Creating a Torn Edge on
your
Digital Paper using
(Adobe®
Photoshop® , Jasc Paint Shop Pro, Corel® PHOTO-PAINT,
Ulead PhotoImpact 7 and higher would follow similar instructions)
There are numerous ways to create a ‘torn’
edge. This is just one method to create this look at the right.
What you’ll need:
You’ll learn how to:
-
Use the Lasso
tool
-
Use Layers
-
Use the Move
Tool
-
Use the
Eraser Tool
-
Add a Drop
Shadow
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Open Adobe Photoshop
or Photoshop Elements.
Open your Photo.
Choose File > Open and browse your
system for photo.
Click photo of
choice and then choose Open.
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Select the Lasso
Tool
from the Toolbox.
Draw a freehand shape around the area of the
background paper that you want to use in your layout. |
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Now, we are going to put that selection on a
new Layer.
Choose Layer > New > Layer via Cut.
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The Layer Palette should look similar to
this.
The part of the paper we are going to ‘tear’
should be on its own layer.
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Now, we need to do something with the
Background layer. You can either paste in another paper, or make it a
solid color, as shown here. Here’s how:
Click on the Background Layer in the
Layers Palette to make it active.
Use the Eyedropper
Tool
to select a color from your image, by clicking on the image.
Choose Select > All.
Choose Edit > Fill. Make sure
Foreground Color is selected, and click OK.
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Now, to make the ‘tear’ look a little
more realistic, we are going to use Layers.
Make sure the top ‘torn’ layer is selected.
Choose Layer >
Duplicate Layer.
Now, click on
the middle layer to make it active, as shown at the right. |
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Select the Move Tool
from
the toolbox.
Use the down arrow on your
keyboard to nudge the layer downward, one pixel at a time. (Try 5 or 6
pixels).
Then choose Enhance > Adjust
Color > Hue/Saturation. Increase the Lightness by 50.
(You will only see the edge of the
middle layer lighten.) |
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To apply some texture to the torn area,
choose Filter > Texture > Craquelure.
Experiment with the settings until you get
the desired amount of texture.
Click OK. |
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With the middle layer still active, select the Eraser
tool
.
On the Options
Bar, make sure you have the default options selected, as shown at the
right. |
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With the Eraser, draw along the edge of the paper to
make the ‘torn’ part more irregular.
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To combine the two torn layers together, make the top
layer active.
On the Layers Palette, click on the
MORE button, and choose Merge Down.
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Now, you can add a drop Shadow to your torn
edge by choosing the Layer Styles Tab in the Palette Well.
Choose Drop Shadows from the pull
down menu, and select a drop shadow for your tear. Soft Edge works
nicely.
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You’re finished!
Now be sure to save your file.
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Written by
Roseanne Miske. CottageArts, LLC, Copyright
2004, All Rights Reserved
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