For Sig Makers and Non-Makers Alike: What Makes a Good Signature?

Because I am starting to wonder if my definition is the same as everyone else's.

To me, a signature is good when it is a complete whole. All of the elements are in balance and compliment each other. The text and background don't overwhelm, the colors come from the stock image or are complimentary and don't clash, and the effects used fit well with the render (like, an image of a princess-like girl might have a prettier look to it, while some musclebound dude wielding a machine gun in one hand and a bloody knife in the other will have a grungier feel). Yeah, there's skill needed- knowing the right way to use brushes, textures, c4d renders, and so on, but how it comes together is important, too. The subject matter of the signature has no impact on me other than how it flows with the rest of the signature. I wouldn't vote for a signature of my favorite musician over a better signature featuring an actor I despised, though in a contest, it does matter who best represented the subject matter at hand.

I don't claim to be a very good artist. I have a lot of trouble getting started- often I have to see an example that someone else has done to spark the motivation to work and give me a starting point, but I have been on gfx forums, and I think I've seen enough amazingly talented graphic artists to have an idea of what is awesome, even if I can't replicate it myself.

And I'll be also honest when I say that the recent sig of the week voting is what put me in mind for this thread. Sorabrawl, if you read this, I ain't got nothing against you personally, and I'm sure you worked hard on the signature you entered, as I think everyone who entered did, and in no way do I want to discourage that, but I feel like I'm missing something everyone else is seeing when I see that signature win.

I suppose most people will be 'too long, didn't read', but I'd legitimately like to know how people judge signatures (or really, any graphics work- wallpapers, avatars, and so on).

 

I agree with you here. Sometimes it's hard to say what good art is, you just know when you see it. And as far as signatures go, I think you're right in that it can't be "perfect." I think trying too hard to get every little detail perfect ends up ruining the signature in the long run. This is another of my problems- I end up frustrated and scrap more signatures than I complete.