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This lesson demonstrates how to frame a photograph with a chain-link effect; you will find the chain frame Here, and the photograph of The Dolphin Here. Unzip the files and open them onto Photoshop’s workspace, ready to work with.
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. 
1/
Open your start images onto Photoshop’s workspace.
Note
Depending on its size, you may find it helpful to reduce the size of your photograph.
My chain frame measures 8.33 inches wide x 5.56 inches high; therefore, reduce your photograph to a size that’s slightly larger than my chain image. Resize Images Here!
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From the left-side toolbar, activate the Move Tool. 
Then activate your photograph, double-left-click, and drag it to a central position, over the chain image.
Note
If you receive a Paste Profile Mismatch dialogue box, click OK to continue.
Tip
To slightly expand your image, left-click, and drag the top right corner (of its upper menu) diagonally - as indicated by the arrow below - being very careful not to close it by clicking the X icon. Alternatively, click the (white on green) square - next to the X - to fully expand your image.
3/
Your Layers palette contains two layers - the chain, and your photograph. Now,
left-click and drag the chain layer to above the photograph layer, then click to highlight the photograph layer - as illustrated below.
This places the chain above the image.
4/
From the top menu, choose Layer then choose New then choose Layer from Background, there is no need to name this layer, click OK.
Tip
At this point, it will be helpful if you zoom into your image, therefore, from the top menu, choose View then choose Zoom In.
5/
Now, from the left-side toolbar, activate the Eraser Tool.
And set the following attributes.
Ensure the photograph layer remains active in the Layers palette, and carefully apply the Eraser Tool to outside the chain area, subsequently removing the photograph.
Important
At this point, you need to be very careful not to remove the photograph inside the chain link (and indeed below it). If you do, from the top menu, choose, Edit then choose Step Backwards. Below is an example error that requires stepping backwards.
Tip
Release your left mouse button regularly; this enables you to step backwards, quickly.
Continue working around the image; removing the outside closest to the chain.
Then finish by removing the remaining areas. When you have completed this, you are ready for the next step.
Tip
To be certain all pixels have been removed; carefully apply the Eraser Tool around the transparent border, again.
Tip
To smooth any rough edges, from the toolbar activate the Blur Tool.
And set the following attributes.
Now, gently smooth away any rough edges.
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To finish, from the top menu, choose Layer then choose Merge Visible.
7/
I applied the Unsharp Mask Filter (from the top menu Filter then Sharpen then Unsharp Mask - default settings) - I then applied a drop shadow, as explained in Chapter 6 of my lesson Here!
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To fill the transparent layer with a Solid Colour, Pattern or Gradient, link Here. Alternatively, link Here to learn how to optimise and save your work.
Wendi E M Scarth. Top of Page - Home.
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