Thanks all. When you have the background for the sig designed, if you go to Edit>>CANVAS SIZE> and then increase it by a couple of pixels or whatever, you get a transparent 'border'. If you stick a render on that, then you get the effect I achieved. Just be sure to save it as a gif or png, or a jpeg if the background matches that of the forums.
Angry Blue Controlled, is teh most r0xor font I have ever used. Awesome, i've donated to that angryblue guy. Egaladeist - that's what I'm hoping to achieve with this forum project - check the graphic design forum I made it sticky.