)

Wendy

[lockmaster1]

Hi Wendy:
Thank you for the information. I will give it a try.
Lockmaster1

[Wendy]

Hi ...

Do let us know how you go on with it ... :)

Wendy

[sharlmitch]

Wendy,

I seem to have everything but I can't get the copyright symbol. I'm on Windows. When I do Alt 0169 nothing happens. What am I doing wrong?:confused:

Sharon

[Wendy]

Hi Sharon ...

I'm a Mac user so I'm not a great deal of help on this ... have your tried the numbers on the numeric keypad ??

Wendy

[kayser]

Yep, Wendy's right, someone said previously that it's the number pad on the right, not the numbers up top.

[TonyW]

If you get stuck with the Alt0169 or want other symbols in Windows you can look in Accessories>System Tools>Character Map and it shows all the symbols that are available for each font (some don't have the © symbol). You can copy and paste from there or, if there's one available, it shows the keystroke combination to get it. A very useful tool that's been around since the early days of Windows but with each version they make it harder to find :confused:

Tony

[sharlmitch]

Yeah, I used the numbers pad on the right and I tried what Tony said, I still can't get it. I think my brain is just fried from learning so many new things on this foum, and I know it's just the tip of the iceburg. Oh well, I at least got my signature done, I don't have anything to copyright anyway. So I leave it for another time.

Thanks to all,:)
Sharon

[sharlmitch]

Tony

Got it!:D
I had to copy paste from Word but it worked!

Thanks:)
Sharon

[Wendy]

Hi Sharon ...

Glad that you have managed it :)

Wendy

[sharlmitch]

Hi Wendy,

My signature brush came out in a lighter shade. So if I want to sign in black it is grey. Is that because I choose too light a beige?

Sharon

[Wendy]

Hi Sharon ...

You really need to make your brush in fairly dark shades ... they show up best when you come to use them.

For simple signatures I use black to make the brush ... if I want it to be two tone I use a very dark colour and a slightly lighter one ..

Hope this helps :)

Wendy

[sharlmitch]

Thanks Wendy,

I'll give that a try:)

Sharon

[sharlmitch]

Wendy,

The first time I made my brush I was able to do bevels on it. I just did a new brush but when I try to add a bevel it says its not compatable with this version of ps I've only been working on pse4 so whats going on?

Sharon

[Wendy]

Hi Sharon ...

Do you mean that you made a brush ... then you apply it to a layer but when you try to apply a bevel to the layer it says that its not compatable with this version of Elements :confused: :confused:

Wendy

[ogilberry]

hi here wendy i am reasonably new to site however i am wondering i can make a stamp for copyright signature for photos however have you any suggestions on how to make it see through with like a bevelled edge or something i have had a good play around however cannot for life of me work out how to make it see through...

fiona

[Wendy]

Hi Fiona ...

I have replied to this in one of the other threads you posted ...

Matt new Video in the Subscriber area is all about how to do this :)

Wendy

[sandie]

Wendy, can you go over how to do the copyright sign on photos please

[Swords]

Ladies, I have been reading S. Kelbys' book PSE5 and he has a good tutorial there on this subject (pages 380-387) I hope I helped.

[Wendy]

Hi Sandie ...

If you make a brush out of the copyright then you can just access it whenever you need it and simple create a new layer and click once with the brush :)

In this thread I do a Simple Copyright brush in message No 1 then a more complex one in message No 14 :)

Hope this helps :)

Wendy

[sandie]

Copyright symbol on a laptop You can not just do a 0169 and must use letters to represent the 0169 am I correct? And so exactly how to do this do I do ALT and then the letters when you tell me the letters to hit on a laptop?

[kimi_boo]

On a laptop...
hold down your Function & Alt keys, type MJO9 (the letter O)
it should magically appear. :)

[TonyW]

On my Windows laptop you hold down the Fn key then Alt and type using the keys that have the extra numbers on them. Or find the character map in Programs>Accessories>System Tools and use that - it's a lot easier than remembering the codes for odd characters :) .

Tony

[Byron Gale]

Sandie,

To do the "ALT-0169" on my Toshiba laptop, I first press/hold the "Fn" key (this toggles the function of the letter keys into number keys while I hold it down), then press/hold the ALT key, then tap in the sequence 0169 by tapping the keys MJO9. When I release the Fn and ALT keys, the © symbol appears in the text box.

On MY laptop, it is important to press the Fn first, then the ALT. If I press ALT first, it does not work.

Perhaps the equivalent process for your laptop will succeed?

Byron

[Byron Gale]

Hee-hee.... Looks like Kimi is a faster typer than us, Tony!

[kimi_boo]

Hi Byron and Tony.
Yes but it was a good idea to say that you hit the function key first. I didn't think of that. :p
Just one of the things I have in my trusty notebook. :D

BTW... Tony I like your new holiday avatar.

[Wendy]

Hi Kimi ...

I was just thinking the same thing about Tont's Avatar ... its cute :)

Wendy

[swalkr]

I love your tutorials. I've used them over and over, but now I have a problem. I tried making my signature into a brush, but "define brush" under edit is grayed out. After I typed my signature, I committed it, so that is not the problem. I want it to be big, because I'm making a 16x20 poster. Would size have something to do with not being able to make my signature into a brush?

