Ok, this is my first try so bare with me =p:

stock:
sig:
- http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/1/oathkeeper1ff.jpg
- http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/5986/oblivion9yr.jpg
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/746/bscap00008gu.jpg
ava:
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7298/bscap000239mv.jpg


Sig: I have two versions:

This is the first one i got.

This is my second version, which is the one i like the most, i messed around with some layers and this is what turned out.

Ava:

I didn't want to be lazy so i made one from scratch =p simple but i like it ^^

thoughts? negative and positive criticism are very well welcome =)

Edited my piece a little bit, just faded the text a little bit, i think it worked quite well =)


Ay ideas to improve it? I know, a lack of border ">_> That's my weak point until now, i can't draw them well, if anyone has some brushes that could be used as borders PM me ^^

edit: well i finally found a good tutorial to help me make some borders, this is what it turned out =)


another edit:


Have two versions of it, with differetnt borders.

Not bad for a first time. I think you just need to work on your typography (text). I know your trying to make it black/white to suit the text but it doesn't well with the rest of the image.

As for the orangy one it looks much better than the blue one. But again, text looks weird flying around there though I know what your trying to do. Just try more experiments and you'll defintely improve >_o.

I like the second version of the Light and Darkness sig,because it has a cool border.The sig id very interesting and the first time I looked at it,it reminded me of Titanic.Now I dunno is it a boat or something,but anyway it is awesome,especially the color effects.That's the best in it.
The second orange sig is also nice,but it is not better than the first one,and it's text is a bit hard to read.

Good job Fanta

I had to learn this the hard way, but on borders, smooth it out, and add outer glow instead of stroke. It looks a lot better and may work a lot more for your image.

There are times when stroke works as well, when you want a jagged edge, but it doesn't suit the image I don't think. =)

Typography as DD mentioned also needs work, but its a nice try for a first. Good luck in your PS ventures.

DayDreamer: Yeah, i found the text a little lacking, I just wanted to try how it looked.

gelmar: lol, a boat? that's the third time somone said that, and no, that's Roxas ^^

vins: I agree, my weaknesses are for now text, brushes and borders, so expect to see works of mine often with different styles ad such.

Thanks for the criticism, i'll put it to good use ^^

Speaking of which here's my recent piece:


I tried something different, used some brushes, didn't put any text, just didn't seem good with it, and changed the border to a more smoother one. An experiment to say the list. Too bright?

That recent piece is pretty coolie, lots of blending going on there. xP
Not too crazy about the border, though, and the main stock could be a little more clearer. Not bad, though. :]

Your first sig is nice for a first sig. It's got nice colors and I like how Roxas makes this glowing ghostlike effect. Always good to know you execute your stocks to its fullest abilities. You should just work on cutting those keyblades a littleee more carefully. Just use a layer mask and use a black soft eraser (or hard) to hand-erase them yourself....if you feel like taking the time hahaha. I could understand laziness, it's my most dreaded affliction.

Your later pieces are nice. They could use some contrast, compliments of the brightness/contrast option, and for the last one it might help. If it doesn't, just change the blending mode so it's a little less subtle.

Good job though! (: Happy to see your photoshopping your way here.

Thaks for the criticism everyone, I'll put them to good use.

Here are two recent sigs i made yesterday, made two sets wanted to try some brushes, put a simple border and such and I think the text is a little better then my previews works and this is what came out.

Earlier works, are okay for a beginner.

The second piece, I actually like for some reason. The border reminds me of Tony's doing xDD... I like the signature but I think it might look a little better if it was made smaller. Typography was already mentioned on that note.

Your third piece, I really like the border. Don't ask me why, I just think it actually fit's in well with the piece, although I think the image is a little unclear, maybe some more contrast?

I think you're better working with smaller canvas sizes, or the fact I prefer smaller canvas sized work xD. Not too fond of the set you got there... I think they're abit monochromatic, so try to vary some colour in the pieces.
I prefer the stock used in the blue one though, the background effect fits in with the direction of the stock's hair, so that's a plus... abit of good thinking of the composition there, Fantas.

Not bad, Fantas... keep it up o.<

I decided to go with something different for a change, and did a request for Flame, although he made me work, practise was good, so I can't complain =p

On that avi, I'd suggest decreasing the outer glow over the text. Lower it by at least a pixel or 2. Maybe making the background face a little bit transparent would be good, too. And over-all I'd suggest being careful not to over-do the outer glow effect in your work. I've had the same problem at times, lol. It's a handy effect, but try to be more subtle with it.

And as for your Pesmerga and Yuber sigs, I'd make them smaller as Winnie said. Making it smaller in length would be great, like cutting them both off at the characters' waists.

Too tired to think of any other suggestions, but nice work so far. Better than the average beginner, for sure.

My most recent work, my first sig that I actually used brushes.

