Make a printable mitered frame in Photoshop

This Photoshop video tutorial will show you how to easily make a printable, custom metal frame (silver, gold, or any color you like) that is mitered and beveled. 

Your frame will add a polished look to your photos and graphics, whether printed on a greeting card or scrapbook page, or as a digital scrapbook or e-card frame for your favorite photo.

This tutorial assumes the viewer has access to a computer with Adobe Photoshop CS3. Although not tested in Photoshop versions 7 through CS4 or Adobe Elements, the procedure for these should be very similar.

Your frame will be printable if you set your new document to 200 pixels/inch or greater when you begin.

Create your frame on a transparent background, then save it as a .png file for the best resolution. Scroll to beneath the video for step-by-step written instructions.

Step 1
Open Photoshop and create a new document about 4X4 inches square with a transparent background. Be sure you can see your rulers (view>rulers). If you want a printable scrapbook frame, be sure to set your resolution to between 200 pixels/inch (dpi) and 300 pixels/inch.

Step 2
Select your rectangular marquee tool (the dotted rectangle on your toolbox), and drag a rectangle that is about 3 inches by 1/2 inches. If you watch your rulers as you drag, it's easier to get it even.

Step 3
With your dotted rectangular selection still showing, click the gradient tool in the toolbox (the little white and gray shaded thumbnail). Look up, just above the ruler to the left, and click the left-most of the five gradient thumbnails--the linear gradient.

Step 4
To the left of where you just clicked, find the gradient window and click inside. The gradient editor dialog box will open. Find a suitable gold or silver gradient with at least three shades, and click. You may have to load more gradients (click the little arrow in a circle to the left of "ok"), or create your own if you know how. Click OK.

Step 5
With your gradient tool selected and your rectangular selection still "blinking," click your left mouse button at either the left or right edge of the rectangle and holding your shift key, drag straight across horizontally to the other edge before releasing your mouse button. Deselect your rectangle (cmd/ctrl+D). Copy this layer three times (cmd/ctrl+J).

Step 6
Now rotate one layer 45 degrees clockwise, one 90 degrees clockwise, and one 180 degrees, and position them in a frame formation, with the edges of the top and bottom frame bars overlapping the sides and meeting exactly at each edge.

Step 7
Following the steps in the video, use your polygonal lasso tool to select and 45 degree angles at each end of your top and bottom frame bars. Delete each corner within the angles.

Step 8
Hold ctrl/cmd+alt+shift+E to combine all your layers into one graphic. Then apply a Layer>Layer Style>Drop Shadow and >Bevel for an even more polished look. You can now add your favorite graphic or photo on a layer below your frame for a beautiful, polished effect.