Detailed steps for mattes & frames in PS6

Dave Jaseck

Veteran Member
Messages
6,152
Reaction score
877
Location
US
I took the time to write out the steps I followed to create a matted and framed picture in essentially 2 sections, the matte, the frame. You can stop at the matte and print for your own real framing or continue and add the frame for email or internet. I'd like to thank MHL and Brian for the tips and information they provided in the past. I hope this helps those on this forum that might have an interest in this process. I know there are other ways of doing this, but this is where I am at present and I've learned alot getting to this point. I always welcome and appreciate suggestions and improvements..Dave
http://www.pbase.com/davidjaseck/photorestoration

This is done in PS6...

OK..Lets us use the hypothetical of a 5"X7" picture @100 ppi that you want on a 8"X10"matte.

1. Open image in PS6. Before you do anything else, double click background copy in the layers pallet and rename “Photo”

2. Select > all. Go to Edit> stroke, 2 pixels in black

4. Make duplicate layer.

5 Go to Layer> layer style> innershadow add 5 pixel distance and size. You can adjust these to your own taste later. Important, keep the angle on everything at 120 degrees

6. Make new layer, title it “First Matte”. Drag it to the bottom of the layers pallet. Go to Image> canvas size. Add .5 to both the width and height of this layer. Click OK.

7. Go to Select> select all. Go to Edit> stroke. Add 2 pixel black stroke to the “First Matte” layer. At this point select a color for the first matte. Try a medium color for this exercise.

8. Still on the “First Matte” layer, go to Layer> layer style> bevel and emboss. Style “Inner bevel”, 7 or 8 pixel size, click the "down" button. Make sure angle is always 120 degrees. You can add a texture to the 2 mattes any time you choose.

9. Make new layer, title it “Second Matte”. Drag it to the bottom of the layers pallette. Go to Image> canvas size and resize to 8”X10”. Click ok.

10. Select a complimentary color and add with Paint Bucket. Add texture if desired.

OK, at this point you should have a finished matted picture. You can save and keep all the layers in this picture for future changes.

Now for the frame:

11. Make a new layer. Title it “Frame” and drag it to the bottom of the layers pallette. Go to Image> canvas size and resize the “Frame” layer. Add 1 additional percent to the short side. For example, Landscape - width 104%, height 105%, Portrait - Width 105%, Height 104%. Fill using paint bucket with color of your choice. (Got this from MHL, Thanks, don't know why it works this way, but hey!)

12. Go to Layer, layer style> inner shadow - add. Go the bevel and emboss, select “outer bevel” and click the down button.

13. Activate the “Frame” layer, Go to Layer> layer style> bevel & emboss. Select “inner bevel”, click the “up” button. You might at this time stroke the frame with a 2 pixel black stroke

At this point you should have a matted picture with a frame. Lets put a background under it.

14. Make a new layer, title it “White Back” and drag it to the bottom of the layers pallette.

15. Go to Edit> canvas size and resize to 120% on both height and width.

16. Fill white color with paint bucket.

17. Go to “Frame” layer, activate, go to Layer> layer style> drop shadow. Set to distance 50 pixels, size 50 pixels.

That’s about it folks. Remember, keep the angel at 120 degrees (unclick the "global light". Hope I didn’t forget somethingl..Dave

davidjaseck/photorestoration
 
Here's a sample result of my following the steps I outlined...Dave


I took the time to write out the steps I followed to create a
matted and framed picture in essentially 2 sections, the matte, the
frame. You can stop at the matte and print for your own real
framing or continue and add the frame for email or internet. I'd
like to thank MHL and Brian for the tips and information they
provided in the past. I hope this helps those on this forum that
might have an interest in this process. I know there are other
ways of doing this, but this is where I am at present and I've
learned alot getting to this point. I always welcome and
appreciate suggestions and improvements..Dave
http://www.pbase.com/davidjaseck/photorestoration

This is done in PS6...

OK..Lets us use the hypothetical of a 5"X7" picture @100 ppi that
you want on a 8"X10"matte.

1. Open image in PS6. Before you do anything else, double click
background copy in the layers pallet and rename “Photo”

2. Select > all. Go to Edit> stroke, 2 pixels in black

4. Make duplicate layer.

5 Go to Layer> layer style> innershadow add 5 pixel distance and
size. You can adjust these to your own taste later. Important,
keep the angle on everything at 120 degrees

6. Make new layer, title it “First Matte”. Drag it to
the bottom of the layers pallet. Go to Image> canvas size. Add .5
to both the width and height of this layer. Click OK.