[Wendy]

Hi ...

Yes it is do to with size ... the maximum size that you can use to define a brush (or use one) is 2500 pixels.

Make you brush at a smaller size and then use it on a blank layer ... you then may be able to use the move tool to increase the size that you stamped on the blank layer ..

but for something as large as that it may be simplet to just use text instead of a brush :)

Wendy

[scurtis623]

Kerri,

A lot of people add signatures to their photographs, scrapbooks etc ... I tend to use mine on Challenge entries. If you want to know how to do copyright symbols ... just let me know.

You could use your new brush on this weeks Challenge entry .. :)


Wendy
Yes, I'd like to know how to make the copyright symbol on my pictures. Thanks.
Shirley

[Rusty]

Hi Shirley,

Just the way it's described above. You select the Text Tool and, just as you would type text, you enter the keystrokes described above and the © symbol will appear in your text layer.

Rusty

[Wendy]

Hi Shirley ...

All the details are in message no 14 :)

Wendy

[avwh]

You select the Text Tool and, just as you would type text, you enter the keystrokes described above and the © symbol will appear in your text layer.

Rusty

Complete newbie here. No combination of "Alt" and Fn and 0169 brings up the copyright symbol in the layer on my desktop. I'm sure it's something simple - but I'm baffled.

[avwh]

Make a Simple Signature Brush:

Create a new Document File>New ... lets make it 5cm X 5cm, 300 pixels per Inch and background transparent

Select the text tool and choose any font you want
Set the foreground colour to black and type your name
Now do Edit>Define brush ... give it a name and click OK.
Go to your brushes palette and last one on the list will now be your new signature brush.

Wendy

Sorry, 2nd dumb question. How do I access this brushes palette?

I have text above and layers below, but haven't found brushes anywhere on the RH side (and I've clicked on just about everything in sight), or in the menus above.

[Rusty]

Hi avwh,

you have to have Num Lock engaged and then use the numeric keypad, not the #s across the top

Brushes are on the LH side, click the tool that's also called "Paint Brush"

Rusty

[avwh]

Thanks Rusty.

[landofoz]

Please help , i am new to this forum ,i have elements 4 ,two years now and every thing i try never seems to work for me .I have just tried the simple signature as it seemed to be Simple ?
when i get to the part that says stamp with brush, I get walking ants,i have been hours on this if you read about a divorce it will be me as my husband has lost his wife to photoshop elements. ha!ha!
maggie

[Diana]

Hi Maggie,

It sound like you may be using the Selection Brush instead of the regular Brush tool. The Brush tool is right below the Eraser.

Diana

[Wendy]

Hi Maggie ...

You will soon get used to using Elements ... I promise :)

After a while it just all seems to fall into place, but in the meantime when you get stuck just ask and one of us will talk you through things :)

Wendy

[CarolLHB]

Besides, in no way is your hubby the first to lose a wife to PSE!:D

Welcome aboard!

[C8franklyn]

Wendy,

I would like to know how to add the copyright symbol in front of my copyright name i,e, (C)PhotoByCate. I would like to adds this to the bottom of all my photos that I am posting to the web.

Thanks,

[douglas m scott]

Cate,

This is not Wendy, but to make a copyright symbol
Click on the Text Tool then hold down the ALT key and type on the numbers pad 0169, release ALT key and you will have the ©.

doug

[C8franklyn]

Doug,

Terrific!! Thanks.

[Wendy]

Hi Cate ...

Do let us know how you go on with this :)

Wendy

[jdonato635]

Hi, I'm really impressed with the copyright signatures I've seen in this thread. How do people stagger their initials vertically? (cascade-like)

[Wendy]

Hi ...

If you look at message 14 in this thread then you will see that for th second tutorial "A complex signature Brush" I showed how to do initials that way ..

Here is a link to it:

http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2610&postcount=14

Hope that it helps :)

Wendy

[jdonato635]

Wendy,

Thanks for your timely advice. I truly appreciate it.

Joanne:)

[Wendy]

Hi Joanne ..

You are most welcome :)

Wendy

[api5000]

Wendy-thanks to you for the input also- i will be trying this soon

[scurtis623]

Cate,

This is not Wendy, but to make a copyright symbol
Click on the Text Tool then hold down the ALT key and type on the numbers pad 0169, release ALT key and you will have the ©.

doug
Thanks, that works great!
Shirley

[Grammy]

Wow, this thread has been around for a very long time! I'm glad it's still here because I just used Wendy's instructions from post 14 to make an initial stamp with copyright symbol :D!

Problem is, I don't have any beautiful fonts like the one shown in the example. My initials are TTA and I really want something that will turn out nice. Wendy, would you share the font name that you used in the example. Perhaps someone else knows of other nice free font downloads that would work well? If there is another thread with this information in it please let me know.

Thanks so much for all your wonderful advice. I've learned a lot from this site already!

Terry

[emkayess65]

Hi Terry, dafont.com has lots of fonts. Free!!
http://www.dafont.com/

Beware, fonts are addictive.
And you add them to Windows not into PSE.
mks

[Grammy]

Thanks a lot, MKS, DaFonts is where I've gotten many for my collection. I still can't find the one Wendy used in this tut though. I really like it. Do you happen to know the name of it?
Terry