Photoshop CS3 - quick edges

There are some photo editing programs that come with a handsome array of photo frames and edges and then there are others that don't, or you might not like the ones you get. Whatever the reason, here's a quick and easy way of creating your own edge effect. Note that the screenshots have been reduced in size to fit the page. Simply click on them to see the bigger versions.

 

STEP BY STEP

1. Load the original image into Photoshop. This one shows the road at the front so it's a strong candidate for an edge effect. Note that edges eat into the photo, frames tend to go outside.

 

2. Right click on the Background layer and select Layer from Background. This turns the background into a floating layer. Now add a layer mask to this layer by clicking on the icon in the Layers palette. Select the foreground colour to be black and select a brush type with a variable design. You'll want to increase the brush size, depending on the image size. Here it was increased to 75. Set the Opacity at around 25%.

 

3. Using short dabs of the brush, brush out of the picture, rather than along the edges as this will produce a straight line effect. Change the angle of dabbing here and there, and occasionally dab a couple time more in some places than other to get variation. Work your way all around the image.

 

4. All you need to do now is go to Layer > Flatten Image to flatten it to a white background. The more layer mask was added, the whiter the edge will be. If you aren't happy with the effect, undo the flatten image command and carry on.