7. Go to Select> select all. Go to Edit> stroke. Add 2 pixel black
stroke to the “First Matte” layer. At this point
select a color for the first matte. Try a medium color for this
exercise.

8. Still on the “First Matte” layer, go to Layer> layer
style> bevel and emboss. Style “Inner bevel”, 7 or 8
pixel size, click the "down" button. Make sure angle is always 120
degrees. You can add a texture to the 2 mattes any time you choose.

9. Make new layer, title it “Second Matte”. Drag it to
the bottom of the layers pallette. Go to Image> canvas size and
resize to 8”X10”. Click ok.

10. Select a complimentary color and add with Paint Bucket. Add
texture if desired.

OK, at this point you should have a finished matted picture. You
can save and keep all the layers in this picture for future changes.

Now for the frame:

11. Make a new layer. Title it “Frame” and drag it to
the bottom of the layers pallette. Go to Image> canvas size and
resize the “Frame” layer. Add 1 additional percent to
the short side. For example, Landscape - width 104%, height 105%,
Portrait - Width 105%, Height 104%. Fill using paint bucket with
color of your choice. (Got this from MHL, Thanks, don't know why
it works this way, but hey!)

12. Go to Layer, layer style> inner shadow - add. Go the bevel and
emboss, select “outer bevel” and click the down button.

13. Activate the “Frame” layer, Go to Layer> layer
style> bevel & emboss. Select “inner bevel”, click the
“up” button. You might at this time stroke the frame
with a 2 pixel black stroke

At this point you should have a matted picture with a frame. Lets
put a background under it.

14. Make a new layer, title it “White Back” and drag it
to the bottom of the layers pallette.

15. Go to Edit> canvas size and resize to 120% on both height and
width.

16. Fill white color with paint bucket.

17. Go to “Frame” layer, activate, go to Layer> layer
style> drop shadow. Set to distance 50 pixels, size 50 pixels.

That’s about it folks. Remember, keep the angel at 120
degrees (unclick the "global light". Hope I didn’t forget
somethingl..Dave

davidjaseck/photorestoration
 
I really appreciate your taking the time to write this out and post it. It's nice to have the automated actions, but I really like to know what's behind them and to be able to make minor alterations to suit a particular photo.

Folks like you make this forum visiting on a regular basis! Thanks again for sharing!--Mary
 
Now, if some kind soul would do the same using Photoshop Elements, that would be wonderful!
I took the time to write out the steps I followed to create a
matted and framed picture in essentially 2 sections, the matte, the
frame. You can stop at the matte and print for your own real
framing or continue and add the frame for email or internet. I'd
like to thank MHL and Brian for the tips and information they
provided in the past. I hope this helps those on this forum that
might have an interest in this process. I know there are other
ways of doing this, but this is where I am at present and I've
learned alot getting to this point. I always welcome and
appreciate suggestions and improvements..Dave
http://www.pbase.com/davidjaseck/photorestoration

This is done in PS6...

OK..Lets us use the hypothetical of a 5"X7" picture @100 ppi that
you want on a 8"X10"matte.

1. Open image in PS6. Before you do anything else, double click
background copy in the layers pallet and rename ?Photo?

2. Select > all. Go to Edit> stroke, 2 pixels in black

4. Make duplicate layer.

5 Go to Layer> layer style> innershadow add 5 pixel distance and
size. You can adjust these to your own taste later. Important,
keep the angle on everything at 120 degrees

6. Make new layer, title it ?First Matte?. Drag it to
the bottom of the layers pallet. Go to Image> canvas size. Add .5
to both the width and height of this layer. Click OK.

7. Go to Select> select all. Go to Edit> stroke. Add 2 pixel black
stroke to the ?First Matte? layer. At this point
select a color for the first matte. Try a medium color for this
exercise.

8. Still on the ?First Matte? layer, go to Layer> layer
style> bevel and emboss. Style ?Inner bevel?, 7 or 8
pixel size, click the "down" button. Make sure angle is always 120
degrees. You can add a texture to the 2 mattes any time you choose.

9. Make new layer, title it ?Second Matte?. Drag it to
the bottom of the layers pallette. Go to Image> canvas size and
resize to 8?X10?. Click ok.

10. Select a complimentary color and add with Paint Bucket. Add
texture if desired.

OK, at this point you should have a finished matted picture. You
can save and keep all the layers in this picture for future changes.

Now for the frame:

11. Make a new layer. Title it ?Frame? and drag it to
the bottom of the layers pallette. Go to Image> canvas size and
resize the ?Frame? layer. Add 1 additional percent to
the short side. For example, Landscape - width 104%, height 105%,
Portrait - Width 105%, Height 104%. Fill using paint bucket with
color of your choice. (Got this from MHL, Thanks, don't know why
it works this way, but hey!)

