i feel kinda silly asking this, but what is the easiest way to take a standard square photo and give it a nice border with round edges?

such as this guy here:




im having one of those photoshop moments. havent done this in 2 years and now somehow completely forgot. i need to empty part of my brain.

Hey JV...
Use the rounded rectangle tool in photoshop to draw a path around your photo--convert the path to a selection (bottom of the paths pallet) and create a new layer (ctrl + J) from your selection. You can also add a stroke to the border of the pic (like the guy you posted).

But after you've created the rounded rectangle as a path, hold you control key down to select that path, then with the marquee highlighted, click on the layer you want to mask and hit the mask tool. Wala, instant rounded edges!

Photoshop Elements has a cookie cutter feature -- you just select the shape you want and drop it on the image. It's a lot easier. I would imagine if the latest version of Elements has it, then so should PhotoShop.

Much better in the long run to learn the proper way - with paths etc. but for the PhotoShop challenged - a little step by step for a one off


Rounded Corner Images
- Open the image
- Set the mode to RGB (IMAGE > MODE > RGB)
- Created a custom shape sized to frame the image how you want - (use ROUNDED RECTANGLE TOOL)
- Select the custom shapes area by holding CTRL and clicking the layer in the 'Layers' pallet
- Invert the selection (CTRL SHIFT i )
- Select the image layer with just a left click on that layer in the Layer pallet (dancing ants should still be surrounding the rounded rectangles shape)
- Cut away the image corners (Press DELETE or use ERASER TOOL)
- Release the selection (CTRL D)
- Delete the custom shape layer
- Apply a stroke to the image
- Save

Matching Color blending:
- Create a background layer
- Color to match the existing sites BG color
- Save for web etc etc

Clear Cornered Gif
- Delete BG layers (if any) so checkered work area shows through
- Save for web > GIF > Check TRANSPARENCY > adjust dither, colors, and Matte to best suit the image and site BG


You may have to try a few stabs at getting the edges clean, but in the long run clean edges on rounded corners look very nice.


[ Did I forget anything major...? ]

Come to think of it ...that is the long way around it hehe

Since I don't have PhotoShop on this PC and I can't remeber any of the commands maybe this will help Rounded Corners Tutorial

thanks a lot everyone.

ahhhh!

now im having trouble with illustrator! i should know this stuff!!!