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This lesson demonstrates three different ways of creating torn paper using Photoshop filters.
Tip
Duplicate your image and work on the copy - Window then Duplicate.
Note
For a visual guide, tear a piece of A4 paper, and study it; additionally, for a truly photorealistic tear, scan your torn paper, open it onto Photoshop’s workspace, then convert it into a brush tip - Creating Brushes Tutorial Here. For a quick solution, apply Auto FX’s Deckle filter - a trial is available Here!
Lesson Two - Creating Paper From Scratch - Here!
Lesson Three - Torn Paper From The Ripple Filter - Here!
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. 
Torn Paper - Lesson 1 - Using the Lasso Tool
1/
Activate your image, then from the top menu, choose Layer then choose New then choose Layer from Background, there is no need to name this layer, click OK.
2/
Then from the toolbar, activate the Lasso Tool.
And set the following attributes.
Tip
Try a Feather setting of 1 or 2, and see how it effects your torn paper - depending on your aim, you may prefer the result.
Your aim is to draw a squiggly lasso line that represents your tear, or rip, and this must be applied in a full circuit; I am beginning as indicated below.
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Therefore, left-click, and draw a squiggly lasso line in a complete (triangular) circuit, as demonstrated below, left. After you have completed the circuit, pass your cursor over the exact area where you began, and release your mouse button. The lasso line will immediately change to a selection marquee, as demonstrated below, right.
 
Note
If you were to invert the marquee (Select then Invert). After you press the Delete key, (Chapter 3), the tear will be reversed. You then need to Contract the marquee - not Expand - Chapter 4.
3/
Now, press your keyboard’s Delete key, and the background will be removed, leaving a transparent chessboard effect.
4/ Optional
From the top menu, choose Select then Modify then choose Expand by 4 (pixels).
Note
The number of pixels represent the width of the (white) tear; therefore, for a thinner (or wider) tear, alter the pixels accordingly. Additionally, larger images require a higher number of pixels.
My marquee has Expanded by 4 pixels.
5/
To complete the torn effect, from the top menu, choose Filter then choose Noise then choose Add Noise - these are my settings. The torn edges are now speckled with black and white noise.
6/
Now, from the top menu, choose Image then choose Adjustments then choose Levels. To whiten the noise, drag the black Output Levels slider to the right, as indicated
below. Experiment with Levels and find a look you prefer!
The noise should now be very faint and predominately white.
 
7/
From the top menu, choose Select then choose Deselect. (Ctrl then D).
8/
To apply a drop shadow; left-click the tiny black triangle, next to Apply a layer style
(f - fx) icon - at the bottom of the Layers palette, and choose Drop Shadow from the drop-down list.
Note
I created the following effect by applying my lasso line completely around the image. I then Inverted the marquee, and pressed Delete. Noise and Levels were utilised in the usual manner. I then applied a Drop Shadow to the bottom and left-side of the image, (leaving the top and right-side untouched). I completed my effect by warping the image. To do likewise, from the top menu, choose Edit then choose Transform, then choose either, Perspective or Warp.
Optional
To darken the edges, activate the Burn Tool.  Lesson.
With the following settings.
And darken the edges.
To fill the transparent background with a Solid Colour, Gradient or Pattern, link Here. Alternatively, my lesson Here explains how to save and optimise images.
Create Torn Paper From Scratch - Lesson Two
1/
Open a New document, with the dimensions of your choice - I am choosing 400 Pixels X 400 Pixels. Screen Capture Here!
2/
Now, expand the grey workspace that surrounds your image by dragging its menu, upward - and to the right. Then activate the Rectangular Marquee Tool.
And draw a rectangular marquee over your image, then fill it with the colour of your choice, using the Paint Bucket Tool. Then press Ctrl then D to remove the selection marquee.
3/
From the top menu, choose Filter then choose Noise then choose Add Noise. In the subsequent Add Noise dialogue box, ensure Monochromatic is ticked, and set a Uniform Amount (Noise) of approximately 3%. Then from the Filter menu, choose Blur then choose Gaussian Blur and enter a Radius of approximately 1.1 - sufficient enough to slightly blur the grain. Note: Apply a Texturiser filter, if you prefer.
Tip
To change the paper’s colour, press Ctrl then U, and in the subsequent Hue/Saturation dialogue box, move the Hue and Saturation sliders, and find a hue you prefer.
4/
Now, from the toolbar, activate the Lasso Tool.
And set the following attributes into its Options bar.
Tip
For future reference, try a Feather setting of 1 or 2, and see how it effects your torn paper - depending on your aim, you may prefer the result.
Now, left-click, then draw a lasso line around your paper, in a complete circuit, as demonstrated below.
After you have completed the circuit, pass your cursor over the exact area where you began, and release your mouse button. The lasso line will immediately change to a selection marquee, as demonstrated below.
Now, press your keyboard’s Delete key, and the area within the marquee, will be removed - as demonstrated below.
Press Ctrl then D to remove the marquee.
5/
Now, from the top menu, choose Layer then New Fill Layer, and choose a Solid Colour, Gradient or Pattern of your choice - as explained Here - I am choosing Solid White. After the fill is complete, drag the Fill Layer below the torn paper layer
(Layer 1), as illustrated below.
 
