I need border help - DPChallenge Forums

12/17/2002 08:49:34 PM · #1

Could someone explain to me how to put a border around my picture using photoshop 7.0. Thanks.

irae

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 I

12/17/2002 09:05:51 PM · #2

In Photoshop, resize your image so that the long side is ~ 620 pixels (depending on how thick you want the border). Choose a color for your border, and make it the background color. Then choose, Image / Canvas Size. In the resulting dialogue box, increase the vertical and horizontal by an equal number of pixels (or not, ie. if you want a frame that's thicker on the sides), and Bob's your uncle.

12/17/2002 09:21:00 PM · #3

I tried doing what you said, but i'm still having trouble. Could you explain it again in dummy terms?

greenem2

Canon EOS-10D

12/17/2002 10:00:48 PM · #4

This won't be much simpler than what irae already said, but I'll try.

When you're ready to resize your image for DPC, leave room to add a border. (example: I want my length to be 640 with the border, so when I resize my image I will make the length 610 so I can add 15 pixels to each side.) Once you've resized the image, make sure the border color you want is selected as the background color. Then go to Image - Canvas Size and increase the height & width by the remaining pixels (for my example I would increase each by 30 pixels). You're done.

Note: any sharpening should be done after you resize, but before you add the border.

If you're still having problems, let us know the specific area you need help on.

Message edited by author 2002-12-17 22:05:11.

MrsKro

12/17/2002 10:41:23 PM · #5

I always just make an extra document the size I want it and fill it with my border color and then slide my photo from the open window it's in to the document I've just made. It makes another layer but of course I'm not adding borders to any photos I've ever done for DPC. I can shrink my photo to fit then and merge down the layer. Is this not a good way to do this? I mean..if I'm not planning on entering a pic into a competition?

I understand about just increasing the canvas size and true..that would be more simple. But I've always done this in this way... am I nuts? does it do anything to the integrity of the original photo? Should I stay away from PhotoShop??? lol.

Anyway...just thought I'd add that.

K

lisae

Olympus C-720UZ

12/17/2002 11:48:17 PM · #6

KD - The only problem with doing it that way is that you're placing the photo in the border by hand. It can be tricky to make all the sides the exact same width. Using the canvas, you can make sure the photo is correctly centred.

I use the Gimp for all my processing, and it also has canvas size. However, one thing I like to do is go "select all" and then shrink my selection by a certain number of pixels, and invert it. Doing it that way, I can "feather" the selection to make the edge of the border soft (not DPC legal, this is for my own use). After inverting the selecion you can just fill it with the colour you want, or you can run filters on it like oil paint or blur, and play with it that way (I did that on this photo of my friend's new baby). Of course, this requires having extra space around the image available (although I can always add more one way or the other if I need to).

aelith

Olympus C-3020Z

12/18/2002 12:00:41 AM · #7

Lisae, I do it that way in PSP too, although there is a sepereate program that automaticly makes borders. I also use the color dropper to select either the lightest or darkest tone in the picture to be the color of the border.

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

12/18/2002 01:10:49 AM · #8

KD -- Another problem with the technique you describe is the part about "shrink to fit." You are resampling the image with no controls. I would prefer to do as is described previously in this thread and in the tutorial on Creating Printable Images, and get the image to the final size/resolution first, make last-second adjustments/sharpen, then add the border as the last step.

If you like making a new document, suggest you "SelectAll" in the original and copy, then make a new document and add the desired number of border pixels to the default dimension. Set it to fill the canvas wih the desired color, then paste your image pre-sized) onto that.

myqyl

Nikon D3100

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G DX VR

12/18/2002 12:23:40 PM · #9

This sounds like a vacuum waiting for a tutorial to fill it :) Unfortunately, I've never done it so I'll just wait and hope my physics teacher was right about vacuums :)

muckpond

Nikon D200

Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Diagonal Fisheye for Nikon

12/18/2002 02:37:55 PM · #10

I could write a tutorial for it.

I'm kinda bored today and am already poking around Paint Shop Pro to answer some other questions.

Rob

muckpond

Nikon D200

Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Diagonal Fisheye for Nikon

12/18/2002 03:59:22 PM · #11

OK, a tutorial is done. I'll email it to someone here, but for now:

//www.relliott.net/tutorial/borders.htm

Rob

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

12/18/2002 04:29:47 PM · #12

Gee Rob, it took you a whole hour and twenty minutes to do that?

That's really good, but maybe should have added (or a separate one done) on what to do if you want an asymmetrical border. I "do" borders myself, but others are just starting out...

Here's an unusual border I created as an experiment to see if I could achieve a non-rectangular shape within current DPC editing rules (photo is an outtake for Motion Challenge).

--Paul

12/18/2002 05:05:44 PM · #13

Originally posted by greenem2:

Should i resize in 'save for web' option? thats what i usually do.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

12/18/2002 05:22:45 PM · #14

YIPPEEEE!!! I did it!!!! Thanks everyone for the help, you guys rule!!

greenem2

Canon EOS-10D

12/18/2002 05:24:52 PM · #15

Originally posted by shutterfly:

Should i resize in 'save for web' option? thats what i usually do.

No, I would use 'Image' - 'Image Size' to resize the photo, then add the border, then 'save for web' once you're completely finished.

floyd

Canon EOS-5D

04/02/2003 07:51:10 AM · #16

In Photoshop what I do is:

1) CTRL-a (select all)
2) Edit -> Stroke...
3) Choose my pixel width and click 'inside'

That's it.

Musicman

Sony DSC-F717

04/02/2003 09:04:11 AM · #17

Thanks Floyd,

That was a snap.

maybe you can post it on "how to" section for use new guys/gals

You may also want to add a color border shich I was able to do on my after 3 step proceedure.

Thanks again.

zerocusa

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

04/02/2003 12:21:33 PM · #18

Hi, would like to know how can I add a name(copyright) to the border.

Paige

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

04/02/2003 12:24:39 PM · #19

Originally posted by floyd:

In Photoshop what I do is:

1) CTRL-a (select all)
2) Edit -> Stroke...
3) Choose my pixel width and click 'inside'

That's it.

Doesn't that take away some of the photo?

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

04/02/2003 04:04:30 PM · #20

Originally posted by Paige:

Originally posted by floyd:
In Photoshop what I do is:

1) CTRL-a (select all)
2) Edit -> Stroke...
3) Choose my pixel width and click 'inside'

That's it.

Doesn't that take away some of the photo?

YES. That's why I'd rather crop smaller and increase the canvas size instead.

There are two cases I use the Stroke technique:
� If I want some of the picture to show through the frame, the stroke can be applied at less-than 100% opacity (as I understand the current bordering rules...)
� If my final JPEG file is between 151-155 kb and the edge doesn't contain essential elements, I'll add a stroke inside the photo area until I can get the file size under 150 kb without lowering the quality setting any more...usually a 4-8 pixel stroke will compress efficiently enough to lose the extra few kb...

JPR

Sony Alpha a55

Sony DT 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Aspherical ED Super Wide Angle Zoom

04/02/2003 04:29:45 PM · #21

OK, I'm having a very special problem regarding borders. I've been making borders in exactly rhe way described for years now. Lately, however, they aren't coming out even. I've done it again and again and mathematically they should be even. I'm possitive I'm not doing anything differently then I always have. Is it photoshop, a step I made before changing the canvas size, my monitor, or my screwed up brain? Who knows. After the current challenge, check out my photo and you'll see what I mean. I find that the smaller I make the stroke (or larger canvas size) the more likely it is to be uneven. When i stick with 20 pixels it comes out fine, but 5 and under just doesn't look right. Any ideas?