Photo Editing 101: Mirrored Frame

Okay bitches... I clearly ate some happy pills or snorted a few lines of blow because I'm totally feeling generous tonight.  Before I hit the hay, I'm offering up... free of charge... a photo editing lesson for your personal entertainment.

For starters you should know I'm totally a CHEAP ASS BITCH!!  Don't get me wrong... I totally have expensive taste.  Prince Charming is well aware that if he totally screws up, it will require a trip to Zales for something that sparkles (and I'm not talking something synthetic and sterling!).  But short of my BLING... I'm the type of woman who shops the clearance racks and watches pirated movies online.

Lucky for you, this thriftiness is about to benefit you because you don't have to spend a dime to edit your own photos.  This edit was done completely with my favorite piece of software... Paint.net ...which is a FREE download from THIS SITE.  Simply go there and click the link in the top right to download the program.  I do believe you can do this edit with Photoshop as well if you happen to have it.  As a matter of fact, I don't know all the programs available, but as long as you have a program that lets you add layers and blurs, you can do this.

And if you're totally not in the mood or are a lazy slob feel free to just enjoy my pictures.
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This does require you to have a little understanding of layers, blurs and resizing.  If you have just downloaded the program, or haven't got to know your own program yet... I suggest you pour a drink and play around with a couple of photos before jumping into this.  It really is E-A-S-Y... but if I go into every detail as if you'd never seen a computer, my fingers would fall off before I finished.  So newbies... just play with it.  If the 50+ year old Queen can learn to work this program while I cussed at her from 250 miles away... you can do it too!!

So without further ado... the instructions on how to created a mirrored frame effect.
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Step 1: Open the damn program and open the picture you want to use.  I assume you already have these magnificent photos that have had the teeth whitened, blemishes removed and cellulite shaved off because that too is more than I'm going to get into right now!

Step 2: Create a new image file with a copy of your image.  You should now have two identical images.  If you had two images before you started... you should sober up first.  If your two images are not identical... you should take your medication first.

Step 3: Resize Image B to 85% and then Resize the Canvas to 117%.  This is the hardest step of the whole thing.  If you did it correctly, you should have a picture that looks like this:

If your image is not centered... Undo (ctrl+Z) and try again, making sure you anchored your image in the center.  If your image does not have a frame around it... you resized IMAGE twice... remember, the second time, you're resizing the CANVAS.

Step 4: Use the magic wand tool to select the white frame and press the delete button on your keyboard to remove it.  If you're using an Apple... fuck off... figure it out on your own because I have no clue!

Step 5: Add 4 new layers (that's a total of 5 geniuses!)

Okay... so that's the end of the steps.  But we're not finished! (You thought I'd leave you hanging like that?)  From here on, I'm just going to go layer by layer.

Layer #3: No I'm not starting at 1 you dork!  Why would I do that when you already have layer #3 done?  All you have to do is take the layer your image is currently on and move it into the 3rd position (third from the top... and bottom).  TADA!!!  I'm so proud of you!

Layer #1: (BOTTOM LAYER) Remember when I said you should have 2 identical images to start out.  Sure hope you didn't think I was kidding because now you're going to go back and copy the original image into this layer.  It should be the right size to fill the whole canvas, but adjust it if you need to.  Now add a Gaussian Blur of 15 to this layer.  Done!

The cool thing is, if you're just starting out and this is as far as you get... you've still got a pretty awesome looking photo with just those two layers.  But I'll continue in case you feel like a bit more of a challenge.

Layer #2: Use your paint bucket to fill this layer with a color of your choice.  When in doubt, use white... but I like to use whatever color is the neutral in my picture.  You can play around with this later to see what looks best so don't worry too much about the color.  What matters is that you make this layer Multiply using layer properties.  It'll basically adds a tint to the blurred 'frame' without ruining the image below.

Again, you could stop here if you wanted.  It's pretty awesome and would look fabulous in a frame.  But lets add a couple more details just for fun.

Layer 4:  This is a shadow to add depth to your frame as if the picture is behind it.  Use your magic wand (hahaha... put the fairy wings down bitch!) to select the empty frame space around the image in Layer 3.  Now go back to Layer 4 and use the pain bucket to paint the entire frame space black.  Invert your selection (ctrl+I) so the inside of the frame is selected and Gaussian Blur to 15.  Invert again to highlight the frame and delete the black frame.  You should have a thin black shadow left behind for a nice touch.

And if you want to go really hog wild, finish it off with one more detail...

Layer 5:  This is going to be a highlight on the frame to add a bit of dimension to it.  Use you magic wand to highlight that empty frame space around the image in Layer 3.  Then make sure you're working on Layer 5.  Invert your selection (ctrl+I) and use the paint bucket to paint the space inside the frame white.  Invert the selection again (the frame is selected now) and Gaussian Blur to 15.  Invert again (inside selected) and delete the white center.  Lastly, use layer properties to set the opacity to 133.
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I liked the final outcome so well, I saved it to use as a template.  Now I just switch out my pictures and my shadows and highlights are already in place.  Here's a few examples just for fun.

Don't forget to tell me what you think, and DEFINITELY tell me if you try this out for yourself... I'd love to see the results!  And since I did throw this out there to tempt you with, I suppppppOse I'll help you out if you happen to get stuck.  And I won't even cuss at you like I did The Queen (unless of course I figure out you didn't even have the computer plugged in).  Happy Editing!

The Ogre Child

The Princess or The Jester?

Before the Heist

The O.C. and The Queen