GIMP Version: 2.10.6
Operating System: Windows
GIMP Experience: Basic Level

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I have a question and I wasn't sure where to put it, so I put it here. My question is, how would I turn my hand written signature into a watermark? I have looked at many video tutorials and I have tried a few but none seem to work. I've even tried using the Threshold look and I wasn't liking it. Anyone have any ideas on what to do? Here is my signature:

mackenzieh, is it something like this you want ?

Yes, Ella Louise. Those looks are exactly what I'm looking for. I just don't know how to go about achieving them.

With the color picker I selected the background color.
Then I did alpha to color so the only thing left was the handwriting.
That I turned into a path.
The path wasn't very clear so I cleaned it up a bit and for the first part of the letter M I used the path drawing tool to make it more visible.
Afterwards I filed the path on a new layer.

The first example is an embossed one. That I made with this tutorial.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4OBn5DJdjk

The second one is white with a lowered opacity.

I looked at the tutorial but I didn't try it out. I will eventually try it out and see how it goes.

Most of the time watermarks seem to be just 1-color png files with a 10-30% opacity.
Some have even lower opacity, to make it hard to spot.
So, you would make a transparent png of the signature and simply paste it over the image.
If you need batch process, BIMP probably can do it.
Added black and white in download zip. You may want to use different colour and opacity settings depending on the image you want to watermark.

I just wanted to point out how I made the watermark out of mackenzieh's handwriting because she asked it.
And I thought she would like to make it herself.
I didn't post my xcf.file because everyone can download it and use it.
Maybe I'm a bit too cautious ...

In a PM you can't upload attachments, I think ...

The think is, I'm not good with the paths tool and my tracing skills aren't that great but I will keep trying.

I understand, mackenzie. And I'm not that good wit the path tool myself
But with your signature there wasn't much work to do.
You can use the file Nidhogg posted now.
When you would like to have the embossed one I can post it too.
But as I said, I'm careful to post your signature on the forum in case anyone would abuse it.

Again, maybe I'm a bit too cautious. But you never know.

I see.
In that case, I suggest making a b/w bitmap (or black and transparent) of the signature and trace it in Inkscape.
Or make it from selection in Gimp by selecting black. I'd make it in Inkscape only because the path will be better.
You can open the .svg file in Gimp, tick on "import paths" and "merge imported paths".

The signature you posted does not require manual tracing. I used only blur (to thicken it) and brightness & contrast to create a b/w version. Then I used colour to alpha to get rid of white.
Don't trace manually or draw paths if there is a better and quicker way (advice).

If you have used Inkscape or want to give it a try, it's fairly easy. Export the b/w version from Gimp. I'd make the bitmap 300dpi btw.
In Inkscape you'll find the tracer in menu/path.
Trace bitmap. Change settings for "multiple scans" like this:



If you lose too much detail, untick "smooth".

I very much endorse what Ella has written.

Of course you don't post anyone's real signature here, that means your own.
I wouldn't share my signature over the internet with anyone (not even authorities) using forum PM or any other way, there is simply no reason to.
Though I doubt there is real risk, like some type of forgery scenario you would lose money. What can you do with a sole signature today?
That's mostly a thing in the analog past, faking IDs etc.
If you wish to keep your real name private, then sure it's some sort of risk.

You would be surprised.

I posted my signature (which was probably not smart) in order to know how to turn it into a watermark in the easiest yet cleanest way possible. I think I've found a way might be even simpler. I saw a video where someone created a brush using their signature, so I might try that method.

I hadn't noticed that filter, in G'Mic. Thanks Wallace. I will definitely try that out.

Okay, so I turned my signature into a brush. Only thing is, when I click on the dynamics to change it, the dynamics portions of the brush is greyed out. How do I change this? An example would be color. Lets say that I wanted to change the color of the brush. The dynamics is greyed out.

Oh, okay. That's what I forgot to do. The tutorial I followed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRXMwJB5J4E

The creator of the tutorial didn't say to save the brush in gray scale.