PS I Love You: Instant Film Photo Frames

I was reading Lula, Issue #13, and I noticed some instant-film-like photo frames in use in their Lula Loves section. At first I thought it was totally Photoshopped and then it occurred to me that there might be a square film format with clipped corners that I’m unaware of. I’ve also seen this contact-sheet effect in Wallpaper Magazine, in an article called The Collector (3/2012). I really like this frame style because it’s different from the other instant film formats I’ve seen.

Anyway, I thought that duplicating this frame would be a good chance to make a tutorial that demonstrates some Photoshop techniques. In the following tutorial, we’re going to:

1. Add textures using Photoshop’s built-in Texturizer filter.
2. Apply a Gaussian Blur.
3. Add a fixed rectangular shape to your document.
4. Center elements precisely.
5. Rasterize a layer (turn a shape into a regular bitmap image).
6. Age your document by making it “grunge”.
7. Add custom shapes.
8. Give dimension to an element by adding an outer bevel.
9. Create and use clipping masks.

Exercise Files

The 2 exercise files (600px and 900px) that accompany this tutorial will only be available until midnight on April 30. Beginning May 1, they will only be available as part of the Photo Layouts Kit (Blog Bling Kit Part 2)! So, if you’re a member, please download ASAP. And if you’re not a member, you can make these frames in Photoshop. Although there are several steps, each step is pretty simple and I’ll lead you through them one at a time.

Special Thanks

I want to thank Dulce Delight for giving me permission to feature her gorgeous Chocolate Mousse Inside Chocolate Cups photos — thank you, Raiza! You can get the recipe on her blog and see how she makes the yummy little cuties here. ♥!

Tutorial Inspiration: Lula Magazine, Issue #13

Step 1: Create a new document

1. You can create any size you like, but I’m going to use these dimensions: 600 x 485 pixels. To create a new document: File >> New
2. Create a new layer. Layer >> New >> Layer
3. Then, use the Paint Bucket tool from the Tool Box and fill that layer with a light gray color, something like this: #F4F4F4.

Step 2: Add texture

1. Select the light gray layer, (that layer we created in Step 1).
2. Give it a texture. Filter >> Texture >> Texturizer >> Brick
3. Next, apply a Gaussian Blur Effect to that same layer. Radius = 1.0 px. Filter >> Blur >> Gaussian Blur.

Step 3: Add a dark rectangular shape

• Use the color picker to choose a dark color, something like this: #1d1d1d.
• Next, add a fixed rectangle shape to your document. Size: 540 x 420 pixels.
• See enumerated steps in the illustration above.

Step 4: Center

1. Select these 2 layers: the gray layer and the dark rectangle.
2. Select the Move Tool from the Tool Box.
3. Align the horizontal and vertical centers. Please read my notes in the above illustration.

Step 5: Rasterize Layer

1. Select layer with the dark rectangle shape.
2. Right click on the layer and then select Rasterize Layer.

Step 6: Grunge

• Add a layer mask
• Choose a grunge brush (get some from SpoonGraphics!).
• Use the color picker and choose black (#000000).
• Select the layer with the dark rectangle.
• In that same layer, make sure to select/activate the Layer Mask (see my notes in the above illustration).
• Go back to the document/canvas and apply the edges of the brush to the corners and sides of the dark rectangle.

Step 7

1. Create or add a shape with clipped corners (please see my notes in illustration above).
2. After you create the shape, right click the layer and rasterize it (same as in Step 5).

Step 8: Blur

1. Select the shape layer you rasterized in the previous step (Step 7).
2. Apply a Gaussian Blur effect with a 1 pixel radius. Filter >> Blur >> Gaussian Blur

Step 9: Give the photo a little dimension

1. Select the texturized gray frame.
2. Add a layer style: Bevel and Emboss (the settings I used are noted in the in the illustration above).

If you prefer, you can add a drop shadow instead of a bevel.

Step 10: Create your photo mask

1. Create a new layer above the layer that will be our photo mask (pink) and select it.
2. From Layer Options, select Create Clipping Mask.

Step 11: Add your photo

1. Insert your photo between the photo mask and the empty layer you created in the previous step.
2. That’s it — you’re done!