January 7, 2008

Rounded Corners

I've had several inquires on how I do the rounded corners, and though I do not attempt to know what I'm doing or if this is the easiest way to do it, but this is how I do it. If anyone knows a better way, please feel free to share!!!

I start with the picture I want to crop, size it to 4x6. I then open another blank template and size it 4x6 as well.

Then I go back to the original picture and select the Rounded Rectangle Tool. At the top you can set the radius, I set it to about 0.4 but play with the numbers to find how rounded you want your corners. Use this tool to crop the picture. If this tool creates a colored overlay, go to your history bar on the right and change the opacity to 0%. Then go to the Paths menu in the history bar and click on the drop down menu in the Paths bar. Select Make Selection. Set feather radius to 0 and click ok.

Then go to Edit at the top, select Copy Merged then click on the blank 4x6 template and then paste. Flatten and then size for web.

I hope that wasn't too hard to follow. Let me know if you have anymore questions. I have CS3 so I'm not sure how it works in other photoshop programs.

7 comments:

The McKays said...

That's the way I was taught too, but I find it very time consuming. There has got to be an easier way! Did you create an action for it? I would like to start displaying my photos this way on my blog, but I can't imagine doing it for all of them! I first noticed it on Michelle's blog (pinkle toes), but I think she also adds a bevel to them. I'll have to play around with it and see what I come up with.

DoubleDeej said...

It can be made a little bit simpler than the steps you have... After creating the selection from the mask, delete the layer with the rounded rectangle; you don't need it any more. Then do Select / Invert Selection, and press the Delete key. This way you don't have to create or copy to new document; it is all done in a single document and you end up with just one layer.

Melissa Fullmer said...

how do you delete the layer with the rounded corners? do you just make a duplicate layer before you use the rectangle tool??

Melissa Rodriguez Photography said...

Thanks for sharing this! I love the look of rounded corners.

The McKays said...

Okay, it is almost 1:30 in the morning and I'm about to pull my dang hair out! I've been trying to figure this out for the longest time and I just can't do it. I have the same program as you, but when I use that shape tool, the corners still look sharp! I've searched for other tutorials online, but I can't get any of them to work for me. I give up! Maybe you can help me when you come visit me?

Melissa Fullmer said...

have you made sure to change the radius?

The McKays said...

Yep, I tried everything. Brian says he knows how to do it. He's going to show me tonight.