Trick Photoshop: White Border with Drop Shadow

Monday, November 23, 2015

You can easily add a white border to your images and add a drop shadow to them in Photoshop. You can do this in any version of Photoshop.

Step 1 : Open any image in photoshop. I have opened this free stock image.

There is only a single Background layer in the Layers palette.

Step 2 : Press ALT+Double Click the Background Layer. The Background Layer changes to Layer 0.

Step 3 : Press CTRL and click the New Layer icon. A Layer 1 forms below Layer 0.

Step 4 : Make sure that the Foreground and Background Colors are set Black and White respectively.

If it is not press X and then D on your keyboard. It will restore the default setting.

Step 5 : Press CTRL+BACKSPACE. This will fill the layer with the Background Color

which in this case is White.

Step 6 : Click back on Layer 0.

Step 7 : Press CTRL+T. A selection forms around the image.

Step 8 : Press SHIFT+ALT and drag inwards. It drags the image inwards proportionately.

Press ENTER.

Step 9 : Click the Layer Style button and from the popup click on Drop Shadow.

Step 10 : In the Drop Shadow dialogue box drag the Distance, Size and Spread sliders in that order.

DO NOT CLICK OK.

Step 11 : Place the cursor on the image. You will now be able to move the Drop shadow

anywhere you want.

Step 12 : Keeping a watch on your image adjust the Distance, Size and Spread sliders

till you are satisfied with the effect. Now click OK.

This is the effect. I am satisfied. Click OK.