Adding a Frame to the Interior of a Photo

SUBJECT: Create a thin line frame around the interior of a photo for digital scrapbooking.

PROGRAM: PSE8 (can be adapted for other versions of PSE and/or Photoshop)

PREREQUISITES: Basic understanding of the layers palette and the selection, text tools and color picker.

This tutorial walks you through the steps of creating framing and text like this …

Start by opening in your photograph in PSE (or Photoshop).

Create a new layer on top of your photo by going to Layer>New>Layer or Shift+Ctrl+N.  Name your layer ‘Shape’ and click ‘OK’.

If there are not rulers visible at the top and left of your working canvas, activate them by going to View>Rulers (Shift+Ctrl+R).

Click on the ruler along the left and drag inward onto your photo.  You should find yourself moving a blue line across the canvas.  This blue line is called a guide. Using the ruler as a gauge, set the guide inside your photo 1/4 of an inch (more or less depending on how far inside the photo you want your frame).  Repeat this process to set a guide 1/4 of an inch inward on the opposing side.  Then pull two guides down from the top ruler setting them 1/4 of an inch from the top and bottom of your photo.

Now go to View>Snap to and make sure ‘Guides’ is checked.

Click on the Shape Tool in the Tools Palette and select the Rounded Rectangle Tool (or the Rectangle Tool if you want sharp corners).

In the Options Toolbar near the top of the screen, set the radius as desired, usually somewhere between 20 and 90px.  The larger the radius, the more rounded the corners. I am using 60px in this example.

Click on the canvas where the guides meet at the upper left and drag downward and right creating a rectangle in the empty layer on top of your photo.

Hold down the control key and click on the thumbnail of the shape in the Layers Palette to select the shape.  There should now be ‘marching ants’ around the perimeter of your rectangle. See arrow below.

Click on the eye to the left of the shape in the Layers Palette to hide the rectangle.  See arrow below.

Create a new layer;  Layer>New>Layer or Shift+Ctrl+N. Name your layer ‘Stroke’ and click ‘OK’.

Go to View>Clear Guides to get rid of the blue lines.

Go to Edit>Stroke (Outline) Selection.

In the Stroke Dialogue box …

Width: Set as desired. The higher the number the wider the line.

Color: Set as desired. I used white in this example.

Location: Center

Blending: Normal

Opacity: 100%

Click OK.

Click on the Text Tool in the Tools Palette.

Click on your canvas and type your text.  Change the font, size and text color as desired.

To integrate your text with the frame perimeter.  Click on the Move Tool in the Tools palette and click and drag your text so it sits along your frame.  Select the Rectangular Marquee Tool from the Tools Palette.

Click and drag over your text to create a rectangular selection around your text.

Click on the Stroke layer in the Layers Palette and hit delete.

You are done.  To collapse your image into a single layer, go to Layer>Flatten Image.

Go to File>Save As and name and save your altered photo.

Adding a Frame to the Interior of a Photo Summary

1. Create a layer above your photo. Layer>New>Layer or Shift+Ctrl+N
2. Set up Guides around the perimeter of your photo by dragging them from the ruler.
3. Draw a rectangle in the layer above your photo, filling the space between the guides.
4. Hold down the control key and click on the thumbnail of the shape in the Layers Palette to select the rectangle.
5. Hide the shape layer and clear the guides.
6. Create a new layer. Layer>New>Layer or Shift+Ctrl+N
7. In the new layer create a stroke around your selection; Edit>Stroke (Outline) Selection.
8. Type your text and move it to the desired location.
9. Erase any portion of the frame overlapping the text.
10. Flatten and save.