Frames

[adauria]

Hi guys,

Any suggestions on techniques or free software for creating frames around an image, as I see so often on this forum?

Thanks!

[britt777]

Photoshop is great

[Robert_Lay]

Here are two simple ways to do it in Photoshop ************

Method 1
Select the image to be matted and framed.
Open an image file and do whatever sizing, cropping and re-sampling that is needed. You will be able to apply touch ups and filters to this layer at any time, but resizing may be impractical.
Double Click the background layer and convert it to a regular layer
Define the over-mat boundary, or contour, as an added Layer Mask
Use a marquee tool to determine the dimensions of a rectangular or elliptical cut-out for the over-mat.
Use Add Layer Mask to utilize the masked area as the over-mat cut-out. There will be a link symbol which can be turned off to allow repositioning of the mask. Once the mask is positioned so as to properly crop the image, turn the link back on to allow the cut-out of the over-mat to be re-positioned. The over-mat cut-out can be centered all around or it can be centered horizontally with an offset vertically. For a circular cut-out use the shift key while dragging the ellipse.
If it is desired to use the full, un-cropped image, use the rectangular marquee tool and spread it to the full frame of the image.

Add an optional colored border between the picture and the over-mat using the Stroke.
Use Add Layer Style and select the effect desired, such as a stroke, to create a border of any dimension and color between the image and the over-mat. For example, in a bevel cut mat there will be a very thin white border somewhat wider than the thickness of the over-mat board. The color for this thin border would normally be an off-white (try RGB: 220, 220, 220).
Be sure to choose the width of the stroke and the color before OK’ing the dialogue.

Create and color the actual over-mat as a Layer.
Use Image, Canvas Size to add an additional width around the document. The additional width will represent twice the width of the over-mat. In other words, an additional width of x inches will result in a mat width of x / 2 inches. At the time the canvas is extended it will simply expose a checkerboard patter. Another layer with color must be added to actually provide the appearance of the over-mat.
Use Create New Layer to provide the color of the over-mat. At the time you create this layer it covers everything, but you will move it below the image before leaving this task.
Use the Paint Bucket Tool (it’s with the Gradient Tool) to fill the layer with whatever color is needed for the mat board. A light neutral grey is a good choice for color prints in order to avoid any clash with the colors in the picture (try RGB: 180, 180, 180).
Once the over-mat is complete, move that layer under all other layers.

Create the Frame as a layer, color it with the paint bucket and add it to the over-matted picture.
Use Image, Canvas Size to add an additional width around the document. The additional width will represent twice the width of the framing material. In other words, an additional 1” of width will result in a frame of ½” width. At the time the canvas is extended it will simply expose a checkerboard pattern. Another layer with color must be added to actually provide the appearance of a frame.
Use Create New Layer to provide the actual framing, which at the time you create it will cover the picture again. However, as with the over-mat, this layer will be moved to the very bottom as the final step in this task.
Use the Paint Bucket again to fill this new layer with a color for the frame. Typically, a solid black frame will be appropriate RGB: 0,0,0).
Finally, drag the new layer below all the other layers, and it should form the frame, as desired.

Method 2

Select the image to be matted and framed.
Open an image file and do whatever sizing, cropping and re-sampling that is needed. You will be able to apply touch ups and filters to this layer at any time, but resizing may be impractical. Do NOT perform the step of converting background layer to a regular layer. That would prevent you from extending the canvas size with color of your choice.

Create and color the Bevel Cut-Out as an Extension of the Canvas
Use Image, Canvas Size to add an additional width around the document. The additional width will represent twice the width of the bevel cut of the over-mat. Use a Relative value of about 0.16 inches for each value, width and height. Use the color selection feature of the canvas sizing dialog box to specify the color F0F0F0, which is an off-white.

Create and color the Over-Mat as an Extension of the Canvas
Use Image, Canvas Size to add an additional width around the document. The additional width will represent twice the width of the over-mat. Use a Relative value of about 30 percent (not inches) for each value, width and height. Use the color selection feature of the canvas sizing dialog box to specify the color B4B4B4, which is a light neutral gray. This will give a nice ratio of mat board to image with the mat board width being approximately 1 / 6th of the image dimension.

Create and color the Frame as an Extension of the Canvas
Use Image, Canvas Size to add an additional width around the document. The additional width will represent twice the width of the over-mat. Use a Relative value of about 0.7 inches for each value, width and height. Use the color selection feature of the canvas sizing dialog box to specify the color 0, which is solid black. You could use a dark brown to simulate a stained wood, but this should be accompanied by some elaboration that adds a wood grain appearance, which is beyond the scope of this HOWTO.

All of the above steps can easily be automated and named FramingPictures. That batch process should include a Save to an 8 bit TIFF file, which can be modified later by addition of Text Layers, as described below.

Add a Text Layer for each separate Text Object
Text can be entered manually or by pasting it into the layer. A Text layer is created automatically each time you use the Text Tool.
Once the text has been written, it can be edited, moved, and modified.
While creating the Text layer(s) make sure that the one you are working on is above the image and above the mat board, otherwise you will not be able to see it. There is no good reason why they should not be the uppermost layers.

[lostdoggy]

Ah man I was hping you would give me a clue in to simulatng wood grain. I tried and can seem to mix and match the right filter to do it!!!!

[adauria]

Wow! Thanks for the very comprehensive answer Bob. I'll try out your suggestions.

[etaf]

if you have photoshop theres a great free framer here
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=75175

[Robert_Lay]

Ah man I was hping you would give me a clue in to simulatng wood grain. I tried and can seem to mix and match the right filter to do it!!!!

I've had that set aside as my rainy day project. (It's hasn't rained since!)

[adauria]

Yeah I saw that... unfortunately seems to only work with CS and CS2, but not PSE.