Quote (Timo_O @ Tue, Jun 14 2005, 11:58am)

Create an abstract background / signature

End result:


Open up photoshop
Create a new document (you choose the size, I used 1280*1024)
Select your gradient tool and apply these settings: http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/7178/gradientsettingsxd3.jpg
Start clicking the background till you get something you like, I got this: http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/1144/tut1wi0.jpg
Duplicate your layer (Ctrl +j)
Make a twirl ( Filter Distort Twirl )
Change the angle to whatever you like, I used 300
Change the top layers blending mode to lighten, and merge the 2 layers (Ctrl + e)
Duplicate  your layer again (Ctrl + j)
Make a twirl again ( Filter Distort Twirl )
Change the angle to -300 (if you used another angle before, you just add a - in front of it)
Change to blending mode of the top layer to lighten, and blend them again.
Add some colors bij pressing ctrl + u and the result is here: http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/1580/tut2kc4.jpg
I used the settings
Hue: 203
Saturation: 52
Lightness: Don't use this!
And select colorize, of course

If you want to turn this background into a sig:

Select everything and copy ( Ctrl A + Ctrl C )
Make a new document ( size you want your sig to be, I used 300*100 )
Paste your background and move it with your mouse, until you get something you like, I got this: http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/6061/siggayyk8.jpg
Select it with your Rectangular marquee tool, and copy it
Create a new 300*100 document and paste it there
Add a border and text to it, and you have a signature

Uh.. Now something extra I used to do with my signatures, create symmetry.

EXTRA:

Copy your 300*100 signature (without merging it with text first)
Create a new 150*100 document, paste it in there, and drag it around untill you get something you want symmetric.
Select the 150*100 piece you just created, and paste it into a new document.
Move it to the left or the right. I got this: http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/7339/symmetry1uk2.jpg
Rightclick the layer, and click 'Select layer transparancy'.
Now select the left / right (depends on which side you put the sig) dot, and move it to the other side like this: http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/5585/symmetry2wu9.jpg
Paste the first document in it again, and move it to the left / right side (again, depending on which side you put the sig on)
Add a text and a border and you're done: http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/1717/symmetry3kt5.jpg
This one was done quickly, so it may not be the best, but I am sure you will create something beautiful

ED: This newbie forgot the border, but let's just pretend it's there, shall we? :-)