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This tutorial demonstrates how to create, save and apply a Personalised Handwriting Brush.
Apply Brushes
Undo Note
You can step backwards at any time by clicking the top menu’s Undo Tool.
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To begin, write your signature onto clean line-free paper - I utilised A4 printing paper. Then introduce your paper into Photoshop Elements by scanning it. Alternatively, if you don’t have a scanner, take a photograph of your signature, then upload it to your PC and open it onto Elements’ workspace - Ctrl the O.
Image Resolution
When creating Brushes, bear in mind, the higher the image’s Resolution the better quality the Brush will be: therefore, choose a photograph (or image) with a High Resolution. In addition, when scanning objects, set your scanner to 300 DPI.
Brush Note
Brushes are automatically converted into Monochrome, and they therefore cannot be saved in their original coloured state: however, once created, and saved - they can be applied in your choice of solid colour by setting the Foreground Swatch to your choice.
Signature Tip
It is preferable to use black pen: - however, any dark colour will suffice, as you can always convert it into black and white after it has been introduced to Photoshop Elements.
After your signature has been opened onto Photoshop Elements’ workspace, you are ready for the next step.
Tip
Centralise your image by snapping it to the top menu’s orange horizontal line.
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Now, Unlock the Background Layer by Double-left-clicking over it, and replying OK to the subsequent New Layer dialogue box.
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Then (if necessary) from the top menu, choose Image then choose Rotate then choose 90 Right. You may need to select 90 Left.
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Now, from the Toolbar, activate the Crop Tool.
And crop away any unwanted canvas area (around your signature).
Then commit the Crop either by tapping your Enter/Return Key: or by clicking the following green Commit tick.
5/ Black And White Conversion (For Your Signature Brush)
Now, from the top menu, choose Enhance then choose Convert to black and white. From the subsequent Convert to black and white dialogue box, activate the Infra Red tab, then move the Contrast slider to the right, and click OK. This converts your signature into black and white, whilst at the same time, improves the contrast between ink and paper.
Note
Scans, (and photographs) will always react uniquely: therefore, depending on your signature’s contrast, take a little time to experiment with different Select a stye settings, and reposition the Red, Green, Blue and Contrast sliders to create the best black and white contrast for your signature.
Quick Greyscale (Monochrome) Conversions
As an alternative to the Black and White Command, a quick way of removing colour, is, from the top menu, choosing Enhance then Adjust Colour then Remove Colour - Shift+Ctrl+U.
Note
If you notice speckled or dark areas around your signature, paint them away with a Small Round Hard Brush - as illustrated below.
Quickly Resize The Brush Tip
You can quickly resize the Brush Tool by tapping your Keyboard’s Square Bracket Keys (with caps OFF).
Tip
At this point, it’s a good idea to save your prepared signature as a PSD Image.
Isolating Photo Objects Or Signatures With A Selection Marquee
Sometimes, especially when saving photo objects as Custom Brushes, you’ll produce much better results if you isolate the object (or signature) with a Selection Marquee before saving it as a Custom Brush. One way of isolating a photo object (or signature) with a Selection Marquee is with the Magic Wand Tool.
Photo Objects Note
For optimum results, convert your Photo Object into Greyscale (Monochrome) images.
Now, activate the Add to Selection tab.
Then fully isolate your signature or photo object with a Selection Marquee - as illustrated below. (Don’t forget to isolate additional areas with a Selection Marquee, so they are not included in your saved Custom Brush: - for example, the 2CV’s Windows below).
Signature Note
Left-click inside each letter to isolate it with a Selection Marquee.
Your isolated signature is ready to save as a Custom Brush: Important, don’t inverse your Signature’s Selection Marquee, instead, link here to continue. (The area inside the Selection Marquee will be included in your saved Brush).
Photo Object
After you have applied the Selection Marquee: from the top menu, choose Select then choose Inverse. This inverts the Selection Marquee and isolates just the car - as illustrated below. Your isolated photo object is now ready to save as a Custom Brush. (The area inside the Selection Marquee will be included in your saved Brush).
6/ Save Your Brush: Signatures And Photo Objects
Now you have optimised your signature’s contrast, it’s ready to save as a Custom Brush. Therefore, from the top menu, choose Edit then choose Define Brush - (or Define Brush from Selection if your signature or photo object has been isolated with a Selection
Marquee). Then from the subsequent Brush Name dialogue box, enter a unique name for your signature/photo object Brush, then click OK.
Congratulations, you have created and temporarily saved your Brush to Photoshop Elements’ Brush Library. (Permanently save your Brush).
7/ Apply Your New Brush
To access your new Custom Brush, from the Toolbar, activate the Brush Tool.
Then scroll to the bottom of your Brush Thumbnails, and locate, then double-left-click to activate your new Signature Brush - as illustrated below.
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Now, open a New Blank File - Ctrl then N, and test your signature. Remember, your Brush’s colour will represent the Foreground colour swatch: - therefore, change the Foreground to your choice of Solid Colour.
For personal results, experiment with the Brush Opacity and Size.
Permanently Save Your Custom Brush
To permanently save your Custom Brush: from the Brush’s Option Palette, navigate to and then left-click the Preset Manager tab - as illustrated below.
And from the subsequent Preset Manager dialogue box, locate and double-left-click to highlight your newly saved Signature Brush: then click Save Set - as illustrated below.
Now, from the subsequent Save dialogue box, enter a unique name for your Custom Brush/Brush Set into the File name box, and then click Save.
Finally, from the subsequent Preset Manager dialogue box, click Done.
Delete Or Rename Brushes
To either Delete or Rename a Brush: right-click its thumbnail, and from the subsequent pop-out box, click your choice - then either Delete or Rename your Brush by following the
on-screen prompts.
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Congratulations, your Signature Brush has now been permanently saved to Photoshop Elements’ Brushes Folder. (It’s a good idea to back-up Elements’ Brushes Folder to your PC, or to an external drive: this preserves new Brushes should you need to reinstall Photoshop Elements).
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