Creating frames in Photoshop

Ever wondered how to frame your photos in Photoshop. It's easy as pie. Just follow the steps below. The tutorial has turned out to be a trifle long. So I am dividing it into three parts. Do each part one by one and do not rush it.

PART - 1

Step 1 : Open a New White Layer.

Graphics 2 - Adding background to graphics

After learning how to create graphics from photos, learn how to add a background to it. The earlier tutorial is here. I have shown how to create the graphics. Now I will show how you can add a background to it.

Graphics 1 - Using an image for lettering in Photoshop

You can use an image to create a special type of graphics in Photoshop. It's quite simple. Just follow the steps.

Step 1 : Open a new White Layer by going to File>New. I have chosen 1024 x768 pixels when this dialogue box has opened. Always make sure the 'Color Mode' is set to RGB. The other settings can be left unchanged.

Step 2 : The new White Layer has opened.

Step 3 : In the Layers/Channels/Paths pallette at left bottom of Photoshop the White Layer is shown as 'Background'. Notice the lock. It means that this layer cannot be edited. The 'Background' cannot be edited.

Step 4 : Go to File>Open and browse your computer for a suitable image. After this opens drag it to the White Layer. Resize it by dragging the corner handles keeping the ALT pressed on your keyboard. Keeping the ALT pressed keeps the image proportionately while resizing.

Step 5 : The image now covers the white layer completely.

Step 6 : In the Layers/Channels/Paths pallete the image has turned into 'Layer 1'.

Step 7 : Now click on the Horizontal Type Tool from the flyout at left.

Step 8 : At the top left you can set the font you wish to use. A drop down box will appear if you click it. Select the font you want. Leave it at 'Regular' (second box). I have set the points to 300 (third box) because I want large letters. You can set the points by just entering the value in the box. Then there are the three alignments for the text -- left, centre and right. The black color box is the color of your type. (Extreme right)

Step 9 : I have typed in the text. Now drag it to the Centre of the image.

This is the Move Tool in case you did not know. Use it to move the type layer to the centre.

Step 10 : The Type layer is now in another layer. Here it is 'Forest' i.e. the letters I typed.

Step 11 : Now Press CTRL on your keyboard and click on the 'T' where I have shown.

Step 12 : You will immediately see a selection of 'running ants' around the letters.

Step 13 : Now click on 'Layer 1'.

Step 14 : Press CTRL+J on your keyboard and 'Layer 2' will be formed. Notice that the background of this layer is transparent.

Step 15 : Now click off the 'eye' icons of the Type layer and 'Layer 1'.

Step 16 : This is the effect you get. You can add a little something to it to make it look even better.

Step 17 : Go to Layer>Layer Style>Drop Shadow as shown above.

Step 18 : When the Layer Style dialogue box opens drag the 'Distance', 'Spred' and 'Size' sliders in that order to the right. Reduce the 'Opacity' to 50 % by dragging the opacity slider to the left. Click ok.

This is what you get. Easy wasn't it?

Text in Photoshop Part 7

Learn these Text effects here.

Using Blending Options in Photoshop

Blending Options is a feature of Photoshop. Learn how to use it for blending images. Step 1 : I have opened two photos in Photoshop which I intend to blend with 'Blend Options'.

Step 2 : I am going to drag the photo in foreground to the one behind it.

Step 3 : I have used the Move Tool to drag the photo of the tiger on the forest photo.

Step 4 : The Blending Options can be accessed from where the arrow and the hands point to. Click it.

Step 5 : From the popup which appears you can see the 'Blending Options' right at the top.

Step 6 : Note 'This Layer' (highlighted) and 'Underlying Layer' (highlighted) . Also notice the black and white sliders shown by the arrows. We will be using the sliders on the 'Underlying Layer'.

Step 7 : Drag the Black Slider to the right.

Step 8 : Now prress ALT on your keyboard and click and drag the Black slider towards the right. The slider will split into two.
Step 9 : The black slider has been split into two. The second portion has been dragged further to the right.

Step 10 : This is how the blended images look.

Step 11 : Now press ALT and click the White Slider shown.

Step 12 : The White Slider has been split into two and dragged to the left and right. It will depend on your image how much you drag.

This is the blended image. Blend Options works particularly well for graffiti.

Here is a graffiti on a brick wall made following the same steps. You can download free graffiti fonts here.

Change color photo to high contrast B and W

This tutorial has been updated. Changing a color photo by desaturating it leaves it dull and without contrast. Photoshop offers a simple method to change it into high contrast black and white. Follow the steps below: Step 1 : This a photo of a Nana Mouskouri album cover which I wish to change into black and white. I have opened it in Photoshop. Choose an image you wish to convert and open it likewise.

Step 2 : Go to Image>Calculations as shown above.

Step 3 : This dialogue box opens.

Step 4 : You have to change the settings highlighted in Blue in the dialogue box. Look at where 'Source 2' is. It will show you the title of your photo. Next change the 'Blending' to 'Soft Light' (A), change the 'Channel' to Green (B) and lastly set the 'Result' (C) to 'New Document'. Click ok.

Here is the same album cover in Black and White.

I have opened another photo in Photoshop which I will change into black and white. I will show in more detail how to go about it.
Step 1 : I have again gone to Image>Calculations.

Step 2 : This is the dialogue box with the default settings. Notice that in the 'Source 2' 'Channel' is set to 'Red' and Blending is set to 'Multiply'.

Step 3 : Note that the 'Blending is set to Multiply. Click the pop up box and choose soft light.

Step 4 : This is how the image looks like.

Step 5 : Now change the Channels to 'Green' from the drop down box.

Step 6 : This is how the image looks.

Step 7 : For the sake of experiment now click 'Red' in Channel.

Step 8 : This is how the image looks Step 9 : Now change the Channel to Blue

Step 10 : This is how the image looks.

Step 11 : Now change the Channel to Gray.

Step 12 : This is how the image now looks. You should experiment with the channels to see which effect you like. Then click ok.

I have chosen the Green channel and clicked ok. That's all. Try it out yourself.