12. Go to Layer, layer style> inner shadow - add. Go the bevel and
emboss, select ?outer bevel? and click the down button.

13. Activate the ?Frame? layer, Go to Layer> layer
style> bevel & emboss. Select ?inner bevel?, click the
?up? button. You might at this time stroke the frame
with a 2 pixel black stroke

At this point you should have a matted picture with a frame. Lets
put a background under it.

14. Make a new layer, title it ?White Back? and drag it
to the bottom of the layers pallette.

15. Go to Edit> canvas size and resize to 120% on both height and
width.

16. Fill white color with paint bucket.

17. Go to ?Frame? layer, activate, go to Layer> layer
style> drop shadow. Set to distance 50 pixels, size 50 pixels.

That?s about it folks. Remember, keep the angel at 120
degrees (unclick the "global light". Hope I didn?t forget
somethingl..Dave

davidjaseck/photorestoration
 
How's the frame construction going Dave, mastered that gradient editor yet :-) ?

I've been playing with something different with my frames, lately I've been working at making the outside drop shadow (outside the frame) more realistic by trying to make the shadow below the bottom of the frame darker than the shadow on the right side (drop shadow 120 deg.). I figure the bottom shadow should be darker than the one on the side. It's quite subtle, most probably wouldn't even notice it.

later,

Patrick
 
Diane -

I use PS, don't have Elements, but it wouldn't surprise me if you could do everything Dave described in Elements. I'm sure if I'm wrong someone will let me know.

Patrick
Now, if some kind soul would do the same using Photoshop Elements,
that would be wonderful!
 
Hey Patrick...I almost went nuts getting to this point. I guess my next assignment is gradient editor 101. Thanks for staying in touch and for your help and comments...Dave
How's the frame construction going Dave, mastered that gradient
editor yet :-) ?

I've been playing with something different with my frames, lately
I've been working at making the outside drop shadow (outside the
frame) more realistic by trying to make the shadow below the bottom
of the frame darker than the shadow on the right side (drop shadow
120 deg.). I figure the bottom shadow should be darker than the one
on the side. It's quite subtle, most probably wouldn't even notice
it.

later,

Patrick
 
Dave Jaseck,

Thank you for posting this recipe for a beautiful matte and frame. I can't wait to actually try it!

I browsed your pbase gallery and absolutely fell in love with the color lily. An outstanding frame job on that one too. Nice work!

jim

--galleries at: http://www.pbase.com/sandman3
 
Dave,

Looked at your web pages and pics and you seem to be just the person for some advice!

I am restoring an old photo of my grandfather..I have done some good work on it already but am having trouble with the right cheek of both kids..can you tell me what might be the best way to reduce this blotchiness?? I have already tried blurring it and the clone tool. limited success.

Here is the pic..(levels only adjusted on this version) there are other probs that i can take care of...It's the cheek problem has me stymied. The deep shadowed area of the cheek on the right is the worst

Thanks,
Dan


I took the time to write out the steps I followed to create a
matted and framed picture in essentially 2 sections, the matte, the
frame. You can stop at the matte and print for your own real
framing or continue and add the frame for email or internet. I'd
like to thank MHL and Brian for the tips and information they
provided in the past. I hope this helps those on this forum that
might have an interest in this process. I know there are other
ways of doing this, but this is where I am at present and I've
learned alot getting to this point. I always welcome and
appreciate suggestions and improvements..Dave
http://www.pbase.com/davidjaseck/photorestoration

This is done in PS6...

OK..Lets us use the hypothetical of a 5"X7" picture @100 ppi that
you want on a 8"X10"matte.

1. Open image in PS6. Before you do anything else, double click
background copy in the layers pallet and rename “Photo”

2. Select > all. Go to Edit> stroke, 2 pixels in black

4. Make duplicate layer.

5 Go to Layer> layer style> innershadow add 5 pixel distance and
size. You can adjust these to your own taste later. Important,
keep the angle on everything at 120 degrees

6. Make new layer, title it “First Matte”. Drag it to
the bottom of the layers pallet. Go to Image> canvas size. Add .5
to both the width and height of this layer. Click OK.

7. Go to Select> select all. Go to Edit> stroke. Add 2 pixel black
stroke to the “First Matte” layer. At this point
select a color for the first matte. Try a medium color for this
exercise.

