Frame -- Circular Frame

There are many ways you can make a frame for your images in Photoshop, I will show you how a circular frame can be made very easily. Step 1 : Open any image in Photoshop. I have opened this photo.
Step 2 : Click the Elliptical Marquee Tool.

Step 3 : Press SHIFT and drag and you will be able to draw a perfect circle with the Circular Marquee Tool. Note I have chosen the skyscraper which is to the left of the image.

Step 4 : Press CTRL+J. The selection is copied and pasted from the Background Layer to Layer 1. Now click off the eye icon in Background Layer.
This is how the image looks.
Step 5 : Press CTRL+A and a selection of marching ants forms all around the edge of the image.

Step 6 : Click the Move Tool (just above the Marquee Tools on the left panel). Then click the second and fifth icons that appear in the top panel as shown.

The image moves to the exact centre of the canvas.

Step 7 : CTRL+Click the layer thumbnail on Layer 1.

A column of marching ants selects the circle.

Step 8 : Go to Select>Modify>Border.

Step 9 : When this dialogue box pops up give an appropriate value. It will depend on your image. I have put the width at 50 pixels.

Step 10 : The border forms around the circle.

Step 11 : Click on the New Layer icon and a new Layer 2 forms above Layer 1.

Step 12 : Click on the Gradient Tool, then click in the top panel to bring up the Gradient Editor.

Step 13 : Click on the first Preset. You can click any of the Presets. I have chosen the first Preset.

Step 14 : With the Gradient Tool drag from the top left corner to the bottom right corner. You can of course drag in any direction. It will give you a different effect.

This is how the Gradient looks like. Press CTRL+D to deselect.

Step 15 : Click the Add Layer Style Button and click on Outer Glow.

Step 16 : The Outer Glow controls open. First check Anti-Alias then click the Contour. From the drop down click on Ring Double. It is the one the small white hand points to. Next you can change the Color of the Glow. By default it is set to yellow. Click where the red arrow points to.

Step 17 : When you click the Color Picker dialogue box opens. Type ffffff (6fs) in the box the arrow points and click ok in the Color Picker. What I did was I changed the Color of the glow to White. DO NOT CLICK OK.

Step 18 : Now click on Bevel and Emboss. The dialogue box will change. Tick Contour also in the left panel as shown.

Step 19 : Change the Technique to Chisel Hard from the dropdown menu. Check Anti-Alias and then click the Ring Double in the Gloss Counter dialogue. Now you can click Ok.

Step 20 : In the Layers pallette Press SHIFT, click on Layer1. Now both Layer 2 and Layer1 are highlighted. Press CTRL+E.

Step 21 : Layer 1 and Layer 2 combine to form Layer 2.

Step 22 : Note that you are on Layer 2. Press CTRL and then click the New Layer icon. A new Layer 3 forms below Layer 2. Usually a layer forms above a current layer. With this command a new layer forms below the current layer.

Step 23 : Your Foreground and Background Colors should be set to Black and White respectively. If it is not press 'x' and then 'd' on the keyboard. Then press CTRL+BACKSPACE. The Layer 3 fills with White or the Background Color.

And there is the Circular frame. If, instead, you want a rectangular frame use the Rectangular Marquee and follow the same steps.

Other Photoshop tutorials are here.

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Quick Mask Mode

I have posted a lot of tutorials, but it seems I have never posted one on the Quick Mask for creating a selection. Quick Mask can be used for selecting a portion of an image or for cutting out an image for putting on another background. I have been asked to post a tutorial on the Quick Mask.

Step 1 : You will find the Quick Mask button on the left panel bottom. This is CS4 and there is only one button that toggles between 'Edit in Quick Mask Mode' and 'Edit in Standard Mode'. In earlier versions you will find two separate buttons, which does the same job.

Step 2 : I have opened this photo in Photoshop. I intend to cut out the flower with the Quick Mask. There are various ways you can begin creating a selection.
Step 3 : You can use the Lasso Tool or the Magnetic Lasso Tool for creating a selection. I have chosen the Magnetic Lasso Tool and not the Polygon Lasso Tool even though it is highlighted.
You can use it too of course.Step 4 : Now click a point with the Magnetic Lasso Tool. Then click and drag adding points. If you make a mistake, hit DELETE and it will delete the last point, then carry on till the entire portion you want is selected.Step 5 : As soon as you return to the last point a selection will form.
Step 6 : Click the Edit in Select Mode button or press 'Q' on your keyboard.