6/
Zoom into your torn edges, and from the toolbar, activate the Smudge Tool. Lesson.
Then enter the following attributes in to its Options bar. Note: Individual images may need different Strength and Size settings; however, ensure you are utilising a Basic Brush, with a small, hard tip.
Now, left-click, and in a zigzag and erratic movement, smudge the outer areas of the torn paper - creating tear-like streaks in varying sizes. If you make an error, retrace your steps with either, the History Palette or the Step Backwards command.
Note: Take your time with this step, and remember, practise will greatly improve your technique.
7/
When you are happy with the torn paper effect, click the Add a layer style (f -fx) icon, at the foot of the Layers palette - and apply a drop shadow of your choice - Drop Shadow Settings Screen Capture. To finish, apply Type - Lesson - or a brush tip, then save your work.
Torn Paper Using the Ripple Filter - Lesson Three!
1/
Open an image onto Photoshop’s workspace, or create your own paper, as described in lesson two of my torn paper tutorials.
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Then unlock the Background layer by double-left-clicking it - and its name will change to Layer 0.
3/
From the toolbar, activate the Rectangular Marquee Tool - and with a Feather of 0, create a marquee, slightly smaller than your image. Then from the top menu, choose Select then choose Inverse.
4/
Now, press your Delete key, and the border will be removed.
5/
Then from the top menu, choose Select then choose Inverse. The marquee will now isolate just your image.
6/
From the top menu, choose Select then choose Modify then choose Contract. In the Contract Selection dialogue box, enter a suitable value into Contract By - I have chosen 15 (Pixels) - however, the value depends upon the size of your image, and the border width you are looking for.
7/
Now, Inverse the selection (once again). Select then Inverse.
8/
Then from the top menu, choose Filter then choose Distort then choose Ripple. Experiment with the settings and find a torn paper effect you like; I chose the following Ripple (Amount and Size) settings.
Note
The Ripple settings depend upon your aim, and the size of your image.
Press Ctrl then D to remove the marquee.
Tip
The ripple effect is very uniform, to create randomness, erase parts of the ripple’s edges using a small round, hard, Eraser Brush - Tutorial. Additionally, smudge areas using the Smudge Tool. Finally, if you wish, create extra tears using the Lasso Tool.
  
9/
When you are happy with your result, click the Add a layer style (f - fx) icon at the foot of the Layers palette, and apply a drop shadow of your choice - Drop Shadow Settings Screen Capture. Additionally, fill the transparent background with either, a
Solid Colour, Pattern or Gradient of your choice, as explained Here, and save your work.
Wendi E M Scarth. Top of Page - Home.
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