8. Still on the “First Matte” layer, go to Layer> layer
style> bevel and emboss. Style “Inner bevel”, 7 or 8
pixel size, click the "down" button. Make sure angle is always 120
degrees. You can add a texture to the 2 mattes any time you choose.

9. Make new layer, title it “Second Matte”. Drag it to
the bottom of the layers pallette. Go to Image> canvas size and
resize to 8”X10”. Click ok.

10. Select a complimentary color and add with Paint Bucket. Add
texture if desired.

OK, at this point you should have a finished matted picture. You
can save and keep all the layers in this picture for future changes.

Now for the frame:

11. Make a new layer. Title it “Frame” and drag it to
the bottom of the layers pallette. Go to Image> canvas size and
resize the “Frame” layer. Add 1 additional percent to
the short side. For example, Landscape - width 104%, height 105%,
Portrait - Width 105%, Height 104%. Fill using paint bucket with
color of your choice. (Got this from MHL, Thanks, don't know why
it works this way, but hey!)

12. Go to Layer, layer style> inner shadow - add. Go the bevel and
emboss, select “outer bevel” and click the down button.

13. Activate the “Frame” layer, Go to Layer> layer
style> bevel & emboss. Select “inner bevel”, click the
“up” button. You might at this time stroke the frame
with a 2 pixel black stroke

At this point you should have a matted picture with a frame. Lets
put a background under it.

14. Make a new layer, title it “White Back” and drag it
to the bottom of the layers pallette.

15. Go to Edit> canvas size and resize to 120% on both height and
width.

16. Fill white color with paint bucket.

17. Go to “Frame” layer, activate, go to Layer> layer
style> drop shadow. Set to distance 50 pixels, size 50 pixels.

That’s about it folks. Remember, keep the angel at 120
degrees (unclick the "global light". Hope I didn’t forget
somethingl..Dave

davidjaseck/photorestoration
 
Dave

Thanks for this, followed your instructions and this is what I came up with.
Is this correct ?

Thanks Keith-s
Perhaps others might like to show their efforts ?

 
Looks like the real thing to me. Glad I didn't miss some important step and have alot of people scratching their heads. Incidently, once you have the strategy, you can play with some of the pixel, distance and choke settings in the layers style. Also, the drop shadow for the frame can be adjusted to different settings rather than 50 pixels, a lower pixel setting can give different illusions of shadow...Dave
Dave

Thanks for this, followed your instructions and this is what I came
up with.
Is this correct ?

Thanks Keith-s
Perhaps others might like to show their efforts ?

 
Dan...I tried to explain the steps I took and some suggestion here but got a error message "to long". If you want send me your email address (mine is: [email protected]) and I'll try to explain some steps I took to get your picture to this and also attach the file I worked on (though it may be too small to be of any use). Any way, here's a quck work over...Dave


I am restoring an old photo of my grandfather..I have done some
good work on it already but am having trouble with the right cheek
of both kids..can you tell me what might be the best way to reduce
this blotchiness?? I have already tried blurring it and the clone
tool. limited success.

Here is the pic..(levels only adjusted on this version) there are
other probs that i can take care of...It's the cheek problem has me
stymied. The deep shadowed area of the cheek on the right is the
worst

Thanks,
Dan


I took the time to write out the steps I followed to create a
matted and framed picture in essentially 2 sections, the matte, the
frame. You can stop at the matte and print for your own real
framing or continue and add the frame for email or internet. I'd
like to thank MHL and Brian for the tips and information they
provided in the past. I hope this helps those on this forum that
might have an interest in this process. I know there are other
ways of doing this, but this is where I am at present and I've
learned alot getting to this point. I always welcome and
appreciate suggestions and improvements..Dave
http://www.pbase.com/davidjaseck/photorestoration

This is done in PS6...

OK..Lets us use the hypothetical of a 5"X7" picture @100 ppi that
you want on a 8"X10"matte.

1. Open image in PS6. Before you do anything else, double click
background copy in the layers pallet and rename “Photo”

2. Select > all. Go to Edit> stroke, 2 pixels in black

4. Make duplicate layer.

5 Go to Layer> layer style> innershadow add 5 pixel distance and
size. You can adjust these to your own taste later. Important,
keep the angle on everything at 120 degrees

6. Make new layer, title it “First Matte”. Drag it to
the bottom of the layers pallet. Go to Image> canvas size. Add .5
to both the width and height of this layer. Click OK.

7. Go to Select> select all. Go to Edit> stroke. Add 2 pixel black
stroke to the “First Matte” layer. At this point
select a color for the first matte. Try a medium color for this
exercise.

