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[Sean]

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Step 1
Create a new document with the following settings

Step 2
Either create a basic image using this
Or if you prefer simply take an image from Google.
(I’ve decided to create a new image from scratch… practice makes perfect LOL)

Step 3
Create a new layer (Shift Ctrl + N)

Step 4
Select the Polygonal Lasso Tool.

If you cannot see it look for the regular lasso tool

Right click the regular lasso tool and you will be greeted with the following menu

Select the Polygonal Lasso Tool.

Step 5
Click within your image (make sure the Polygonal Lasso Tool is selected). It is most helpful if you click a small length below the top right corner. I’d recommend about half a CM underneath the corner and half a CM inwards from the right side. This point is the origin of your border. Now you must click somewhere else within your image. The distance between the two points will be connected with a line. Click multiple times around the image and then return to your origin point. I hide my image to make the selection process easier.


Hint: If you hold shift whilst using the tool it will only allow you to move the cursor to a position that will create a straight line. This is useful when you want to create straight diagonal lines.

Step 6
At the top of the screen there should be a toolbar with the following.

File Edit Image Layer Select Filter View Window Help

If you click on select and then inverse your selection should now be reversed.


Step 7
Fill your selection with the paint bucket tool. I recommend you use a grey colour. If like me you hide your image to help you during the selection process I recommend you make it visible again.

Step 8
In the layers window right click the layer entitled ‘Border’.
Select blending options.
Step 9
Tick the Inner Shadow box and use the following settings

Tick the Bevel & Emboss box and use the following settings.

Tick the Gradient Overlay box and use the following settings.

Tick the Stroke box and use the following settings.

Press OK



Your border is now complete however I’ve used very basic settings to create this metallic effect and I advise you spend a few minutes tweaking the settings to your liking. Also I recommend you experiment with pattern overlays as they can really add depth to your border.

[BeefontheBone]

Oooh, edges - they're much more interesting than the plain rectangle one.

[Sean]

My border is too large for my tastes what you can do if like me you dislike the selection you made is select the entire border layer fill it with a grey based colour and then create a new selection. Remember this time you are not required to inverse your selection. Using this revision method I transformed my earlier border into this.

Note: I used the same technique to create the text that is now featured.

[taikara]

*rehash*

That's the same basic technique I used to make this:





Edit: I used a hard chisel bevel, no gradient overlay or inner shadow, and tweaked the settings a little differently.

[Sean]

Cool...

Technique is pretty common I just thought I'd share a tutorial with people that are regulars here at Abandonia. Would be extremely easy to find a similar/better tutorial using the same techniques.

[moogle]

Hehe, ur guys stuff is always so long n complicated (looking, I haven't actually tried it yet, but I hope to later today if I have the time), I feel puny and intimaded LOL, its so much better thn my normal Neon glow/ motion blur LOL

[Tulac]

Well actually it's extremely easy to do , nice tut Magic!

[Sean]

Glad to hear it Tulac

@Moogle - It really is quite simple... try it you'll see

[The Fifth Horseman]

For a more realistic metal effect, the contrast might need to be a bit higher.

[Sean]

Originally posted by the_fifth_horseman@Nov 15 2005, 10:31 AM
For a more realistic metal effect, the contrast might need to be a bit higher.

If people want realism I can knock together a tutorial on making a realistic looking metal texture from scratch at some point. That is much much harder to do. :whistle: