Framing pictures

ChityWest

This is a stupid question . . . . but I will ask anyway . . . . How do you guys frame your pictures ? I know the frame is superficial and its the picture that matters - but the presentation can be important too.

I have gotten into the habit in Photoshop of simply looking at the image size - then creating a new one say 10/15 or 20 pixels wider & longer and then pasting the original picture into the new one & re-saving the new one.

Is there an easier way I am missing out on ? I have seen some pictures on here with very elegant frames - ie thin shades of grey, some with black and white borders etc - is there an easier way to do this with more scope to give them a better finish ?

elven

I'm not sure if you're getting at something a bit more complicated or elegant but I usually just go to 'canvas size' and increase that by 15-20 pixels, then at the bottom you can choose the colour you want the canvas extension to be. You could do it once by 2px each side in white then again for another 15px in black. I know other people have this process saved in an 'action', one for portrait and one for landscape shots.

ChityWest

Wow - told ya it was a stupid question. Perfect - thanks!

Valentia

I came across a great way in a book. In PS crop the whole picture, make sure that the picture is smaller than your screen so that you can then grab the crop marquee and pull it outside the photograph. Pull it out to the size you want. Double click and bob's your uncle, the job is done. The colour of the frame when you double click will be whatever background colour is active at the time. I have got into the habit of leaving the bottom portion a little bigger than the rest. Don't know why, I just like it that way. I sometimes put in a thin border before doing the frame.

There is a really good, clear tutorial on borders here.

elven

That's a nice easy one. Not sure I would trust myself to get it the same at both sides, mind you...

Valentia

True. I'm not the most patient person when doing it so I'd say if I looked closely a few of them are skewed

ChityWest

Cheers for the info - nice one.

Fionn

i've got some frames actions if you want.

ChityWest

definitely ! I will pm you my email addy if you can forward them that would be great.

Imaginephoto

Google; free photoshop actions, and you'll get loads.

ChityWest

Yep cheers - got sorted for them by a fellow boardster.

rymus

what about sticking a signature into the action?