8. Still on the “First Matte” layer, go to Layer> layer
style> bevel and emboss. Style “Inner bevel”, 7 or 8
pixel size, click the "down" button. Make sure angle is always 120
degrees. You can add a texture to the 2 mattes any time you choose.

9. Make new layer, title it “Second Matte”. Drag it to
the bottom of the layers pallette. Go to Image> canvas size and
resize to 8”X10”. Click ok.

10. Select a complimentary color and add with Paint Bucket. Add
texture if desired.

OK, at this point you should have a finished matted picture. You
can save and keep all the layers in this picture for future changes.

Now for the frame:

11. Make a new layer. Title it “Frame” and drag it to
the bottom of the layers pallette. Go to Image> canvas size and
resize the “Frame” layer. Add 1 additional percent to
the short side. For example, Landscape - width 104%, height 105%,
Portrait - Width 105%, Height 104%. Fill using paint bucket with
color of your choice. (Got this from MHL, Thanks, don't know why
it works this way, but hey!)

12. Go to Layer, layer style> inner shadow - add. Go the bevel and
emboss, select “outer bevel” and click the down button.

13. Activate the “Frame” layer, Go to Layer> layer
style> bevel & emboss. Select “inner bevel”, click the
“up” button. You might at this time stroke the frame
with a 2 pixel black stroke

At this point you should have a matted picture with a frame. Lets
put a background under it.

14. Make a new layer, title it “White Back” and drag it
to the bottom of the layers pallette.

15. Go to Edit> canvas size and resize to 120% on both height and
width.

16. Fill white color with paint bucket.

17. Go to “Frame” layer, activate, go to Layer> layer
style> drop shadow. Set to distance 50 pixels, size 50 pixels.

That’s about it folks. Remember, keep the angel at 120
degrees (unclick the "global light". Hope I didn’t forget
somethingl..Dave

davidjaseck/photorestoration
 
Thanks Dave. I always look for your posts as they are so informative. Its people like you that make this forum so interesting. I'm still learning photoshop and instructions like this really help.
 
This is the only one I don't recognize from Elements off hand,
Edit / stroke

Otherwise the rest is in Elements, I believe.
 
On the top menu bar next to "File" -- Click on Edit. From the cascading menu, select Stroke. Its easy to overlook commands. Hope this helps.
This is the only one I don't recognize from Elements off hand,
Edit / stroke

Otherwise the rest is in Elements, I believe.
--Keep on shooting!Lisa
 
Dave Jaseck,

I did it! I printed your recipe (actually copied it to a MS Word file for future reference) and worked off my printed copy. I followed your excellent instructions step-by-step. This is my final result....it worked! I'm not crazy about the colors I choose, but I can work on those later.



large size at: http://www.pbase.com/image/1645195/large

Thanks again for the great lesson here. I now have another reason to visit this forum!

jim

--galleries at: http://www.pbase.com/sandman3
 
Jim...It looks great! Shouldn't there be some separation between the matte and the frame. Go back and see if you missed a step or perhaps I missed a step. Take a look at the sample after my post. Let me know what happens. Believe me, we all learn from the stuff. I'm afraid I'll never graduate from Photoshop University....Dave
Dave Jaseck,

I did it! I printed your recipe (actually copied it to a MS Word
file for future reference) and worked off my printed copy. I
followed your excellent instructions step-by-step. This is my
final result....it worked! I'm not crazy about the colors I
choose, but I can work on those later.



large size at: http://www.pbase.com/image/1645195/large

Thanks again for the great lesson here. I now have another reason
to visit this forum!

jim

--
galleries at: http://www.pbase.com/sandman3
 
Number 12 should be for the 2nd Matte layer which at this point the frame layer is the bottom layer and the 2nd matte layer is the next one. I left out the word "2nd Matte". Should look somewhat like this...Dave


Dave Jaseck,

I did it! I printed your recipe (actually copied it to a MS Word
file for future reference) and worked off my printed copy. I
followed your excellent instructions step-by-step. This is my
final result....it worked! I'm not crazy about the colors I
choose, but I can work on those later.



large size at: http://www.pbase.com/image/1645195/large

Thanks again for the great lesson here. I now have another reason
to visit this forum!

jim

--
galleries at: http://www.pbase.com/sandman3
 
Dave Jaseck,

I made the notation on my instructions and edited my image to give the inner shaddow to the 2nd matte. That is a nice touch!

Thanks very much for looking at my image and posting the fix.

Looking forward to more of your tips and tricks!

jim

--galleries at: http://www.pbase.com/sandman3
 

Keyboard shortcuts

Back
Top