Step 7 : As soon as you click the Edit in Quick Mask Mode button, a reddish color will fill the canvas except for the selection.
Step 8 : Now zoom into the image. You will see that there are imperfections in the Mask. Some portions may have been left out of the Mask or some portions included that you do not want.
Step 9 : To add to the Mask paint with Black (Foreground Color) to substract from the Mask paint with White (Background Color) with the Brush Tool.
Step 10 : Click on the Brush Tool. To make the Brush tip large press ] (right bracket key) and to make it small [ left bracket key). You will need to change the brush size from large to small as you paint.
Step 11 : Paint out the imperfections with Black when you want to add areas and with White when you want to substract from it.

Step 12 : Paint with the White to erase portions that the Mask accidentally included. When you are finished clicked the Edit in Standard Mask button.

Step 13 : As soon as you click the Edit in Standard Mode button a selection forms and the red Quick Mask disappears.

Step 14 : Now press CTRL+J. Look in the Layers pallette. The selection will be cut and pasted from the Background Layer to Layer1. Now turn off the eye icon of the Background Layer.

The flower has been cut out from the image. Now you can do what you want with it. You can put it on a different background or add a white background or whatever.

I have used the Hue/Saturation to change the color of the flower an added a Drop Shadow.

Other Photoshop tutorials are here.
You will find Hue/Saturation explained in this tutorial.

and Drop Shadow manipulation here.

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Brush Special Effects, Clipping Layer Tutorial

You have a lot of Brushes in Photoshop which are hidden. We usually use the default set. You should use the other brushes that come with Photoshop. This tutorial will teach you to use at least another Brush that is normally not used. You can create a beautiful effect with it with the help of a few Filters that all versions of Photoshop have.

Step 1 : I have opened this photo in Photoshop. The only thing to note that it has a dark background. The effect will usually look good on a dark background.

Step 2 : On the Layer pallette click on the New Layer icon and a New Layer -- Layer 1 forms.
Step 3 : Now use the small bent arrow to change the Foreground and Background Color. The change will make White the Foreground Color and Black the Background Color.

Step 4 : Click on the Brush Tool.

Step 5 : On the top panel you will find this icon on the right side. Click it to access the Brushes.

Step 6 : When you click the icon this dialogue box appears. Click where the small white arrow points to, to access the Brushes. The Brushes pallette opens. I have a lot of extra Brushes that I have downloaded. That should not worry you.
Step 7 : You will find Assorted Brushes in the list. It comes with all versions of Photoshop. Click on it.

Step 8 : This dialogue box pops up. Click ok.

Step 9 : In the Brushes pallette that opens, click on Brush 48. The small white hand shows what it looks like.

Step 10 : As soon as you click, look at the bottom panel. You will find how the Brush will look like. I will leave it at the default settings.

Step 11 : Click where the arrow points to in the left top panel and from the dropdown you will be able to set the size (master Diameter) and the Hardness. Here the Hardness is fixed, therefore you cannot alter it.

Step 12 : Remember you have set the Foreground Color to White in Step 3. Now draw something like this. Remember that you are on layer 1 (see Step2).

Step 13 : Go to Filter>Blur>Motion Blur.

Step 14 : In the dialogue box that pops up change the Angle to 45 and the Distance to 150 and click ok.

This is how the image looks after applying the Filter.

Step 15 : Go to Filter>Distort>Shear.

Step 16 : This dialogue box opens. You will find a straight line in the middle. Click where the arrows point to, to make the line bend, then click ok.

Step 17 : Now press Ctrl+F twice and the image looks like this. It is not necessary that you will get the same result, it may vary depending on your image and Brush size.

Step 18 : Click on the New Layer icon and another new layer -- Layer 2 forms.

Step 19 : Click on the Gradient Tool. Click in the top panel next to access the Gradient Editor.

Step 20 : The Gradient Editor opens. I have clicked on a Preset Gradient. You can click on any of the Presets.

Step 21 : Now with the Gradient drag up from bottom to top keeping the SHIFT key pressed. This enable you to drag upwards in a straight line.

Step 22 : The Gradient will completely cover your image. Look in the Layers pallette. You will find the Gradient in the top layer, above Layer 1. Now Press ALT and click between the edge of Layer2 and Layer 1. A small round spot will appear. The Layer will be clipped with the Layer below. As soon as it is clipped a small bent arrow will form on the left of the layer thumbnail. (See above).

This is how the image looks after the clipping takes place. You can stop here if you want to or continue with the additional steps.

Step 23 : Click on Layer 1.

Step 24 : Now press CTRL+J to duplicate Layer 1 twice. This is how the Layers panel looks.

And, this is how the image looks. That is all.

Other Photoshop tutorials are here.

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