I'm thinking maybe the idea of framing the photo isn't such a bad one. Lots of folks here do it, and it sets off their pics nicely.

I tried a white background with a drop shadow, wasn't thrilled. So this is outerglow, three ways. What other styles do y'all like?

And a couple more options. Obviously, not straying from black and white. I'm trying to mimic the white matte and black frame style of actual posters.

Hmm, maybe the canvas isn't big enough? I remember someone here posting that they use a 10% addition for canvas size. Here's another version.

This one is my choice.

Originally Posted by Shakey This one is my choice.

Thanks Shakey. I think I agree with you.

Different shot, same treatment that Shakey and I like.

I did it once or twice and while I think it looks nice, personally, I think it's a lot of work for little benefit.

True. I wonder if there's a way to automate (create an Action) in Photoshop so that the whole thing is done with a keystroke? I think the tricky bit would be getting Photoshop to calculate an automatic 5% increase in the canvas size.

Waxy,

I have also tried some framing and have been less than overwhelmed with the results. I think if you came up with a template you liked, you could save it as a Photo Shop document and copy your finished image into the template.

Think it should work.

Hutch

Hutch, that's a good idea. Have to figure out how to easily resize it. But great concept!

You should be able to resize any layer that is selected or PS document by using "Control T" for the free transform tool. You have to be careful to keep the document in perspective, but it is quick eazy tool


Hutch

Good one, I never thought about using Free Transform like that. Next step, figure out the ratio between the black and the white, since the black was done as an outer glow, and has no measurements.

Waxy,

You can do that with another feature in the blending menu called "Strain" (I think). It will outline your image and does have a size feature.

Hutch

It's not Strain, it is Stroke. I have CRS bad!

Hutch

Originally Posted by wxwax True. I wonder if there's a way to automate (create an Action) in Photoshop so that the whole thing is done with a keystroke? I think the tricky bit would be getting Photoshop to calculate an automatic 5% increase in the canvas size.

I think since the effect is 360 degrees that you might be able to record an action. I have thought about an action for drop shadows, but I try to arrange the drop shadow direction to match the current lighting direction in the image and I cannot figure how to automate that at all.

On second thought Sid, you can record an action to enlarge the canvas by 5 or 10% easily Go to "Image" "Canvas Size" and change the width and height boxes to percent - leave the relative box checked and increase the percent by 5 or 10% - Check the white color box.
This is an action that can be recorded and used inside other actions. I think this will work - but a 10% increase in canvas border size will give different border widths on rectangles but not squares.

Originally Posted by hutchman Waxy, You can do that with another feature in the blending menu called "Strain" (I think). It will outline your image and does have a size feature. Hutch It's not Strain, it is Stroke. I have CRS bad! Hutch

Stroke, ah yes, I know it well. Ahem. Thanks, I'll try my hand at it.

Originally Posted by pathfinder I think since the effect is 360 degrees that you might be able to record an action. I have thought about an action for drop shadows, but I try to arrange the drop shadow direction to match the current lighting direction in the image and I cannot figure how to automate that at all. On second thought Sid, you can record an action to enlarge the canvas by 5 or 10% easily Go to "Image" "Canvas Size" and change the width and height boxes to percent - leave the relative box checked and increase the percent by 5 or 10% - Check the white color box. This is an action that can be recorded and used inside other actions. I think this will work - but a 10% increase in canvas border size will give different border widths on rectangles but not squares.

Good catch, I missed that. Egg-cellent.

Originally Posted by pathfinder I think since the effect is 360 degrees that you might be able to record an action. I have thought about an action for drop shadows, but I try to arrange the drop shadow direction to match the current lighting direction in the image and I cannot figure how to automate that at all.

If you're using Layer Styles to create the drop shadow you can turn on the dialog box for the Set Layer Styles step:



With this turned on, every time you run the action it will pull up the drop shadow layer style dialog. It should remember everything that you set when you record the action, but you can go back and tweak things when you run the action.

Sorry if this wasn't what you had in mind.

Originally Posted by pathfinder On second thought Sid, you can record an action to enlarge the canvas by 5 or 10% easily Go to "Image" "Canvas Size" and change the width and height boxes to percent - leave the reletive box checked and increase the percent by 5 or 10% - Check the white color box. This is an action that can be recorded and used inside other actions. I think this will work - but a 10% increase in canvas border size will give different border widths on rectangles but not squares.

Thanks Path'. Yes, I've seen that the border sizes don't match. I'll have to work that one out.