Creating Digital Photo mattes for your images.
Apr 23, 2019 06:48:55 #
I was doing some house cleaning of old files on my desktop the other day and came across the Photoshop Action that I haven't used in a long time. If memory serves me, this action was free at the time. It's called Sharons Mats. This is an action that will put either a single or double mat around your image. It didn't used to work in my adobe cc subscription but for some reason it works now.
This action creates a very realistic matte around you image and when printed out, it looks real. In fact, framed, and viewed at normal viewing difference you would swear that it's a real matte. Here is an example of what it looks like. I ran the action on this picture I took in Brataslava
Slovakia last year. You can run just a single matte or double matte. Just follow the prompts when the action runs. Tip: When setting the color of your inner or outer matte, use your Eyedropper color picker and choose a color from your image. In this example, I chose the dark wood color of the doorway frame for the inner color and the color of the wall for the outer matte. Tip: Even after the action has run, you can click off the image layer in your layers palette and you will be left with just the frame with a transparent area. Save this file as a PSD and later, you just have to drop in a different image and position it. Very easy to do.
download the action below
This action creates a very realistic matte around you image and when printed out, it looks real. In fact, framed, and viewed at normal viewing difference you would swear that it's a real matte. Here is an example of what it looks like. I ran the action on this picture I took in Brataslava
Slovakia last year. You can run just a single matte or double matte. Just follow the prompts when the action runs. Tip: When setting the color of your inner or outer matte, use your Eyedropper color picker and choose a color from your image. In this example, I chose the dark wood color of the doorway frame for the inner color and the color of the wall for the outer matte. Tip: Even after the action has run, you can click off the image layer in your layers palette and you will be left with just the frame with a transparent area. Save this file as a PSD and later, you just have to drop in a different image and position it. Very easy to do.
download the action below
Apr 23, 2019 07:27:05 #
Yes, it works with PS Elements. I had to open the software, then open the Action area, then click "load action." Then I followed the instructions (quickly, just to see how worked).
My first time ever with actions - very cool. And yours is beautifully done, very complimentary to the image. Thanks so much!
My first time ever with actions - very cool. And yours is beautifully done, very complimentary to the image. Thanks so much!
Apr 23, 2019 07:37:29 #
Nice exercise and good work. However, your post also illustrated why I don't like them. I'd much prefer to see the photograph posted as the last, as it is larger and allows for viewing the photograph without the distraction of whatever framing was digitally done.
--Bob
--Bob
Apr 23, 2019 07:52:05 #
rmalarz wrote:
Nice exercise and good work. However, your post also illustrated why I don't like them. I'd much prefer to see the photograph posted as the last, as it is larger and allows for viewing the photograph without the distraction of whatever framing was digitally done.
--Bob
--Bob
Thanks for you feedback Bob. Brings to mind a quote, I don't know the author but it goes like this:
" Different Strokes for Different Folks". If we all liked the same things, it would truly be a boring world.
Apr 23, 2019 12:27:41 #
I boo boo'd on the mat colors, only chose one and it ended up as the outer color, with white inner. Was easy to change to green via eye dropper and bucket tool after all was finished.
The texture action opened the PS Elements texture list (I didn't try going anywhere else, will do that next time). For those who aren't familiar, the PSE textures include craquelure, grain, mosaic tiles, patchwork, stained glass and texturizer, which has sub-choices of brick, burlap, canvas and sandstone.
The texture action opened the PS Elements texture list (I didn't try going anywhere else, will do that next time). For those who aren't familiar, the PSE textures include craquelure, grain, mosaic tiles, patchwork, stained glass and texturizer, which has sub-choices of brick, burlap, canvas and sandstone.
Apr 23, 2019 13:16:35 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
I boo boo'd on the mat colors, only chose one and it ended up as the outer color, with white inner. Was easy to change to green via eye dropper and bucket tool after all was finished.
The texture action opened the PS Elements texture list (I didn't try going anywhere else, will do that next time). For those who aren't familiar, the PSE textures include craquelure, grain, mosaic tiles, patchwork, stained glass and texturizer, which has sub-choices of brick, burlap, canvas and sandstone.
The texture action opened the PS Elements texture list (I didn't try going anywhere else, will do that next time). For those who aren't familiar, the PSE textures include craquelure, grain, mosaic tiles, patchwork, stained glass and texturizer, which has sub-choices of brick, burlap, canvas and sandstone.
It looks good Linda. Looks like you figured it out!
Apr 23, 2019 14:05:58 #
Fstop12 wrote:
It was like watching a magic show It looks good Linda. Looks like you figured it out!
Apr 24, 2019 06:45:34 #
Apr 24, 2019 07:45:49 #
Apr 26, 2019 08:50:39 #
So glad you found and posted this. I have been doing all that manually and consequently not very often. But now??? I gave it a shot last night and was blown away. Well, me thinks it will become a staple part of my PP procedure. 
Apr 26, 2019 12:04:39 #
Thank you Fstop12!
I've not ventured (very much) into digital mats. This action is incredible! You get to pick the inside mat color, the outside mat color, and the textures too. [Lots of options]
In Photoshop CC I had to change from 16 bit to 8 bit. After that, it ran like a champ!
Note: For choosing color options I use the color wheel from Sessions College for a reference tool.
http://www.sessions.edu/color-calculator/
I've not ventured (very much) into digital mats. This action is incredible! You get to pick the inside mat color, the outside mat color, and the textures too. [Lots of options]
In Photoshop CC I had to change from 16 bit to 8 bit. After that, it ran like a champ!
Note: For choosing color options I use the color wheel from Sessions College for a reference tool.
http://www.sessions.edu/color-calculator/
Apr 26, 2019 12:29:01 #
Crichmond wrote:
Thank you Fstop12!
I've not ventured (very much) into digital mats. This action is incredible! You get to pick the inside mat color, the outside mat color, and the textures too. [Lots of options]
In Photoshop CC I had to change from 16 bit to 8 bit. After that, it ran like a champ!
Note: For choosing color options I use the color wheel from Sessions College for a reference tool.
http://www.sessions.edu/color-calculator/
I've not ventured (very much) into digital mats. This action is incredible! You get to pick the inside mat color, the outside mat color, and the textures too. [Lots of options]
In Photoshop CC I had to change from 16 bit to 8 bit. After that, it ran like a champ!
Note: For choosing color options I use the color wheel from Sessions College for a reference tool.
http://www.sessions.edu/color-calculator/
Nice!
Apr 26, 2019 12:35:08 #
Venice: Edits done with Fotosketcher, Photoshop, Photoshop Plugin Topaz Simplify. Photoshop Plugin Nik ColorEfex Pro 4 . 1st image, Original, 2nd. with edits, 3rd. Edits and matte.
Apr 26, 2019 13:03:11 #
Crichmond wrote:
A very eye-catching work! Thanks for the link also; I've bookmarked ... For choosing color options I use the color wheel from Sessions College for a reference tool http://www.sessions.edu/color-calculator/
May 2, 2019 10:30:28 #
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