How To: Make a Blog Picture Watermark using Photoshop

Watermarking. We've all heard of it- we've even seen it on our beloved bloggers' pictures- but how do they do it?? It's got to be easy, right?

Well it is. 

In these following steps, I am going to show you how to make a basic watermark for all of your blog pictures, using Photoshop (my editing photo program of choice). These steps are for a text-based watermark! Believe me, it looks daunting, but it's rather easy! I promise!!! 

Seriously, if I can do this, ANYONE can. Totes.

1.

Like I stated earlier, we'll be using the Photoshop editing program for this How-To :)

So, open your photoshop program and open a new Document:

File > New

I generally like to start on the bigger side of things, always. It is so much easier to shrink something to the size you need rather than try and blow it up. Once saved small, anything blown up will pixelate and look grainy. So, save big, edit to a smaller size if needed- always.

When creating new watermarks (or any other brush for that matter) I like to open a new Document at 1000x1000 pixels wide. Hit "OK" once done.

2.

Once your new Document is opened, we can begin creating your fancy new text-based watermark!

1. First, select the "Type" tool on the left hand tool bar. 
2. On the top you'll see your "font" box- by clicking that arrow, a menu will drop down and you can scroll through until you find a font you like best!
3. Once you found the font you like, click it!

3.

Next we will need to change the font color- I recommend using white or black to begin with- I usually choose black.

1. On the left hand tool bar click the "Foreground Color Box". A new window will show up.
2. Drag your cursor to your color- again I suggest starting with white or (my preference) black!
3. When color is chosen, click "OK".

4.

Next we will need to pick a font size- I generally like to begin with an 8-10pt font size. We will resize this later.

Just click the menu at the top and find the font size you're comfy with.

5.

Now, in your white Document box, click your cursor somewhere on the left hand side. Make sure that "Type" tool on the left hand menu bar is still clicked.

Start typing your desired watermark text. I'm just going to simply do my blog name- Sweet Lavender Bake Shoppe :)

6.

Once finished, click on the "layer 1" box on the right menu to set your text. The box should be highlighted.

7.

Now we will need to resize that text!

1. With your watermark's layer box highlighted (clicked and set) press buttons "command" and "t" at the same time, on your keyboard. If you're using a PC, you'll press buttons "ctrl" and "t". This will create a box around your text for easy resizing (and moving). You can let go of keyboard buttons now :)
2. Again on the keyboard, press and hold the "shift" button. While holing that shift button, drag your cursor to the corner of your box and drag out as far as you can go in your white document. When done, let go of mouse cursor and then "shift". By holding the "shift" button, you can resize your picture/text at an equal proportion. If you do not hold "shift" your text/picture can resize disproportionately. If at any time you mess up, just hit "command" and "z" at the same time (ctrl and z for PC) and it will take you back one step. 
3. Hit enter when sized to your liking. This sets it.

8.

Now we are going to crop our text and get rid of all that extra space.

1. On the left hand menu, click the "crop" tool. 
2. Starting at one corner of your text, drag a box around your text, as close to the actual words as possible, without cutting anything off. You can also bring the sides in manually once this box is created OR push them out a bit if you got too close.
3. When ready, hit "enter" on your keyboard.

Again, remember- if at ANY time you mess up a step- simply hit "command" and "z" on your keyboard at the same time. This will bring you back one step/undo last step :) 

9.

Once cropped, on the top menus, go to:

Select > All

This will select everything you've cropped in your new box/the entire image.

10.

Next, again on those top menus, go to:

Edit > Define Brush Preset

This creates your brush which will become your new text watermark!

11.

A window will pop up asking you to name your new brush. Go ahead and do so :) Hit "OK" when done.

Your watermark brush is now created!

12.

Now for the fun stuff! How to actually use your watermark!

Upload your photo to Photoshop.

1. Then on the left hand menu bar click on the "brush" tool.
2. Next, on the right hand side there will be another little menu, click on "brush". 
3. Scroll through all the possible brushes you can use for future projects ;) until you find your created watermark brush. Look closely! Once found, click it! 

13.

Now...

1. At the bottom right you'll need to click that "create new layer" button again. By doing this you'll make sure you are creating/editing/having fun with only your watermark created.
2. Make sure your new layer is highlighted, if it's not- click it. 

14.

Now "stamp" your watermark wherever you'd like! I stamped mine at the bottom left hand corner- it's hard to see because it's black. 

We'll need to change this watermark to another lighter color for this particular picture. Where I wanted my watermark to be, the picture had a lot of dark colors- so black won't work. Remember- because my "foreground color" box shows black, when I "stamp" my watermark it is going to show up black.

With watermark layer still highlighted, go to:

Image > Adjustments > Hue/Saturation

15.

 A window will show up allowing you to change that watermark color!

1. Play around with those 3 arrows! By moving them left and right you'll see you can choose from a variety of colors! For my watermark, I simply want white. To do so just move that bottom arrow all the way to the right- or until it says "+100".
2. Viola!

16.

Remember, if you need to move your watermark around, or resize it you can do so by simply pressing "command" and "t" at the same time on your keyboard when your watermark layer is highlighted. Holding "shift" and dragging any corner allows you to resize it, and clicking in the center of your box and dragging around allows you to move it around!

