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This lesson demonstrates how to create an organic signature or logo.
Undo and Navigation Steps
Two ways of undoing steps are from the top menu, Edit then Step Backwards. Alternatively, click a previous snapshot in the History Palette.
Navigate (zoom in and pan) your image using the Navigator Palette,
or the Zoom Tool. 
Activate The Hand Tool by tapping the Spacebar, keeping the Spacebar pressed, pan your image in the usual way. 
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Open a New document, and set a Width and Height of your choice.
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Set the Foreground colour to Green - these are my settings Here. Lesson.
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Then activate the Horizontal Type Tool, and apply an organic style font - such as Fairydust. Horizontal Type Tool Lesson. Activate the Move Tool.
Then left-click, and centralise your type.
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From the top menu, choose Filter then choose Liquify, and set the following Liquify settings - screen capture here. Note: Change the brush size to suit your needs.
Reply OK to the Rasterise type? prompt!
Now, left-click and drag out to elongate sinewy parts of your signature, as illustrated below.
Note
Try not to displace the type’s body - you are elongating just the sinewy areas. To correct mistakes, left-click the following Reconstruct Tool icon, (or press your keyboard’s R key). 
Then left-click, and pass your cursor over areas you need to reconstruct.
After you have completed this step, you are ready for the next.
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From the toolbar, activate the Custom Shape Tool. Custom Shape Tutorials!
And set the following (Leaf 3) attributes. Or choose your own shape!
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The next steps require a little time and organisation; you will be working with lots of (leaf) layers.
Now, drag a small green leaf onto your image; it is automatically placed onto its own (Shape) layer.
 
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To reposition and rotate the leaf, from the top menu, choose Edit then choose Free Transform Path. A vector transform bounding box will immediately surround the leaf. You will notice the bounding box has eight vector resizing handles - drag these handles to resize your leaf.
I am happy with the leaf’s size; however, I am going to rotate it.
To rotate the leaf, hover your cursor near it, and when you see the following symbol.
Left-click, and swivel your leaf, upwards, or downwards.
You can swivel your leaf anywhere between 0 degrees and 360 degrees.
Note: Rotate your leaf using the Flip Vertical and/or Flip Horizontal
commands.
Now, left-click and drag the leaf towards a sinewy area, using either, the Free Transform Path command, or the Move Tool. Respectively.
 
Whilst the Move Tool remains active, you can nudge the leaf upwards, downwards, to the left, or right - by tapping the corresponding arrow keys, of the keyboard.
After you have positioned your first leaf, you are ready for the next step.
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To quickly duplicate a leaf; first click to activate it, then activate the Move Tool.
Now, press your keyboard’s Alt key, and simultaneously drag your leaf.
This duplicates the leaf - and creates a new leaf (Shape) layer.
 
Now, follow Chapter Seven - and reposition the leaf onto a sinewy area.
Gradually build the organic leafed signature, by Alt-clicking to duplicate a leaf - then rotate and reposition it onto a sinewy area - until you have covered your signature - this process can take a little time and thought.
Note
When utilising the Move Tool, you may find it helpful (whilst working with multiple layers), to activate the Auto Select Layer.
However, be careful when repositioning your leaves using this mode, as you can easily move the wrong leaf, or even the type. If this happens, click an earlier snapshot in the History palette, or Step Backwards.
Tip
You may find this easier if you duplicate the leaves, repeatedly, and reposition them in small batches.
Note
Fill transparent areas, using the Brush Tool. Brush Tool Tutorials.
When you have applied your leaves, and ensured their stalks are attached to the signature - with no gaps - you are ready for the next step.
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From the top menu, choose Layer then choose Merge Visible.
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Now, double-left-click your layer. 
And in the subsequent Layer Style dialogue box, (from its left-side pane), click a dot into Satin. Then change the Satin Structure to create an organic two colour effect. Then apply a Drop Shadow, and click OK. I chose the following Satin settings, with the default Drop Shadow.
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From the top menu, choose Layer then choose New Fill Layer, and click either, Solid Colour, Pattern or Gradient. My lesson Here demonstrates the Fill command. Then link Here to optimise and save your work.
For my final logo, at the top of this tutorial; I applied a water drop - however, add whatever you feel is appropriate for your signature, or leaf it as it is.
I used a photograph of a water drop, extracted its background, resized the drop, then dragged it onto my logo.
Wendi E M Scarth. Top of Page - Home.
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