Framing effects/ actions - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

09/25/2002 03:10:00 PM · #1

Hi there,

looking for ideas on ways to frame pictures for on-line display.
(These actions would not be dpchallenge - legal) but does anyone know
of could sources of actions or techniques to create stylish, clean
borders/ frames around images to finish them off well for display on
the web ?

I've been playing with a select/ border and then quick mask technique,
where I apply a filter to the mask (such as a dry brush) then go back to
the selection and hit delete - gives some great and interesting edge
effects, but I want something more along the lines of a simple white
matt with minimal decoration.

Any ideas ?

Konador

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

09/25/2002 03:29:57 PM · #2

if you just want a simple white matt, expand the CANVAS size (not image) and that's that. To make it look better draw a thin (1 or 2px) black border outside the photo.

I find white borders best for BnW, and Black borders (with small 1px white line) best for colour.

mci

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

09/25/2002 04:07:53 PM · #3

Gordon -

If I'm reading you right, you want the image to have a slightly textured white matte around the photo. Here's some steps, assuming you're using PhotoShop 6 or greater. Some of the steps might be different in earlier versions, I can't remember when some things changed.

- Open up your image.
- In the "Layers" box, it should say "Background" for the image layer. Double click it to make this an active layer.
- Make sure you background color selection is white.
- Use "Canvas Size" to make the canvas bigger than the border. Probably about 80-100 pixels bigger than the photo should look good.
- Create a new layer and drag it behind the photo layer.
- Fill the new layer with white.
- Use the "Add Noise.." filter under "Filter | Noise" to add some texture to the white layer. Try about 10% Uniform Monochromatic noise.
- Use "Filter | Blur | Gaussian Blur" to blur the noise a bit, about .5 to 1 pixel radius.

Now you have a basic matte looking border. Fool around with different textures and effects to make that suit your needs. This one is very basic.

Here's the finishing part that will make it come alive:

- Create a new layer on top of the photo layer.
- Ctrl-Click the photo layer to select the photo outline (or use Select | Load Selection" if you're not on a PC)
- Fill the new layer with white. It will blank out your picture.
- Right click on the new layer and select "Blending Properties". This is the part that's Photoshop 6+.
- Select "Bevel and Emboss" from the list on the side.
- Change the properties to use an Inner Bevel with a "Chisel Soft" technique. A good angle seems to be around 10 degrees with a 40 degree altitude. The rest you can play around with to make a nice little bevel. Keep it around 5 pixels in size and around 100% depth. Use a 0 soften to make it nice and hard.
- Once you've applied the bevel, drag the layer with your photo on it above the new beveled white layer.
- Ctrl-click on the beveled white layer to select it. Use "Select | Modify | Contract" and contract the selection the same amount of pixels that you made the bevel. In my case, 5.
- Use "Select | Inverse" to inverse the selection.
- On the photo layer, hit delete to delete the 5 pixels or so from around your photo.
- As a final touch, ctrl-click to select the beveled white layer and create a new layer above it. Use a soft grey color and stroke a 1px line around the selection.

This is by no means the best way of making a nice border, but it's a quick and dirty "matte". To see the results on one of my shots, click here.

justine

Canon EOS-50D

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

09/25/2002 04:31:12 PM · #4

MCI......that's very nice framing.
I think the shot should be sent to POST or Kelloggs.
Lovely colors too.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

09/25/2002 04:44:34 PM · #5

Gordon,

One really simple technque I use is to add the extra canvas, then select the edge where it meets the image, create a "border" of 6-10 pixels, and either apply a gaussian blur to that area, or use a tone curve to lighten it.
You can see some exapmles of my bordered images here.
I mostly use a solid color for the matte, but occasionally add texture (based on the image) as in "Isaac's PUNKin" where I used one of the "cloud" filters.
I use this technique a lot for my prints so I don't have to resample the image in order to size it up to a standard-sized print, and so I easily can add the captions and other info.

--Paul

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

09/25/2002 05:50:06 PM · #6

Thanks MCI & GeneralE - I think the layer styles is the thing I
hadn't heard about until today.

I've previously tried doing thin 'stroked' borders or gaussian blurred
lower layers, and quite like the effects, but I've now discovered layer
styles and have a whole new world to get confused by:)

Thanks again, Gordon

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

09/25/2002 05:55:59 PM · #7

Originally posted by GordonMcGregor:
Thanks...I've now discovered layer styles and have a whole new world to get confused by:)

Thanks again, Gordon

Yeah, it's always "something." I'm going to try that procedure myself...

hokie

Nikon D2X

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

09/25/2002 07:32:44 PM · #8

Okay..I found these actions and they are FREE!!!!!!

Enjoy....

Journey

Canon PowerShot G3

09/26/2002 12:48:56 AM · #9

In a sense, layer styles are actions for effects. They are really great. All on the same layer you can try out any number of styles; the next one you hit will automatically override the preceding one. Hence, no need for dupping layers. You can save them and add them to your arsenal of styles, manipulate them to heart's content; play with the various effects by turning on/off the eye of each effect. And if you don't like to use a style after all you just drag the effects to the recycle bin.

Sorry for cluttering up this thread w/ the image but I didn't want to link it to somewhere external. I used two styles here; one for the frame and one for the text which I then played with a bit more.

I need to redo the image as the white frame disappears on the white background :(

* This message has been edited by the author on 9/26/2002 12:48:07 AM.

* This message has been edited by the author on 9/26/2002 12:53:22 AM.

Journey

Canon PowerShot G3

09/26/2002 12:56:39 AM · #10

technical difficulties with linking. Sorry

* This message has been edited by the author on 9/26/2002 12:56:00 AM.

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

09/26/2002 09:47:42 AM · #11

So, thanks to various people, and some tinkering on my own, I've started doing the
following process.

Get the finished image, resized for web display/ sharpened etc.

Create a duplicate layer of the picture.
Select a background colour for the matt.
Select the background layer only, and resize the canvas to the matt size.
Select the duplicate layer only, and select blending options
Pick particular blending options (drop shadow, etc there are hundreds of
layer styles you can apply)

Once you've found a particular style you like you can save it
an apply it to any other layer done in this way as a style - the
bevel/ embossed edges in particular can give very realistic looking
matts - I was just looking for something much simpler.

Pretty much I use a one pixel 'stroke' and a drop shadow. Much
easier than doing gaussian blurs or additional layers.

Hope this is helpful info

Jak

Fujifilm FinePix S602Z

09/26/2002 10:42:02 AM · #12

How about this as a frame?

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

09/26/2002 11:13:17 AM · #13

Here are some quick tutorials on doing it manually...