Fancy Frames

Some have asked me how I get the "framed" look on the blog. Here is the secret. First I often am using Photoshop Elements 4.0 on my Powerbook G4 so it is somewhat lobotomized from the full version of CS3 at home. Referencing the layers pallet to the right we will start at the first layer (IMAGE) from the bottom.

IMAGE

Make sure the background layer is unlocked by double-clicking on background layer and then hitting return. Make whatever adjustments you need to the image (use adjustment layers if at all possible), in this case the two layers for Levels and Hue/Saturation.

Resize the canvas however you want. My choice it to use the crop tool and select the original image and drag the sizing handles to where you want them outside the image. Holding down the option key will adjust the shape from the center out.

Background

Once the canvas is resized holding the command key while clicking the new layer icon will make a new layer below the current layer in the layer stack. Select whatever mat color you want as the background color and command-delete to fill the layer.

MAT TRIM

Moving up the layer stack add a few of blank layers on the top of the stack. Click on the first blank layer (from the bottom marked MAT TRIM) to select it then command click on the IMAGE layer to make a selection. Put a stroke (Edit, Stroke) on the selection using either a 2 or 5 pixel (depending on image size) inside stroke on the selection. Either use a white, grey, or black color as this will represent the 45 degree cut on mat board. For the second stroke make a rectangular selection (M) by eye-balling the space around the previous selection. It helps to keep the IMAGE layer visible to do this.

BASE FRAME

Activate the next layer and command-click on the bottom Background layer to select it. Here is where a little guesswork comes in handy. Depending on the size of the image the frame stroke can be from 20 to 150 pixels. play around with it until the stoke looks like a conservatively sized frame. Sometimes it helps to use the color picker to pull a color off of the image for a frame color.

FRAME BRUSH

This layer is not necessary but adds some pizazz to the effect. Make a selection or use the whole layer and fill it with a complementary color from the BASE FRAME. Goto Filters, Render, and Fibers and work with the options to set a pattern that you like. Click Ok then command-T to free transform the layer. Rotate the fibers 45 degrees and then drag the sizing handles out beyond the sides of the overall image and hit enter.

Command-click on the BASE FRAME layer to select the frame then command-shift-I to invert the selection and hit Delete. This will get rid of the center area of the fibers. All the extra fiber outside of the viewable image is still there. Adjust the layer opacity to a desired level.

FINALLY

To give the frame a realistic hanging on the wall look you need a shadow (except for a black mat) on the inside of the frame. In CS3 it is easy to add a drop shadow Layer Style to the BASE FRAM. In elements you have to be a little more creative. You can use a drop shadow from Styles and Effects but that is really too much for the effect. I like to make a copy of the BASE FRAME and throw a soft Gaussian Blur onto it. Make sure this layer is below the BASE FRAME and you have an image suitable for framing... Errr. Well putting behind glass then.

That pretty much sums it up.

Cya... Doug