In this tutorial I’m going to go over a very popular question I get, as well as address something I see which is yucky looking logos and watermarks (or ones that all look like each other). We’ll take a look at where to find fonts, and how to use and customize them to create a great looking logo / watermark for your photography right inside of Photoshop. Enjoy!
Want to dive deeper? I’ve got fun little toolkit called “The Photographers Logo and Watermark Toolkit”. If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to create a beautiful logo, nameplate or watermark (and have it look unique), I think you’ll really enjoy this one. Click here to find out more.
I love teaching and photography... In that order. I feel that enjoying photography, and photo editing can get WAY too complicated. So my personal mission (and favorite thing to do), is to create education that simplifies the process of taking great photos, and how to edit them to get the results you’ve always wanted.
This was so helpful! I took a few classes in high school for photoshop and such, but never really learned a good way to make a watermark for my photos, even though its just a hobby for now. (Also totally didn’t spend four hours fixing spots and smoothing edges *: D )
I always make a new layer and then use the brush created as you showed. I would, however, like to be able to add this in Lightroom because for some images this is the only step I am using photoshop
Hi Matt
I have worked with your video and everything worked great. Now I want to add to other pictures, every time I go to put signature on image and then want to resize and or use move tool nothing works. I moves entire image not just signature what am I doing wrong?
Hi Matt,
I loved the video as it was very user friendly, but I have come to a stand still as when I try yo use the define brush preset it is grayed out and unable to use.
Any idea what I am doing wrong? I followed everything to a T so, now I’m stuck.
I appreciate the help!
Your document is too large. Make sure it’s no larger than 3000 pixels (I think – maybe 2500).
Thanks! I use PSE and with your instructions, was able to figure it out. Here’s to my new logo!!
Hi Matt, can this be done in Affinity photo ? Best regards
Hi Tam. You should be able to. I don’t use it much but give it a try.
I am getting right on it…. so glad you are in my photography life!
Hi Matt, this video tutorial is awesome, you just saved me $40+ and it’s way more fun doing it myself. Thank you.
Once the watermark is created, could I add it to my photos in lightroom?
Yep. I covered that in the course I mentioned.
Another great and to the point video Matt thanks! I was able to create one just fine using a new document with white background and black type, I disable the background and can create the brush fine: https://www.moffittimages.com/Utility/Watermarks/My-Custom-Sigs/n-q8dczm/i-CvVfvqL/A
But then I wish to create a brush with white text so start with a black background, every time I try and create the brush it gives an error “could not complete the define brush preset command because the selected area is empty”. Anyone have any suggestions or work around?
Thanks!
Thanks for an easy-to-follow video!
Would be interested in a video tip on using High Pass Filter for high ISO photos. Would also like to see some examples of refine edge tool with selections . Sometimes a get a discolored zone instead of a refined edge?
Thanks, Matt. I almost wish I had need of the Toolkit because your videos are invariably terrific — best in the business.
I gave up Photoshop and went with On1. Can this be done in On1?
No Bob. It won’t work in ON1.
Then make a video to create an editable signature for on1 🙂
Thanks Matt for the valuable help you give us
There’s not much to make on that one. Just add a type layer. You won’t have the controls and adjustments that you have in PS, but you can add a type layer and type your name in any font.
Thank you Matt, this was very easy to follow. I have been using a hand written signature that I scanned in and turned into a brush, but like you said, it is nice to change. Also, thank you for the introduction to the fonts in Adobe Creative Cloud and explaining some of the mysteries of the Character panel in PS.
Thanks for this! I’ve been wanting to do a watermark/signature/logo for some time. I’ve watched some YouTube vids, but I’ve not found on as simple and complete as yours. Some of them think you have more Photoshop experience (I don’t, I work in Lightroom mostly, though have started learning PS).
Anyway, after watching the quick video you did about signatures, I went searching for a font I liked. Then I bought your course. And, in one evening, I have myself a signature. I am also a blogger (starting a new blog), and made three: one black, one white, and one without the word ‘photography’ to use on my blog, so both sites carried the similar logo. One of the easiest and complete courses I’ve come across.
