Signature in photoshop

[ejs0035]

Hi I have adobe photoshop elements 8 - can anyone tell me how, if possible, I can create a signature to put on my photographs....I have been doing it by opening a text box and typing it out each time...but I want to be able to just click and add an already created, saved one..I also have picassa but most of my photo editing I do in photoshop.

Also does anyone know of a good book I can get on photography...one that teaches techniques etc in a nice simple way. I have only recently bought my first dslr camera and am doing ok....have got lots of tips from DPS and its members and I try to participate each week in the assignments but still got a long way to go and lots to learn!

[themervillecamera]

I would create a separate psd file with just your signature. Make it larger than you would have it in your final image say 800 - 1000px square. This way, if it gets raterized at some point you can always scale it down. Once something is rasterized you can't scale it up without pixelization. You can create your signature either by using text or with touch input with the brush tool (ex: touch screen or pen tablet). A text layer is vector (scalable) until you flatten or 'simplify' the layer.
Now with your signiture saved to a separate file open the image you want to add it to. If you just use the Move tool (V) to drag your signature to the other image it will rastize the text layer. However to maintain editable text right-click on on the signature layer in the signature psd, choose duplicate, then choose your image from the drop down.

As for Photography books, check out those by Scott Kelby.

[lillygirl]

I would create an action in PS. 1) Create a new PSD file as mentioned above, with your specifications for size and placement within the image. If you want the text to appear say in the bottom right corner, create a rather good sized document with the text appearing in the corner. Save that. 2) Open an image you want to place the signature on. 3) Create a new action in the actions pallet and hit record! 4) Click file, place, and select the signature you just made in the PSD format. Using place instead of open and duplicating to this new file will save you some time with resizing. It should size the signature image to cover most of the photo. Push enter to place it (any pixelation present should straighten out here). Finally push stop on the record area of the action pallet. Now, when you are finished editing your photograph, you can click on that action and it will always place that signature for you by opening the file and placing it. Much nicer. I do this with all my watermarks. So much faster and it will look uniform when looking at horizontal or vertical images side by side. Good Luck!

[ejs0035]

OK thanks for info..gave it a try but only got as far as....step...3?? i think/...couldnt find the action palette therefore couldnt create a new action lol...where is the action palette???