How to create a frame as a Template

[ChrisAnn]

I am about to start on a project with my local gardening club. They are going to submit photos of their garden for uploading to their Website.  I want to put each picture into the same simple black frame and also need space below the frame for me to add a caption.

The pictures are going to arrive in all sorts of shapes and sizes, some from cameras, some from phones, so I would like to be able to adjust the fame accordingly leaving a smaller or larger space around it. This means, I hope, that all the pictures will be uniform in over all size irrespective of the proportions of the original.

I've started by making a new background the size I think it should be: 1000 px x 800 px (this may change once the entries start arriving.

I thought a template would make it simpler to insert every new photo, make minor adjustments then save and post.

This is where I've come unstuck.

a) I've got the white background; I need a simple black frame with just a hint of shadow. The one I chose (Basic Black 20px) appears to have a deep shadow which makes the caption I've typed difficult to read although I can't see this until it is uploaded on to the website. It looks fine in the Editor except that the background is clear not white.  When I save it as a jpg the background is white but it then shows up the huge great shadow.

b) A subsidiary question - I anticipate that I will be using my eventually chosen frame for lots of other projects. Is there any way I can move my chosen frame to the top of the frames list? Or do I have to go searching for it every time in the future when I want to use it.

c) I've saved the template as a psd file. Is this what I should be doing?

Final question - is there another, simpler method that I can achieve my aim?

[cats4jan]

Chose a standard size for all photos

Chose a background color and fill your project with this color - this, will in essence, be a “matte” for each photo.
The size of the matte will vary depending on the photo size and shape

Frame the outside edge of your project.

Save it as a jpg

This is your template

Open the template, change it’s name to something that will identify an individual photo -
You could use the photographer’s name

(Changing the name of the project is a very important step to prevent you from wrecking your original template)

Open the flower photo and drag/drop or copy/paste the photo onto your newly named project

Use the move tool to resize and move the photo until you have a nice looking border (your matte) around the photo

This matte space can be used for your text

At this point, you can save your project as a psd so you can come back and make changes.  Realize you cannot change your template because you have flattened it. You can, however change any photo or text you add to your template if you have saved as psd

Realize you can save the template as a psd, but that adds more layers to deal with as you go forward with your project 

[ChrisAnn]

That seems simple enough Janice, thanks. I think I tend to try to complicate matters. I'll have another 'play' as I have a little time before the influx (hopefully).

[cats4jan]

ChrisAnn - I added some more info. Please re-read my response

Yes, play using your own photos. You will see if using my method gives you the results you wish

I’d provide an example but my computer with PSE on it is broken

[fotofrank]

ChrisAnn - see if this action works for you.

Add Border.zip (879 B)

[Sepiana]

Apr 8, 2020 16:40:41 GMT ChrisAnn said:

Final question - is there another, simpler method that I can achieve my aim?

ChrisAnn, I'm not sure this meets your needs but . . .

Create your frame on its own layer using the Edit>Stroke (Outline) Selection command. This will give you more flexibility in editing.

Save your template in a format which supports layers and background transparency -- PSD or TIFF.

Use the File>Place command to insert your image into the template. When you use this command, your image will come into Elements as a Smart Object. The advantage of working with Smart Objects is that they can be enlarged, shrunk, transformed, etc. without any problem. On the other hand, if you copy/paste or move your images into the frame template and you need to enlarge them by more than 100%, they will "go all pixely on you" (quoting Barbara Brundage in The Missing Manual).

[ChrisAnn]

Apr 8, 2020 18:06:40 GMT fotofrank said:

ChrisAnn - see if this action works for you.

Sorry Frank - it wouldn't let me open it as it couldn't find the correct program.

Edit to say, If I read your post properly in the first place I would have seen that its an Action not something to be opened. I'll have another try at opening it.

Edit again to say: It works! thanks.

[ChrisAnn]

Wow! now I've got three methods of achieving what I want to do. I'll continue 'playing' and see which one I get the hang of quickest.

Thanks everyone for your help, I knew I could rely on you to sort out my messes.

[Sepiana]

Apr 8, 2020 18:06:40 GMT fotofrank said:

ChrisAnn - see if this action works for you.

Frank,

This is just what the doctor ordered -- frame (stroke) on its own layer, editing flexibility, and solving this problem ChrisAnn has -- "The pictures are going to arrive in all sorts of shapes and sizes, . . . so I would like to be able to adjust the fame accordingly".  Thanks for this invaluable contribution! Speaking for myself, I will be using this action.

As a side note -- I went ahead and posted the link to your action in the All About Actions thread. In this way, it will get more exposure and the attention it deserves.

[cats4jan]

The pictures are going to arrive in all sorts of shapes and sizes, some from cameras, some from phones, so I would like to be able to adjust the fame accordingly leaving a smaller or larger space around it. This means, I hope, that all the pictures will be uniform in over all size irrespective of the proportions of the original.

******************

You stated you wanted the photos to be “uniform in overall size irrespective of the proportions of the original” - The only way I can see that happening when using photos of various sizes and proportions is if you start with a standard size framed template and drop your photos on to it. The only other way to make everything the same size is to crop.

Try all these methods, though. You may find keeping things all the same size isn’t the best choice

[Sepiana]

Apr 8, 2020 19:09:51 GMT ChrisAnn said:

Wow! now I've got three methods of achieving what I want to do. I'll continue 'playing' and see which one I get the hang of quickest.

Thanks everyone for your help, I knew I could rely on you to sort out my messes.

ChrisAnn, you are most welcome! Just use whichever technique you feel comfortable with, the one which best meets your needs. Success with your project!

Speaking for myself, I favor the on-its-own-layer-stroke technique. And, with fotofrank 's Add Border action, it is a piece of cake. Your workflow time will be sharply reduced.

[HappyScot]

Perhaps have 2 templates - one for portrait and one for landscape. That will look neater I think.

[pontiac1940]

fotofrank
You provided the "add border" action. Did you write that action? Do you have a reference guide to write actions outside of PS? BTW I do not have full PS and see they can only be written in full PS. Is there another way to write an action? I do not know code. 
Thanks
Clive

[fotofrank]

Clive - I do not write actions, I record and create them in the full version of photoshop. The action that I provided was created by me to automate the steps required to put a frame around the image and add space to the bottom for comments.

I have no idea about writing an action outside of photoshop.

Frank

[pontiac1940]

Thanks Frank. 
Clive