[Question] how to deal with different blending modes in transparent signatures?

Hey guys!

So recently I got back to making some signatures on an RSPS-forum I frequent, and once again, I've ran into the same problem: Whenever I create something that uses some kind of effect, like a flare or a render, and I use another blending mode to, you know, blend it in, I always have trouble saving the final product, because the blending modes can't exactly save.

Here's an example of what I mean:


This is a signature I made, on what is the color of the forum background. I used a bunch of different effects, such as the fire, the flare, particles, etc etc. all in different blending modes.

If I wanted to save it as a transparent signature, without the background, it would look like this


I know this is probably a stupid question, but I haven't found a decent way of fixing it. When I try chroma keying it with the color range function or when I use the magic wand tool, it always messes up and I lose a lot of quality.

How do you guys get to making your signatures transparent without having to deal with the blending mode messing up? Is here any way I can keep my blending mode when transfering it to a png?

Thanks!

 

It's pretty much impossible to have those effects if you want transparent. When you change those blending modes they are taking the colors from the image and sending the black to the back of the image so you don't see it. If you want it to be transparent you need to find effects that do not have a black background.

 

Actually, this can be fixed. I've just ran into the same problem earlier while finishing a commission for sythe, naturally you want to keep those effects so you have to have a background. You can't have it on transparent because blending mode uses the background to determine the result of the blend of the image on top of it.

Now the problem is, whenever you save, I'm assuming, that you always get a different background from the actual background of the forum.

Here's what you do, open photoshop without any documents on;

Edit > Color Settings (or CTRL+SHIFT+K)

from your settings, choose Monitor RBG, it should be somewhere in that dropdown. Now, open your document. Make sure you have the same exact hex color code of the forum bg as your background for your signature.

File > Save For Web

Keep the original settings, make sure the sRGB conversion settings are not ticked on.

I've heard this does not exactly work for everyone, but it might be worth a shot.

 

Didn't he already do this?

 

From the list of attempts he's posted under his thread, I don't think so, no. He mentioned chroma keys and magic wand tool, but he never specifically mentioned anything about changing ones' color settings directly inside photoshop.

 

Try "ctrl" & click on the layer preview box of the one with the blending mode. That will select the layer. Click on the background layer and press "ctrl" & "c" on your keyboard. Paste it with "ctrl" & "v". Move the copy you just did below the layer with the blending mode. Delete the background.

What you just did is practically removing all the background except for the parts where theres layers with blending mode over.


This only works with layers with transparent background at the start and wanted to apply blending modes.


Now Im sure you want to know about the effects with black blackground (and you use screen/lighten)

If its on the text/another layer, simply create a layer mask over the text/another layer and the blending mode will stay. If not, I would try using the RGB window beside the layers window. There will be red, green, etc. Just copy the one thats transparent and look good. It will be different and wont have all the components but better than nothing.

It is impossible, as others said already, to keep blending modes completely intact with a transparent background. If you want to use it on sythe, just use the sythe background and youll have all the effects and blending modes you need, working perfectly.

PS: Chroma Keying might work but try using a bright color that is not in your signature at all, as a background.

I use Keylight in After Effects.



Hope I helped

 

Thanks guys! I can't believe all the help I'm getting! You guys are awesome. I'll be trying these methods on my next project, and I'll report back asap!