Thanks.
I’d attach the logo, because I’m so pleased. If you’re interested in seeing it: https://johnnooney.smugmug.com/ I removed the word photography and changed my name to a cobalt blue color to use on my blog https://johnfrancisnooney.com. That way, it’s ‘branding’ across more than one platform. Might just use it on my Twitter header also.
Really am glad you put this together. The hardest part was not wanting to make 50 different ones! Although, it’s probably good PS practice, especially using the controls to stretch and curve out the strokes of various letters. Those little control points are tricky to grab.
Thanks again Matt.
(Not trying to plug my sites… please feel free to delete the urls from the comment if you want. I’m just excited to show off the logo!) 🙂
Looks great! Thanks for sharing and glad it worked out for you 🙂
Thanks very much for the tutorial. FYI I found that the technique you showed to customize individual letters to create a unique “signature” can also be accomplished using Affinity Photo.
sorry, i missed this somewhere…
what is the group site name on Flickr?
thank you
Great but how would you do this by writing your own name rather than using a font?
Another excellent, easy to follow tutorial, Matt. Thanks very much for sharing.
Excellent package! Very easy to follow tutorials. I would like to add a swash. do you have a recommendation where to look for them? Keep up the good work.
thank you for this tutorial. I have created a logo, and it is not saved under my Brushes. It worked after I followed your tutorial, but for some reason it was not saved in my Brushes list.
thanks again,
larry
Matt –
Thanks very much for this tutorial, as usual you have helped me resolve a longstanding problem! This is something I have struggled with as I am not a design person. I am always trying to create the proper logo for my shots and have never been completely comfortable with the end product. I am looking forward to the complete course, especially since I need something that will look professional and help me build keep a consistency throughout my work…I am a fan of TBBC as well!
HI Matt, This is great for my photoshop photos but can I export this so I can use it when I am in lightroom? thanks so much!
Hi Jill. Yes, you can use it as a watermark in LR. There are also a couple of lessons included in the course on it.
Excited to use this. Everything was going along great until I used the brush tool to overlay the signature over a photo….You say all you have to do is click and it applies it in the new layer, but that’s not working. I’m new to Photoshop but I wonder if you can tell what I’m doing wrong?
Thanks for this Matt ! Had a lot of fun trying to make a logo.
Matt you are the man!! Great tutorial! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Great tutorial. Always enjoy these quick shots. You make many things much easier
Thanks Matt! Another Quick and informative tutorial. Your way of teaching is so easy to follow and the best part is that I remember the information.
Thanks Matt for this nice tutorial. I love to see your tutorials!
Great. Beyond the tricks, but teaching how to make it yours.
Thanks Matt another excellent tutorial
Dank je Matt duidelijk, mooi
Thanks Matt for posting this. I have been trying to figure out an easy way to create a new sig for my photos. This saves me a lot of trial and error time.
That was surprisingly easy when you know how to do it.
Thanks for sharing this with us, Matt.
Will this work in Photoshop CC?
Hi Tom. Did you watch the video? It’s done in CC 🙂
Thank you very much Matt, you have helped me out again with your info. Much appreciated.
Matt,
I followed along with no problem until it came to making a brush. I selected all, but when I went under edit, my define brush preset was greyed out! Do you have any idea why that would be?
I had the same issue Barbara. It turns out that the image size was too large as I had typed “3000” into the pixels/inch box rather than the width box. If you go back to your image size or create a new document again- make sure the width units are in pixels, not inches, and change to a width of 3000 pixels, it seems to work well. There may be a better or more sophisticated way to fix it, but that does seem to work.
Make sure your document is no larger than 2500px in size. Photoshop has a brush limit of 2500px
Can these techniques be used with a scanned signature? Rather than using a font, I would like to use my signature. Is there a way to convert a scanned signature into a font? Many thanks, most interesting tutorial.
Thanks for the tutorial…Took a lot of the mystery out of creating a logo…much appreciated!