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This tutorial demonstrates three different ways of creating torn paper using Elements’
filters. To work along, you are welcome to download my Crystal Start Image Here.
Unzip the file and open the image onto Elements’ workspace.
Understand Layers
Create A Fill Layer
Optimise And Save Image
Tip
For a quick solution, apply Auto FX’s Deckle filter - a trial is available Here! Install Plugins.
Lesson Two - Create Paper Then Tear It Click Here
Lesson Three - Torn Paper From The Ripple Filter Click Here
Print Tip
You will find this tutorial easier to follow if you Print it and quickly read through it before you begin.
Tip
Centralise your photograph by snapping it to the top menu’s orange horizontal line.
Please Note: Elements 8’s Orange Horizontal Bar
The following Orange Horizontal Bar is exclusive to Photoshop Elements 8. Please link here to read my comprehensive Understand Elements 8, 9 and 10’s Workspace tutorial.
Tip
Duplicate your image and work on the copy - File then Duplicate.
Undo Note
You can step backwards at any time by clicking the top menu’s Undo Tool.
Note
For a visual guide, tear a piece of A4 paper, and study it; additionally, for a photorealistic tear, scan your torn paper, open it onto Elements’ workspace, then convert it into a Brush.
1/Torn Paper - Tutorial 1 - Using The Lasso Tool
Activate your Start Image, then from the top menu, choose Layer then choose New then choose Layer From Background then click OK. (There’s no need to name the Layer unless you want to).
Note
Your Background Layer will automatically be renamed Layer 0.
2/
Now, from the Toolbar, activate the Lasso Tool.
And set the following attributes into the Options Bar.
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.
You’re looking 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.
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.
 
Important (How To Retain The Cut-out Area)
If you want to retain your photograph’s deleted/cut-out area then omit Chapter 3 (the next Chapter). Remember, this step is instead of Chapter 3: now, from the top menu, choose Edit then choose Cut. Then again from the top menu, choose Edit - and this time choose Paste. The area you have just “Cut” will then be “Pasted” onto your image - and you will now have two separate Layers - as illustrated below. Both halves can now be dragged into their final positions using the Move Tool  .
Now, omit Chapters 3 to 6 and Proceed to Chapter 7 - to remove the Selection
Marquee.
 
3/ Torn Paper Tutorial 1 Continued
Now, tap your Keyboard’s Delete Key. Alternatively, from the top menu, choose Edit then choose Delete. This deletes the area inside the Selection Marquee, subsequently revealing the underlying transparent chessboard effect - as illustrated below.
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 Selection Marquee has been Expanded by 4 pixels.
5/
To complete the torn effect; from the top menu, choose Filter then choose Noise then choose Add Noise. Enter the following settings into the subsequent Add Noise dialogue box, or experiment, then click OK. The torn edges will then be speckled with Black and White Noise.
6/
Now, from the top menu, choose Enhance then choose Adjust Lighting then choose Levels: Ctrl then L. To whiten the noise, drag the black Output Levels slider over to the right, as indicated below.
Note
It’s important to experiment with Levels and discover a brightness that suits your needs.
The noise should now be very faint, and predominately white.
 
7/ Remove The Selection Marquee
From the top menu, choose Select then choose Deselect. (Ctrl then D).
8/
To apply a Drop Shadow; from the top menu, choose Layer then choose Layer Style then choose Style Settings. From the subsequent Style Settings dialogue box, enter Drop Shadow settings of your choice, then click OK.
9/
Congratulations, you have created your torn paper effect and it is ready to save.
Four Sided Tear Note
I created the following effect by applying my Lasso Line completely around the image. I then Inverted the Selection Marquee, and pressed Delete - (Edit then Delete). Noise and Levels were then applied 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 Image then choose Transform, then choose either Perspective or Warp.
Optional
To darken the edges, activate the Burn Tool.
And set the following attributes into its Options Bar.
Then move your cursor over the edges, to darken them.
Create A Fill Layer Tip
From the top menu, choose Layer then choose New Fill Layer. Now, select your choice from either Solid Colour, Pattern or Gradient, then drag the Fill Layer (in the Layers Palette), beneath the Torn Paper’s Layer. Congratulations, your torn paper is now ready to save.
1/ Create Torn Paper From Scratch - Tutorial Two
Open a New document, with the dimensions of your choice - I am choosing 400 Pixels X 400 Pixels.
Tip
Centralise your image by snapping it to the top menu’s orange horizontal line.
Please Note: Elements 8’s Orange Horizontal Bar
The following Orange Horizontal Bar is exclusive to Photoshop Elements 8. Please link here to read my comprehensive Understand Elements 8, 9 and 10’s Workspace tutorial.
2/
Then from the Toolbar, activate the Rectangular Marquee Tool.
And enter the following attributes into its Options Bar.
Now, left-click and draw a Rectangular Selection Marquee over your Transparent
Canvas.
3/
Set the Foreground Swatch to Pale Yellow.
4/
Then Activate the Paint Bucket Tool.
And enter the following Foreground attributes into its Options Bar.
Then left-click inside the Rectangular Selection Marquee to Fill it with the Foreground Colour.
5/
Press Ctrl then D to remove the Selection Marquee - Select then Deselect.
6/
Now, from the top menu, choose Filter then choose Noise then choose Add Noise.
From the subsequent Add Noise dialogue box, ensure Monochromatic is ticked, and set a Uniform Amount (Noise) of approximately 3% then click OK.
7/
Then from the top menu’s Filter menu, choose Blur - then choose Gaussian Blur and enter a Radius of approximately 1.1 - sufficient enough to slightly blur the grain, then click OK. (Apply a Texturiser filter, if you prefer: Filter then Texture then Texturiser).
Tip
To slightly distort your paper: from the top menu, choose Filter then choose Distort then choose Shear. From the subsequent Shear dialogue box, gently tug the square repositioning handles (one at a time) to form a gently wave - as illustrated below: then click OK.
Change Your Paper’s Colour
To change the paper’s colour; press Ctrl then U - (Enhance, Adjust Colour, Adjust Hue/Saturation) - and from the subsequent Hue/Saturation dialogue box, move the Hue and Saturation sliders to create hue you like the look of, then click OK.
8/
Now, from the Toolbar, activate the Lasso Tool.
And set the following attributes into its Options Bar.
Feather 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.
Now, left-click - then draw a “squiggly” 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.
9/
Now, press your Keyboard’s Delete Key, (Edit then Delete), and the area within the Selection Marquee will be removed - as demonstrated below.
10/
Press Ctrl then D to remove the Selection Marquee: Select then Deselect.
11/
Now, from the top menu, choose Layer then New Fill Layer, and choose a Solid
Colour, Gradient or Pattern of your choice - I am choosing Solid White. After the fill is complete, drag the Fill Layer below the torn paper Layer (Layer 1), as illustrated
below.
Important Note
Activate the Paper Layer - Layer 1.
 
