Making a Frame with Mitered Corners & Directional Patterns

Hi everyone,

Here are the instructions how to create a frame with mitered corners and using patterns which have a directional design.

Step 1

File>New>Blank File (Background Contents = White)

Step 2

Create a new layer.

Step 3

Select the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M) and draw a rectangle along the top edge of the file. Fill the rectangle with the directional pattern of your choice.

Step 4

Select>Deselect (Ctrl-D, Cmmd-D on a Mac)

Step 5

Duplicate Layer 1 (Ctrl-J, Cmmd-J on a Mac). Go to Image>Rotate>Rotate Layer 180° (to ensure the direction of the design is the same on both the top and bottom frame sides).

Step 6

Select the Move Tool (V) and drag the duplicated layer (Layer 1 copy) to the bottom edge of the file.

Step 7

Duplicate Layer 1 copy. Go to Image>Rotate>Rotate Layer 90° Right. Drag the duplicated layer (Layer 1 copy 2) to the left edge of the file. Use Free Transform (Ctrl-T, Cmmd-T on a Mac) to adjust the length of this frame side.

Step 8

Duplicate Layer 1 copy 2. Go to Image>Rotate>Rotate Layer 180° (to ensure the direction of the design is the same on both the left and right frame sides). Drag the duplicated layer (Layer 1 copy 3) to the right edge of the file.

Step 9

Now we need to create the mitered corners. In the Layers Palette activate Layer 1 copy 3 (the right frame side). Select the Polygonal Lasso Tool and draw a triangle on the top corner of this frame side. Go from the inner corner to the outer corner, along the edge, and back to close the selection.

Step 10

Press Delete. Select>Deselect (Ctrl-D, Cmmd-D on a Mac).

Step 11

Repeat Steps 9 and 10 for the bottom corner of the same layer.

Step 12

Activate Layer 1 copy 2 (the left frame side). Follow Steps 9, 10, and 11 to create mitered corners on this layer.

Step 13

Select the four frame side layers and merge them down (Ctrl-E, Cmmd-E on a Mac).

Step 14

If you wish you can apply a Bevel Layer Style to the finished frame. (I like either Inner Ridge or Scalloped Edges.)

Step 15

Delete the background layer.

Step 16

Save your file in a format which supports background transparency (PNG, PSD, TIFF or GIF). Now you can use this frame in other projects.

NOTE:

If your file has a portrait orientation, draw the first rectangle on the left edge of the file. It’s easier to begin the frame on the longest side. Then, adjust the rotation steps accordingly. Or you can rotate your file 90° Right (Image>Rotate>90° Right) so that it will be in the landscape orientation. Then, once you are done, rotate your file 90° Left (Image>Rotate>90° Left) to return it to the portrait orientation.

These instructions will also apply if you use a solid color or a pattern with no directional design for your frame. Just omit rotating the layer as described in Steps 5 and 8. You still need to rotate the layer in Step 7 (where you move the frame side from the bottom edge of the file to the left edge).

You may want to rename the frame layers in a more descriptive way to help with the workflow. Ex.: Left Frame Side, Top Frame Side, etc.

Do a Copy/Paste job or use the Move tool to drag your image onto the frame. Then, drag the image layer underneath the frame layer. Use Free Transform (Ctrl-T, Cmmd-T on a Mac) to resize/reposition your image within the frame.