Create borders using the Displacement Filter in Adobe® PhotoShop®

The Second in our “Creating Borders” Series

In last months “Creating Borders” Series we discussed the Layer Mask method. This edition will describe the Displacement Filter Technique.

This technique will give you a truly unique border every time. If you use the displacement filter by itself it affects the entire image. Following the instructions below will only alter the border around your image.

Displacement Filter Technique...

1. Open image
2. Click on rectangular marquee tool.
   Make the selection of where you
   want your border to begin.
3. Hit Control (on a PC) + J, or Command (Mac) + J. This will make a new layer with your selection
4. Click Control/Command and click on the top layer in the Layers window. This will highlight your selection again.
5. Go to Edit, Fill and choose Black. This fills your selection with a solid color.
6. Click Ctrl (PC) + D, or Command (Mac) + D to Deselect.
7. Click Filter, Distort, Displace. First try default settings, then experiment with different settings. Click OK.
8. Browse to the folder where PhotoShop is installed, usually C:/Program Files/Adobe/PhotoShop. Then Choose Presets/Textures. Pick any texture. Repeat this step and experiment with different textures.
9. Select Background image layer. Click Control/Command + A. This selects the entire layer. Hit Control/Command + C. This will copy that layer.
10. Select the top layer. Click Control/Command and click on the top layer in the layer window. Go to Edit/Paste Into.
11. You can now delete Layer 1 (the layer filled with black)
12. To see your border effect, click on the top layer. Go to Layer/Layer Style/ and choose Drop Shadow, Inner Glow, Outer Glow, Bevel & Emboss or any combination of effects.
13. To make your border stand out even more, click on the background layer. Go to Filter/Blur/Motion Blur. Change distance to 999 and experiment with different angles.

Before and After...

Hints…

1. On a dark image, try using outer glow layer style and pick a light color. It really makes your border pop!
   
2. Write down the different displacement filters and layer style combinations you used. Then you can create an action to create your border on the fly.

Have fun creating great borders your customers and clients will love for years to come.