yah i know ..text blows..but the point is ..bring this all together and you can make some kick ass sigs
i made that sig by makeing the mesh for it in 3d max..then bringing it to poser to add depth to it ..then took it over to bryce ..layed the metalic texture over it and put it on its background
.3ds is a standard 3-D format. I'm not that familiar with 3dsmax, Bryce, or Poser, but I doubt that you need to use all 3 of them to do a single project like that, not to mention photoshop.
Using those 3 programs can be easier than photoshop, from the fact that they are all 3d programs. You can switch it around, turn etc. I personally only use 3dsm if i'm modelling, for texture and all i just leave one flat color on the parts i will remove or color. It's easier for PS.