I think you've lost a lot of the depth that is in the original stock. You're definitely improving though so keep it up.
Just read as many guides/tutorials etc. as you can and make sure you stock up on as many resources as you can.
Also do some research into other graphic designers. You'll be amazed at how much you can improve with a little inspiration.
If you really want to go all out, you could explore various software packages. I know most people stick to Photoshop for signatures, but different software can create different effects so take advantage of them. If you want to explore different software, here is a small list:
- Adobe Photoshop CS5
- Adobe Illustrator CS5 (Fantastic for creating vector graphics)
- Cinema 4D (Very good software if you are interested in creating either 3D objects, or text).
- Adobe InDesign
- CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X5
You will probably just think "nah, I'll stick to Photoshop (or whatever you're currently using), it's what I know best"..
In my opinion, if you wish to create a truly fantastic image, you really should explore more than just the 1 software package.
I created a signature the other day and ended up using 3 different software packages for different effects & techniques in order to create my final image. The result was a lot more interesting that my usual work.
Good luck.
Just read as many guides/tutorials etc. as you can and make sure you stock up on as many resources as you can.
Also do some research into other graphic designers. You'll be amazed at how much you can improve with a little inspiration.
If you really want to go all out, you could explore various software packages. I know most people stick to Photoshop for signatures, but different software can create different effects so take advantage of them. If you want to explore different software, here is a small list:
- Adobe Photoshop CS5
- Adobe Illustrator CS5 (Fantastic for creating vector graphics)
- Cinema 4D (Very good software if you are interested in creating either 3D objects, or text).
- Adobe InDesign
- CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X5
You will probably just think "nah, I'll stick to Photoshop (or whatever you're currently using), it's what I know best"..
In my opinion, if you wish to create a truly fantastic image, you really should explore more than just the 1 software package.
I created a signature the other day and ended up using 3 different software packages for different effects & techniques in order to create my final image. The result was a lot more interesting that my usual work.
Good luck.