Types of Borders for Photoshop

Among the many things you can do in Adobe Photoshop is add borders and frames to images and create borders for uses in other applications. You can use presets that work for frames and borders, turn custom shapes into borders, or make your own borders from an image or drawing.

Presets

The first type of border is the preset frame. With a digital image open, go to Actions (click "Window," then "Actions"). If Frames are not visible, go to the small arrow in the right corner of the "Actions" palette and select "Frames" on the bottom of the popup. There are a number of Frames, including Wood Frame, Drop Shadow Frame and a Brushed Aluminum Frame. Clicking any of these will run a script and automatically frame your photo.

Shapes

Another way to build a border on an image is to use the Custom Shapes tool (click and hold "Shapes" on the side Toolbar, then select "Custom Shape"). In the top Toolbar, a window and button will appear containing Custom Shapes (click the arrow to the right of "Shapes"). These include a variety of shapes, from animals to arrows to abstracts. Select one you like. Then move to the right in the top Toolbar for a Style (click the button to the right of "Style"). This will show you the same palette available in the Styles palette (click "Window," then "Styles").

Custom Shapes

To use your own Custom Shape as a border, draw a shape, then duplicate the Layer (click "Layer," then "Duplicate Layer," name the Layer if you want, and click "OK"). You can do this any number of times. The new Layer will appear directly over the old one, so use the Move tool (click the arrow at the top of the side Toolbar) and position it.

If you need to flip the Custom Shape horizontally or vertically, use Transform (click "Edit," then "Transform," then "Flip Horizontal" or "Flip Vertical").

Stylized Frames

The Custom Shapes option also contains some picture frames. You can pick one of these to create your own Frame Style. If you have an image open, change the Canvas Size (click "Image," then "Canvas Size") to add space on all sides of your image. Then select the Frame type from Custom Shapes in the top Toolbar, select a Style there, too, and draw the frame around the image.

Scanned Borders

If you have a frame you like in an old photo album or hanging on the wall, you can scan or photograph it, then import the image into Photoshop.

First remove any image from inside the frame. Turn the image into a Layer (click "Layer," then "New," then "New Layer From Background") so you can edit it, then use the Rectangular Marquee Tool (click the dotted-line square box on the side Toolbar) to select the image inside the frame. Hit the Delete key, and it will disappear.

Now open the photo you want to put in the frame next to the frame photo and add the image to the frame (click, hold and drag the photo onto the frame file). In the Layers palette (click "Window," then "Layers"), move the photo Layer below the frame Layer. Flatten (click "Layer," then "Flatten") the image before printing.

References

• Vintage Style Photoshop Borders to Dress Up Your Images