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This lesson demonstrates how to apply frames, and how to resample (resize) images.
Undo and Navigation Steps
Two ways of undoing steps are from the top menu, Edit then Step Backwards. Alternatively, click a previous snapshot in the History Palette.
Navigate (zoom in and pan) your image using the Navigator Palette,
or the Zoom Tool. 
Activate The Hand Tool by tapping the Spacebar, keeping the Spacebar pressed, pan your image in the usual way. 
Utilising the Move Tool
Applying Picture Frames
Resizing Images using the Crop Tool
Resizing Images using the Image Size Command
Resizing Images using the Free Transform Command
Resizing Two Images Making them of Equal Dimensions
Manoeuvre Rectangular Images into Oval Picture Frames
1/ Opening and Applying Picture Frames and Utilising the Move Tool
From the top menu, choose File then choose Open. In the subsequent Open dialogue box, click the Look in menu and locate a folder where your frame is residing. Left-click your choice of frame, and it will display in the File name menu. Then click Open.
Open a transparent picture frame onto Photoshop’s workspace.
Download the Cherub Frame Here!
And it will appear as Raster 1, in the Layers palette.
2/
Now, open your photograph onto Photoshop’s workspace. Note: Whenever possible, ensure your photograph is the same orientation as the frame - IE both landscape, or portrait. If they are not, as shown below.
Then click the photograph’s menu to activate it, and from the top menu, choose Edit then choose Transform then choose Rotate 90 CW (Clockwise) - or Rotate 90 CCW, (Anticlockwise) depending on the original orientation. If your photograph is a building (or something similar) rotating it will spoil the effect.
Locked Layers 
If your Background layer is locked, it will display a padlock on the right-side. To unlock it, (either) double-left-click the layer, then reply OK to the New Layer dialogue box. Alternatively, from the top menu, choose Layer then choose New then choose Layer from background, then reply OK to the New Layer dialogue box. The padlock will be removed, making the layer editable. You will also notice, the layer’s name has changed from Background to Layer 0.
3/ The Move Tool
When both frame and image are the same orientation, and a similar size - Resizing image here.
From the toolbar, activate the Move Tool.
Then double-left-click the photograph, and you will see the following Move icon.
Now, (keeping the left mouse button pressed), grab the photograph, and literally drag it onto the frame image. You will see the following Move icon over the frame image - this signifies your photograph is being moved.
 
As soon as you release the left mouse button, your photograph is placed onto the frame image - as shown below. Centralise your photograph with the Move tool.
Tip
To save PC resources, delete the original photograph.
Auto Select Layer
When you are working with many layers, you will find it easier if you activate the Auto Select Layer, as shown below.
If Auto Select Layer is active, you are able to move individual layers around the
canvas, using the Move Tool, without having to click the corresponding layer in the Layers palette. However, If you are working with one or two layers, it is best to leave Auto Select Layer inactive, (unmarked).
4/
The Layers palette displays both layers, as shown below.
5/
To position the photograph behind the picture frame, from the Layers palette, left-click to highlight (activate) the picture frame layer. Now, left-click and drag the photograph layer below the picture frame layer - as shown below.
Your image is now positioned behind the frame, as shown below.
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Now, grab the top right corner of the photograph, and drag it horizontally, (upwards) to expand the grey canvas.
Then from the top menu, choose Edit then choose Free Transform. A vector transformation bounding box will surround your photograph, and it can now be resized, as explained Here and Here.
Resize Proportionally
To resize your photograph in proportion; press and keep pressed your keyboard’s Shift key, then resize your image as normal.
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After you have resized your photograph, to apply a drop shadow to the frame, ensure the frame layer is highlighted in the Layers palette, then click the following Add a layer style (f-fx) icon, situated at the foot of the Layers palette. Layers Tutorial.
 
Then from the drop-down menu, click Drop Shadow. 
In the subsequent Layer Style dialogue box, click OK to accept the default Drop Shadow, as I have - or experiment with the settings.
8/
When you are happy with your image and frame, from the top menu choose, Layer then choose Flatten Image. Your framed photograph is ready to save, or print - or to send via e-mail or upload to a website. Link here to save your image.
Resizing Photographs with the Crop Tool
1/
One way of reducing a photograph’s size, is with the Crop Tool. Open a photograph onto Photoshop’s workspace, then from the left-side toolbar, activate the Crop Tool.
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Now, left-click and drag out a selection marquee (bounding box), so it surrounds the area you wish to retain, as shown below.
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As soon as you release the mouse button, the area you wish to keep (swans) is highlighted, and the surrounding area is in shadow, as shown below.
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You will notice that the crop bounding box, (marquee), is surrounded by eight rectangular deformation handles. By grabbing and moving one of the boxes, you are able to reshape, resize and reposition the bounding box.
5/
To move the bounding box to another area, hover your cursor inside the bounding box, and when you see the following black triangle, left-click and drag the highlight to another area.
Tip
To move the bounding box in small increments - from the keyboard, gently tap either, the upwards, downwards, left or right arrows.
6/
When you have highlighted the area you wish to keep, click the following Commit current crop operation tick. 
The Image Size Command
To resize your image with the Image Size command, from the top menu, choose Image then choose Image Size. In the subsequent Image Size dialogue box, experiment with different measurements and settings, to see how they effect your image. I find the best settings to use are Scale Styles, Constrain Proportions and Resample Image. I also frequently use Bicubic - however, images react uniquely; therefore, experiment with different settings - to find a combination that works best for you.
The Free Transform Command
To resize a photograph with the Free Transform command - from the top menu, choose Image then choose Free Transform. Then grab the top-right corner of your photograph, and drag it diagonally, upwards. (As indicated by the arrows below). This expands the grey canvas. Now, ensure your layer is unlocked (has no padlock), as demonstrated Here. Then from the top menu, choose Edit then choose Free Transform, and your image will immediately be surrounded with a vector transformation bounding box.
You will notice that the bounding box is surrounded by eight tiny rectangular handles, and has a centre circle, as shown below.
To resize your photograph, left-click, then grab (one) outside rectangular box, and drag your image outwards, or inwards, to enlarge, or reduce its size. I am reducing my image’s size, therefore, I am grabbing the top-right box, and moving it diagonally, in a downwards movement, as shown below.
Although this is not difficult, it’s a technique that improves with practise.
Resize Proportionally
To resize your photograph in proportion; press and keep pressed your keyboard’s Shift key, then resize your image as normal.
Tip
When the Free Transform command is active, you can move the photograph in small increments by tapping either, the up, down, right or left arrows of the keyboard.
After the resizing is complete, finalise the change by clicking the Commit transform tick. From the Options bar.
Tip
Revert your image to its original size, before trying different resizing (resampling) settings - to do this, from the top menu, choose, Edit then choose Step Backwards.
Sharpening Images
After resizing any image, from the top menu, choose Filter then Sharpen, then choose a sharpening filter that suits your photograph’s needs. Lesson.
Wendi E. M. Scarth. Top of Page - Home.
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