Welcome! Since a lot of people were wondering how I made all banners, I decided to make this tutorial. It's using PSP6.

To begin, I made the image 500 pixels wide by 100 pixels high since those are the requirements for the Realm's messageboard signatures.

Ok, now that we have an image box. Click on the flood fill tool and right click it to show the different options. Click on the tool options.

The last picture shows the different tabs you will see with tool options for flood fill. Here you can chose the different gradient styles, i.e, sunburst, linear gradient, etc.

Next, click on the middle tab. This will show you the following options:

Here is where you can choose the different colors. For this tutorial, we'll just use the given colors. Choose a patteren you like and select it. Then use the flood fill to fill the white space of the new image.

Next we should add some more background effects. Click on the picture tube icon above the flood fill and spray can icons.

You will see the following:

This is where you can find all the effects, like the water drops, or flames. You chose from the drop down list.

Next, let's place the effects on the background. I placed the clouds first and then the water droplets. (The clouds and water droplets may not be the exact same~I forgot to save the effects alone, but you get the idea).

Now let's put a name in there. I chose Starfaith since I thought the colors would look nice. On the tool bar on the side, click on the large letter "A." This should bring up the following box (but the text itself will not be in there, just type it in).

Here is where you can change the color, font and size. Make sure you clikc the radial button for the text to be floating. This enables you to move the text where ever you want on the image. Click "ok" and your text will be "floating" like this:

The name won't always be centered, so move your cursor over it until you see a cross with arrows at the ends. I'd put a picture up, but it won't let me! The arrow will change from a cross with an "A" next to it to the arrows. This is how you will move the letters. When you're done moving the letters, right click anywhere on the image to remove the selection lines.

And you now have your final image!

I hope this is explained well enough. If there are parts anyone has trouble with or want me to rewrite something, just email me. Hope this explains everything! ^.^
~Peridot~