How to add in a signature to an image?

[Albert Sim]

Hi, Good day to everybody.
Recently i tried to add in a signature to my images but was in vain.

What I done is :-
1. I scanned my signature to PC in pdf format,
2. Opened in Photoshop, cropped it and go to edit>Define Brush preset, saved as "My Signature".
3. Opened an image, and created a new layer, use the preset brush clicked on either the image or the new layer, the signature was shown in the new layer and not in the image, well I then flatten layer.... and.... NOTHING !!!!

Can anyone help me please ?

TQ & Rgds,
Albert.

[pnodrog]

I am not sure what is going on but make sure that the signature layer blend is set to normal and the layer opacity to 100%. What colour were you using for the signature?

[Andrew76]

I have never done what you are trying to do, the way you are trying to do it, but it sounds a little convoluted. Why not open your jpeg in Photoshop, and save it as a tiff, or png file, so that you can save it with transparent background. Then save that as "Albert's Signature", or whatever, then you can just open it on top of whatever image you want, whenever you want to? Or, better yet, save it into a custom watermark, and then it's always there in a watermark profile.

[Albert Sim]

I am not sure what is going on but make sure that the signature layer blend is set to normal and the layer opacity to 100%. What colour were you using for the signature?

Color? I tried too. But looks like it followed the image's background color. I am using CS5, when I called out the new layer, It seems not much choice I can go for ! (Sorry, I am not good in CS 5) I then selected a particular color from the limited choices but it still goes with the image color.

[Albert Sim]

I have never done what you are trying to do, the way you are trying to do it, but it sounds a little convoluted. Why not open your jpeg in Photoshop, and save it as a tiff, or png file, so that you can save it with transparent background. Then save that as "Albert's Signature", or whatever, then you can just open it on top of whatever image you want, whenever you want to? Or, better yet, save it into a custom watermark, and then it's always there in a watermark profile.

Hi Andrew,
Thank you for your instruction, I'll try it.

[pnodrog]

Hi Albert, I have always added a signature similar to how Andrew does. However I have just tried setting my signature as a brush tool pre-set and it works fine, the colour is the same as the set foreground colour. It seems to me you maybe using the wrong type of brush and somehow making a path or vector rather than a colour filled size controllable brush imprint. Having played with it I like the method and may use it in the future. Check the size of the brush, about 500px worked well for me.

[John Morton]

I'm a little surprised that people aren't doing this using a custom preset with the "Symbols" tool. I just use a font rather than a scanned signature, so I don't use a brush or a symbol; but I think I would be inclined toward setting up a custom symbol if I were using a scanned signature, rather than using a brush.

[wobert]

Just had to do a signature similar today- here follows my 'two bits of instructable'-
1) Create your signature- Black ink on white paper.
2) Scan the signature as a jpg image into photoshop. (or sign on a connected graphics pad direct into a photoshop blank page.) You may need to make contrasty with 'curves' so it is fully Black on White.
3) Unlock the signature image Background layer by 'Double-clicking' the padlock symbol on the background LAYER in the LAYERS palette. Or if you prefer on the Menu- Choose "Layer" > "New Layer from Background"
4) Use the 'Magic wand' selection tool to select all background areas and press [Delete] to clear the background colour.
You should be left with your signature on a transparent background (seen as faint checkerboard)
Tidy up by going MENU > Image > Trim (this should crop down to the signature in size unless you have stray pixels.!)
5) Save your image as a PNG file for future use. (DO NOT save as jpg- this restores a white background back in place)
6) You now have a Signature.png file that can be placed on any image or document image (PDFs included)
7) Open both document and signature files, just CTRL+A -to select all of the signature file, CTRL+C -to copy, swap to the document image CRTL+V to paste. (or simply use the 'Move' tool to drag the signature onto the other image page.
8) You now have the signature on a layer above the document which can be moved about ('Move' tool) or resized, rotated, shewed, warped, etc with 'Free Transform' (press CTRL+T).
It may look difficult in words, but once having done a couple it becomes easy. A friend of mine uses .PNG files (with transparent background) to create gift cards with overlayed verses and images- they look great.
If you are using Photoshop you have all the tools necessary.

[Albert Sim]

Just had to do a signature similar today- here follows my 'two bits of instructable'-
1) Create your signature- Black ink on white paper.
2) Scan the signature as a jpg image into photoshop. (or sign on a connected graphics pad direct into a photoshop blank page.) You may need to make contrasty with 'curves' so it is fully Black on White.
3) Unlock the signature image Background layer by 'Double-clicking' the padlock symbol on the background LAYER in the LAYERS palette. Or if you prefer on the Menu- Choose "Layer" > "New Layer from Background"
4) Use the 'Magic wand' selection tool to select all background areas and press [Delete] to clear the background colour.
You should be left with your signature on a transparent background (seen as faint checkerboard)
Tidy up by going MENU > Image > Trim (this should crop down to the signature in size unless you have stray pixels.!)
5) Save your image as a PNG file for future use. (DO NOT save as jpg- this restores a white background back in place)
6) You now have a Signature.png file that can be placed on any image or document image (PDFs included)
7) Open both document and signature files, just CTRL+A -to select all of the signature file, CTRL+C -to copy, swap to the document image CRTL+V to paste. (or simply use the 'Move' tool to drag the signature onto the other image page.
8) You now have the signature on a layer above the document which can be moved about ('Move' tool) or resized, rotated, shewed, warped, etc with 'Free Transform' (press CTRL+T).
It may look difficult in words, but once having done a couple it becomes easy. A friend of mine uses .PNG files (with transparent background) to create gift cards with overlayed verses and images- they look great.
If you are using Photoshop you have all the tools necessary.

HI Robert,
I followed your instruction in adding the signature and I got it !
Simple and fast. Thank you so much Robert.

Cheers.

[wobert]

Hi Albert, and others that 'liked'
I'm pleased you were able to follow my long-winded description, but 'yes' once created "simple and fast".
PNG transparent files also work well for overlaying- Verses, text, Clip-art, Logos, Copyright symbols, Business names, etc.etc..
A 'Signature' brush can be created as others have suggested but the PNG file technique has so many other uses.
Cheers.