FRAMED PHOTO BRUSHES

 
 
I can't tell you how many times I've had pictures I'd like to Frame but somehow never got around to doing so. This Tutorial will leave you with no excuse any longer.
 

1.) Open a photo of your choice. (Going through your old photos is a great resource to pick from which was the case here.) I Selected my Daughter Tonya to be the star of the show. Crop it (if necessary) to leave only the subject in place. Now Resize it by going to Edit > Resize. This image had a few blemishes, barely visible, and a High Contrast to the image (no background detail) the same qualities reminiscent of old photo's so this should do a pretty good job.
 
 
2.) Next, go to Image > Adjustments > Desaturate. (This removes the Color from the image.)
 
 
3.) Now, go to Edit > Levels. I adjusted only the Bottom slider to lighten the picture overall and bring in a few more Midtones. (For a more in depth explanation of the sliders... *See Photo Brush Step 3.
 
 
 
4.) Go to Select > All. (A Selection will be Created to the Outer edges of the image.)
 
 
5.) Next, go to Select > Modify > Border. Enter a value, then click OK. (The Selection will Move to the Inside of image.)
 
 
 
6.) Go to Select > Feather. Enter a value and click OK.
 
 
 
7.) Press D on the keyboard to set the Foreground Color to Black. Hold the Alt key and tap Backspace a few times to generate a nice Feathered edging to the Inside of the image.
 
 
When you are happy with the results, use Ctrl+D to Deselect Selection.
 

8.) Next, go to Image > Canvas Size. When the dialog box appears, Increase Width and Height by 100 pixels and be sure White is Selected for Canvas Extension Color, then click OK to Expand Canvas.
 
 
 
9.) Now, hold the Shift key and tap U until the Custom Shape tool becomes Selected. Go to the Options bar and Select the two buttons highlighted in red. (This will tell Photoshop to Create a New Shape layer and allow it to be Filled.) Next, click the downward arrow next to the Shape preview window to Open the Shapes Library. Click the blue arrow (Top Right corner) of library and a pop-up menu will appear. Select Frames. A dialog box will appear, just click OK and the correct library will load. Now, Select Frame 3.
 
 
10.) Go to the work area and Left-Click, press the Alt key and Drag as shown, then Release to Create a Frame. (It may take several attempts before you are able to align the Frame to the picture correctly. Use Ctrl+Z to undo each attempt until you get it right. The idea is to align the Inside of the Frame just slightly Outside the Feathering of the image,
 
 
Once done, go to Layer > Rasterize > Shape. (Things are beginning to Shape up so to speak, however, still looks fairly plain at this stage so we'll add a little pizzazz to the Frame.)
 
 
11.) Go to Layer > Layer Style > Pattern Overlay. The Layer Style palette will appear. Click the Downward triangle next to the Pattern preview window to Open the Pattern Library. Use any Pattern you like. (I changed the Library to Nature Patterns, then Selected the pattern named Blue Daises and adjusted the Scale slider to 25% for the effect.)
 
 
 
12.) Time to make the Brush. Go to Edit > Define Brush Preset. Name it as you wish. The New Brush will be added at the end to the current library.
 
 
13.) Test the brush. Go to Layer > New > layer. A dialog box will appear, name this layer Sepia Toned and click OK to Create. Press Alt+Backspace to Fill with White.
 
14.) Next, click the Foreground Color swatch and the Color-Picker will Open. Enter #663300 at the Bottom input box, then click OK to apply.
 
 
 
15.) Select the Brush tool . Position the curser over the work area and Right-Click to Open the Brush Library. Scroll down to find it at the end, then Double-Click it to Select and Close the library. Position the brush over the Center of the work area and click once to stamp the image. Perfect!
 
 
Copyright © 2006-2007 Glenn Schemenauer - Spacific Designs™ - All rights reserved.