Photobie Forum

odidio · Joined: 01 Mar 2006 Posts: 89 Location: N.S. Canada

This is a way to get a cool frame effect using the original picture.

1 - Load your picture into Photobie

2 - On the layer manager use the clone tool and make a couple copies of your picture.

3 - Click on the first copy in the layer manager. Then go to 'selection' and choose the square or rectangle, ( or which ever shape best suits what you want to do.)

4 - Place your curser inside the image and drag out your shape. Now move the shape so it's in the exact position you will want to cut out. I tried to get an even area all the way around.

5 - On the layer manager click, 'cut layers selected region'.
(screen shot)

You won't see any change to your picture yet. You can even stop at this point by changing the color of that layer with the 'adjust color balance' tool on the layer manager. You now have a frame that matches the features of the original but is a different color, merge the layers and save.
You can also use filters on the cut out layer but with some you will have to set the transparency to see the background image.

If you want to add more framing effects,

6 - Click on the second layer in layer manager.

7 - Choose a different shaped selection and cut out an area on the second layer. I chose an area inside of the first cut out.
(screen shot)

8 - Now you can choose different colors for each of the two cut outs and have a neat effect. If you don't have the right effect try moving a frame back or forward in the order with the arrows on layer manager. Remember if you decide to use a filter you will probable have to set the transparent color for that frame.

9 - To finish things off and add some outlines, click the 'Draw shapes' button and choose the shape to match your frame. Change the color and pen size (pxl) to something that will look good on your image.
Make sure the 'auto layer generator' is checked so you can move and size the shape to match the borders of your frame.

10 - When your happy with what you have be sure to put a check mark in all the frames and merge them, then save it. (Or you can use the 'Flatten all layer into one layer' button)

Thats it !! Now you have a cool framed picture with effects but you can still see the original picture through it. Here are some examples.

1 Square and oval shapes witrh different colors.

2 Square and circle, the circle has the negative filter and the square has the Jitter filter ( black for transparent color)

3 This is a bit different, instead of cutting out the clones, they are resized then colored.

Keep playing with those controlls and have fun !

( I don't know who those people are in the pictures ??? )

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odidio · Joined: 01 Mar 2006 Posts: 89 Location: N.S. Canada

I have noticed that you should change the color of your cut out frame slightly if you are going to use a filter for an effect. With Jitter this makes the background black and you make black the transparent color for that frame.
Here is another, clone the original, cut out the tomatoe with the freehand tool and make a frame. (You can use the smudge for edges around the tomatoe)

Also, if you like the look of your cut out frame, select that frame click on 'copy current layer' then 'edit' and 'paste as a new image', after that go up to 'Frames' on the main toolbar and then, 'Make image as a photo frame'. Now you can save and use it again !

Have fun.
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Cheng · Site Admin Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 104

Very nice frame effects. :D Thanks.

I surely know them all

BTW
There are new color tools to deal with color RGB channels with version 2.5.5
So you get more color effect with those tools. These tools are located on the dropdown menu of the color balance tool on layer manager.

Enjoy!