Ok guys, tutorial time:

[link]

Step One: I use a LOT of layers in my images, the background layer is typically large, 1680 x 1680 to give me canvas space to play, and I set my resolution to 300 dpi. This gives you a very very large file that had a high level of detail. I do this, especially for signatures needing screencaptures because the source image in the screencaps is typically very crappy, and by working larger, the image tightens up when you shrink it.


[link]
Step Two: Isolate your components. Typically I use the magnetic lasso tool and delete the sections of the image I don't want. Always paste the screencap onto a layer. What happens if you isolate the image on the background means you will still have to remove white space, so always make sure you are working on a layer, not the background.
Once you have your image isolated, make a layer behind the character. This is the area for any type of contrast backing you would want. Make a layer above your character in order to make foreground effects aswell.


[link]
Step Three: Coloring. I use ALL GREY values when I make my signatures (except the screencap portions), grey allows you to use the "hue/saturation" tool in photoshop, and universally all editing programs have a color edit function.
[link]
Grey accepts all color and is easily brightened. Once you have the colors balanced as you want them, move on.


For those of you who don't know, I am Carris.

[link]
Step Four: After you have the image to your liking, compress all the layers together but DO NOT flatten them to the background. That background will kill a good signature. What you need to do now, is establish sizing. Since I work in a much larger size, I normally use the Navigator tool to zoom the signature to the size that I want, and then edit it by percentage to be the size I ultimately want it to be.

[link]
Step Five: Once you have everything sized, we need to get rid of the extra space. To do this, I use the ACCTRLNV routine. Select everything on the layer your signature is (Not the background), Copy it, make a new window, paste it onto it without changing the canvas size (it will automatically be as big as your signature image), paste it, delete the background. In Photoshop this will leave your image looking like it is on a white or grey checkerboard. Save it as a .PNG and you are all done.
[link]


So yea...that's how I do it. Good luck, enjoy and play around with it.

Here's a link for Paint.net, a photoshop emulator that is free:
[link]