presentation on the web: frames and borders

[Marquinius]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Presenting on the web is very different from printing on paper. And even on paper you still have to think about how you are going to present it (on the wall, in a photobook, etc).

 

I think that a simple virtual frame helps to enhance the overall picture, as everybody is looking at the photo's on a different background. My forum page is dark gray, someone else's is white, etc.

 

For my B&W pictures, I made a simple frame with a black border. An example (my wife Christine) is added to this thread.

 

I'm sure that for a color photo I'd have to develop something else.

 

IMHO, all in all the frame should do just that: frame. The moment a frame is an artwork in itself, it distracts you from the photo.

 

Would appreciate some thoughts on frames and borders, what to do and what not, etc.

 

Marco

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[bill_murray]

I prefer a solid border around a b&w image, as below. It's just a personal preference....

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[farnz]

Marco,

 

I hadn't given it much thought but now that you mention it I agree and the border and frame you chose enhances your picture. Anymore detailed or thicker and I think it would become intrusive and detract from the picture.

 

Apologies, Bill, but I prefer a border to no border for this picture.

 

Pete.

[Guest stnami]

...............remember that the monitor is a frame as well, so take it in consideration

[johnwolf]

Hi Marco,

 

Your dark frame feels too heavy to me. I prefer a generous white "mat" look with no frame. It looks cleaner to me, and works especially well on a gray background (like this forum). On this forum I post 800 pixel wide photos with 900 pixel white canvas.

 

If the photo has open light areas that bleed into the mat (as in your picture), I add a 1 point black or gray border. For me, anything else puts the picture in a box and overwhelms it. Anyway, that's my personal taste, for what it's worth. Good topic and lovely portrait.

 

John

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[wparsonsgisnet]

... If the photo has open light areas that bleed into the mat (as in your picture), I add a 1 point black or gray border...

 

I note that Marco's "matte" has an inner edge that simulates a beveled edge, but seems to contrast automatically with the adjacent whiteness of the image. I prefer this to the 1-point border shown above.

 

The "beveled edge" is very complimentary to the b/w image, adapting and contrasting very well with the portion of the image next to it.

[Marquinius]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Of course it's a lovely portrait , but it is also very interesting to note that everybody agrees on two things: 1) some kind of border enhances the print and 2) we all have the same principles for our border. Indeed: a (very) personal matter, but something to take into account when presenting your photo's on the web.

 

I come from a simple white frame with a very light gray border around the photo: I found it a little too open and had the feeling that it made the picture floating. On the other hand: the black outer border should be subtle.

 

Bill: the beveled look is actually very simple: a white border of 5px, a black border of 3px, followed by the actual white border. Nothing else. I noticed the same effect you mentioned: it's a trick of the way the monitors handle these fine pixel borders vs the contrast in the photo.

 

I'm glad nobody suggests a guilded wood look alike frame with curls and canvas matte ...

 

Marco

[roguewave]

Marco, could you post the actual method for creating this frame. I'm sure others would like to have a step by step method, including me. Thanks. The beveled edge is a nice touch.

[Marquinius]

Marco, could you post the actual method for creating this frame. I'm sure others would like to have a step by step method, including me. Thanks. The beveled edge is a nice touch.

 

Oy, now I have to show how simple my knowledge of PS is

 

- create photo et al in any tool you use

- go to Photoshop CS(in my case 2)

- click "adjustments" and choose "canvas size"

- choose 5 px (NOT cm or %) for height and width with color WHITE, centered (with the arrows pointing to all sides)

- adjust

- do same with 3px black

- do same with 300px white

- then: with the arrow thingy so that all arrows point down and out (photo depicting square is on top), choose 100 px white

- then, with arrows centered again: choose 1cm BLACK (discussion if one should choose px; in my opinion you should NEVER choose % as this will mean a thicker frame top and bottom)

 

I tried with "inner shadow" and "beveled" options, but to no avail. On my Imac and on my (work)PC, it looks like a beveled frame. I think this is due to the contrast en the way pixels are rendered at low values.

 

Of course I built an action out of it. I'm not at home now, but will post it later.

 

I'm open for anyone who knows a smarter/handier way to do this. CS is still a big book of wonders for me and I'm just skimming the pages

 

Marco

[farnz]

Marco,

 

Thanks for posting your method.

 

I've been doing some experimenting and it's surprising how much a border and frame can enhance an image and what flexibility there is. I attach an example that I took last year looking towards London's Gherkin building as an example.

 

Pete.

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[farnz]

Here's another rendition to highlight the effect.

 

Pete.

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[Marquinius]

Pete,

 

How true!So sometimes you need one and next time you need another frame. Perhaps that's the biggest truth: it's not only a personal taste, but also something that's related to a specific photo or style.

 

BTW: man, what a photo!

 

Marco

[farnz]

Thanks, Marco.

 

Pete.

[Michael Hiles]

...(discussion if one should choose px; in my opinion you should NEVER choose % as this will mean a thicker frame top and bottom)

 

I learned the same process by trial and error. I started using %. Since most of my pictures are uncropped, I added 1.5x% to the short side and 1.0x% to the long side, which fitted the 3x2 ratio. That provided even borders. I subsequently learned that an equal # of pixels on all sides works faster.

 

I am using PS Elements. Is there a "macro" facility that I cannot find?

 

Cheers,

[farnz]

... I am using PS Elements. Is there a "macro" facility that I cannot find?

Michael,

 

In Photoshop they're called "Actions" but work the same way as macros. I don't use Elements but in CS3 they're found in the Actions palette if that helps. On a pc Alt+F9 shows the Actions palette or you can select it from the Windows menu. The recording tools are found along the bottom of the palette.

 

Pete.

[Michael Hiles]

Thanks Pete.

[Marquinius]

Michael,

 

In addition to Pete: I looked up "actions + elements" and although there are some work arounds, it is all rather far fetched. I'd suggest you try to find somebody who will sell you CS2 cheap (as CS3 and CS4 are already running). Of course if it's your work: buy CS4.

 

Marco

[carylwithay]

What I usually do, unless I want a wild frame, is go to image>canvas size and make sure it is in inches. Then I add .1 to whatever the numbers are for a white narrow border and do the same thing again for black, but this time I add one full number. If the black frame is too wide, and it often is, I just crop it down until I like the size. Each image should be treated individually.

 

You can find many free frame actions on the internet too.

Caryl