In case some of you don't know, those ae Lum and Ataru, from the anime, Urusei Yatsura, it's rather old, but one of my fav. ^^

Anyway, I still haven't made an ava. I'll post it when I finish it.

Lol,this is a cute sig indeed.
I specially like the characters face expressions.The colors also look nice,but the text is a bit hard to read.

Nice Job

Thanks gelmar, I know about the text, some of my friends said the same thing, but I can read it just fine o.o Maybe because the brightess of my pc is higher then your's? ^^"

Anyway, I did a second version of it, I didn't like the border for some reason =/ so I changed it:

Hmhm, cute sig, Fanta-dear!
Loving the yellow-ish green colour! <3

But the text is a little hared to read. I can't tell, really, if it's whether the font you've chosen, placement, or colour, but I have to strain my eyes in order to read it all. x_x;

I like the normal border betterrrrr.

The only thing funky is how you erased that girl's body. It still looks like you just chopped it off since it's so harsh. I would suggest getting a masking brush (Dunno where you could get it, since I haven't even gotten my own up on my site) and just lightly erase away at it until it's much smoother.

Good job though! I like the color, it's such a weird match but that's what makes it awesome. (:

I know, that's my7 biggest weakness, I tend to do tha from time to time, because of the stock
http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/4513/lum39mj.jpg
It's rather troublesome, I tried to blur it the best I could, but maybe Ill add some more layers and mess around with some bruses to see if I can hide it a little more =p


Hm, let's see, what about this:

Duplicated the layer with the text, I think that it's a little better now ^^"

First of all, sorry for the double post.

Second, i think i'm developing a style of some sorts =p I'm addicted to this brushes of stars and such lol. I made a topi where I asked about ideas for this sig, finally got some and start working. I know it's very simple, but that's why I liked it ^^



quick edit with avatar ^^

I, too, love the sparklies, haha. I think the text would've looked prettier in Century Gothic, rather than what looks like Times New Roman. (Or whatever it is.) The color could use some variation, try using a gradient on some blend mode to help give it a perk.

Hmm, I know what you mean, I was a little skeptical on the font too. About the color, I tend t be a little monochromatic, it's just that I find a set of colors that look good on the sig and then I start to add a few more layesr with different variations of the same color. As you ca se from the highlights, I giave it a little blue to releave the tension of the yellow xD

Hmm I tried to what you said, a different layer and some gradient. You may/not see the difference, but thee's difference. As for the font, I changed it and added a outer glow blue to again releave even more the yellow color ^^



Thoughts?

It looks too much shiny for me ....
Still its very good but it's sometimes difficult to read the phrase =\

Hmmm was on a DNAngel phase when I did this one, finally finished it today:



The feathers are actually from DNAngel, found this brush set while googling. Have I used too much brushes? I think I have... ^^"

I'll let you guys decide =p (for the first time, no text lol)

Prettyyy. (: Those feather brushes are very very nice. I think you should work with different colors, as the yellows and golds are a little much haha.

Nice improvement. (:

thanks apple, but I wasn't too happy with the outcome... I think it had too many brushes so I completelly redone it. It came a bit too large, but I like the outcome ^^ I'll resize later =p

The legs look really pixellated on both of them. I mean, enough so that it stands out and bothers me. Did you use the pencil tool to erase them, or the lasso tool? You should probably feather it, or something. XD It looks really awkward. Thats their only real problem, really. Simple, but effective setup, minus the pixelation. The glow, REALLY, only makes it worse.

God, that took a chunk out of me x_x

I had to cut parts and parts of their bodies to get the perfect blending, espeially the legs. I did a little bit on the arms of satoshi because they both were a little pixelated. Thank god for outer glow and drop shadow xD

If you're hardxc0re with how steady your hand is, zoom up and use a soft eraser to gently erase away and that black-suit guy's image. I think the wings look funny, but that's only cause I'm silly hahaha. The general outcome of the sig is pretty cool. (: Very unique!

I love most of them, and the last one is damn good I'd say. Love the background, the faces up close like that with the hand just shooting out. Nice pictures, and cool idea with the wings at either edge. I've never seen the show, but the text goes nicely with the picture. Good job.

O, let me start with this: I'm bored, and when I get bored, that's when I start using PS, because I need to do something. So this is what i got, altough it's not very good, somehow, I like it.



The only thing that I don't find that's too good is the text, but meh, maybe I'll change it later.

D: No one replies in the artsy topics anymore. Ohshitnoesss.

As for your latest, it seems dull. Not in content or design, but in color. Like, maybe if you duplicated the entire sig and set it on Soft Light it might seem more vibrant. The idea is good though. For the text, maybe you could try out a more gothic-looking font or go totally simple with Century Gothic.

Yeah another one... No really:



banner's black. I like it, not much to say about the text, but I like it

(can't remember if I already put this here or not though xD)