When done, hit "enter"on your keyboard.

Neat right?! 

Once you get this technique down, make sure you play around! There are so many lovely things you can discover, like making a multiple font watermark or image watermark. This is also a great way to make a custom brush for arrows, little banners, fun shapes, etc.

If you have an image you like, you can skip to steps 9 on and basically make the same thing. Just make sure your background of your image is transparent. Making one from scratch on Photoshop will do that for ya!

Got questions? Need help? We're here to help! Just email us and we'll get you back on track in no time!

Be Your Own Blog

When Heidi and I talked about this concept and started getting the project rolling with the blog, our main focus was to have a blog that not only helped with blogging in general, but to be original when blogging. That is essentially what B.You is all about {take a look at our URL!}; to be your own blog. We are very passionate about being an original blogger and not a copy cat for many reasons. And because we are so passionate about it, creating this blog for that very reason, I thought I would share some of those reasons. Here are some guidelines to be your own blog and not a copycat.

Authenticity. Chances are that if you're a blogger, you want to have a blog that people want to read. And if you want people to read it you want to be trusted. If they come across your site and see the same thing that someone else just posted a few days prior, they're not going to stick around. Why? It's not authentic. Blogging is a rad community of girls {and guys} that support one another, but you will not be supported if you're not authentic and are a copy cat. Actually, I was following a blog that had content I genuinely liked to read... until it was brought to my attention that this particular blogger was ripping off a few of our posts. I headed over to her blog and yes; her content was just about the same as what we had posted in three different categories just a day or so before. No hard feelings or anything, however; I did stop personally following that blog because the content wasn't authentic. If what you're writing about isn't original and isn't you, your readers will soon catch on and then what you set out to blog for isn't there anymore; readers. 

Making it your own. There will be things out there that you will blog about that has been covered by other bloggers. I'm sure even as I write this post there is another article out there similar in topic. Maybe you've found inspiration in a post you saw, or want to complete a project from Pinterest and would like to blog about it. As long as at least 60% of your content is authentic and original you are in the clear. However, with that said, how do you manage that other 40%? By making it your own. Take your outfit of the day inspired by another fashion blogger and switch up the accessories, handbag, or shoes; change the backdrop for your photo; style your makeup differently. Write about why you love that particular outfit so much. Or if you found a really cool dreamcatcher to make from Pinterest and you want to write a tutorial for your readers, make it your own. Change up the size, colors, beads, etc. Photograph it differently. Even if the materials are the same, you've made the project your own in all other aspects and therefore it is your post, not theirs. By making a post that is the same topic as something else that's been covered your own, you've managed to stay true to yourself, stay authentic, and keep your readers. Let's face it; we cannot avoid wanting to blog about the same things. So be sure to make it your own.

Design. There are about 5 blogs I can think of right off the bat that I would love to steal their design. Seriously! I won't, but I love them so much and wish I had thought of that. There's nothing wrong with finding inspiration in those blog designs, though. The best way to avoid not copying a design is to just not copy it. Aside from that, you're guaranteed to not copy a blog design if you hire a designer. They will ask for blog inspirations, but will take elements from them to make it your own {along with the other 100 questions they ask you, too!}. If you're designing your own blog, take the same lead and just draw inspiration from rather than copying exactly. Especially, and I cannot stress this enough, especially if the design or design elements are their own. I purchased a clip art set from Ink Nest called 'Blog Elements'. I am pretty positive that I am not the only one who purchased this set. I bought it to use for the design of my personal blog A Fox & A Wolf, but I made what I purchased my own. Yes, someone might have the same graphic as me in their header too, but my fonts are more than likely different, the placement is probably different and all of the other little elements I used are used differently; I made it my own. So mine may be similar to another bloggers design because of the purchased elements, but it is not a copy cat. Much like your content, you want your design to represent you and be authentic.

Connecting. Like mentioned above, blogging is a community. Who want's to be a part of a community of fakes and copycats? No one? If you're authentic in your personal connections with other bloggers, you'll be able to build lasting blogging friendships, which will build this blogging community even more. But more than that, your friendships with those bloggers will benefit you as well. When you're you, bloggers will be more willing to share your blog with others. When you write an email to a blogger, address them by their name, don't just say 'Hey!' or 'Hey you!'. Or when you leave a comment on a bloggers post, make it personal, be engaged, be you. Don't just write, 'following you from the ________ hop, would like a follow back. Thanks!' or 'Your blog is cute.' and leave it at that. No one is going to read your comment and follow through to your blog. No one is going to read that email and think 'I want to stay connected with this person.' and add your button on their sidebar. You want them to feel connected and you want them to want to read your blog.  Isn't that what you wanted in the first place? To have people read your blog? Now they'll want to be your blogging friend too! Trust me, authenticity and being real when connecting with other bloggers has given me the opportunity to have support in the blogging community as well as making a few amazing blogging friends. All of the contributors have become amazing blog friends, even more than just them. And it really makes blogging that much better.

So if you follow these simple guidelines you'll be sure to have an authentic blog, true to you, with a following that fits you. It is so important to be your own blog and not be a copycat!

Have a blog you'd like to share with us? Leave your blog in the comments below and be sure to follow us so we can come and check you out!