12/
Zoom into your torn edges  , and from the Toolbar, activate the Smudge Tool.
Then enter the following attributes into its Options bar.
Note
Individual images may need different Strength and Size settings; however, ensure you are utilising a Basic Brush, with a Small, Round Hard Brush.
Now, left-click, and in small erratic zigzag movements, smudge the outer areas of the torn paper - creating tear-like streaks in varying sizes. If you make an error, retrace your steps by clicking the top menu’s Undo Arrow  .
Note
Take your time with this step, and remember, practise will quickly improve your technique.
13/
To apply a Drop Shadow; from the top menu, choose Layer then choose Layer Style then choose Style Settings. From the subsequent dialogue box, enter the Drop Shadow settings of your choice, then click OK.
To finish, apply your Type - and perhaps a Coffee Ring Brush Tip.
14/
Congratulations, your work is complete and is ready to save.
1/ Torn Paper Using The Ripple Filter - Tutorial Three
Open your Start Image onto Photoshop’s workspace: or create your own paper as described back in lesson two. To work along, you are welcome to download Sacha Here. Unzip the file and open the Start Image onto Elements’ workspace.
Sacha On Bench Vectorised (800+ Layers) Here.
2/
Then unlock the Background Layer by double-left-clicking it, then clicking OK to the subsequent New Layer dialogue box - (its name will automatically change to Layer 0).
3/
Now, from the Toolbar, activate the Rectangular Marquee Tool - and with a Feather
of 0, drag out a Rectangular Selection Marquee, slightly smaller than your image.
Please Note: Elements 8’s Orange Horizontal Bar
The following Orange Horizontal Bar is exclusive to Photoshop Elements 8. Please link here to read my comprehensive Understand Elements 8, 9 and 10’s Workspace tutorial.
4/
Then from the top menu, choose Select then choose Inverse.
Tip
You can nudge the Rectangular Selection Marquee into position by tapping your Keyboard’s Arrow Keys  .
5/
Tap your Delete Key, (Edit then Delete); and the thin border will be removed - as illustrated below.
6/
Then from the top menu, choose Select then choose Inverse. The Selection Marquee will now isolate just your image.
7/
From the top menu, choose Select then choose Modify then choose Contract. From the subsequent Contract Selection dialogue box, enter a suitable value into the Contract By box - then click OK. I have chosen 15 (Pixels) - however, the value depends upon the size of your image, and the border width you are looking for.
8/
Now, Inverse the Selection Marquee once again. (Select then Inverse - Shift+Ctrl+i).
9/
Then from the top menu, choose Filter then choose Distort then choose Ripple. From the subsequent Ripple dialogue box, experiment with the settings and find a torn paper effect you like, then click OK. I chose the following Ripple (Amount and Size) settings.
Note
Ripple settings are dependent on your aim, and the size of your image.
10/
Press Ctrl then D to remove the Selection 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 (Eraser Brush Tutorial). Additionally, you can smudge areas using the Smudge Tool. Finally, if you wish, you can cut-out extra tears using the Lasso Tool.
  
11/
To apply a Drop Shadow: from the top menu, choose Layer then choose Layer Style then choose Style Settings. From the subsequent dialogue box, enter the Drop Shadow settings of your choice, then click OK.
12/
To finish, fill the Transparent Background with either a Solid Colour, Pattern or Gradient of your choice and drag the Fill Layer to the bottom of the Layers Stack.
13/
Congratulations, your work is complete and is ready to save.
14/
Now you are more familiar with Elements’ torn paper capabilities, you can have lots of fun tearing your favourite images.
Wendi E M Scarth. Top of Page - Home.
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