Looking around at peoples photo blogs, picture galleries and photo streams I have taken a liking to the use of borders around photographs. Some applications of course add a border automatically but even so you will not often have much control over the border.
After making some pretty rotten attempts using the line and shape tools in Photoshop I have started using the following technique. Please do let me know if there is a better method.
My main problem was getting the borders even on all sides plus getting thinner lines to appear in thumbnails. Also remembering to not have any anti aliasing (which can cause softness and blur around the edges).
Go to Image/Resize/Canvas Size
Select “cm” for measurement (if your image is large, otherwise pixels will do) and tick “relative”. For a thin line increase in increments less than 1cm, eg. 0.2cm, for deeper borders use 1cm or above. Select the “canvas extension colour” for the colour border you require. Make sure your image will align central using the “anchor” tool. Repeat as necessary.
That’s all there is to it. I am pretty pleased with the way it turns out now, I am sure though there are Photoshop experts out there that could tell me a better way.
4 Comments
Hi Chris,
I read your comments on the borders. It seems pretty easy but I have photoshop CS and I’m new to it, would you happen to know anyting about that? I did go to Image but I don’t have a resize option, just the canvas size option. can you help or someone else
It’s the canvas size option you need, the layout of the tool might look different but it should offer the same options? I’m afraid I don’t have CS here to help you more than that but someone else might
Agreed – I’ve been using the canvas size tool for a couple of years now and as far as I’m concerned it’s the best way to add a border onto photographs.
I’m not big on borders, but thats just my personal choice. Borders look good when created in the dark room as you get a different effect everytime.
I think my biggest peeve is people who add their name to the bottom of photo’s