If the image you want to frame does not match the proportions of the frame you can have unpleasant results. See the image below on the left - see how the frame is stretched to suite the size of the image - resulting in an undesirable effect. Compare it with the image on the right. (Images on this page are compressed to allow for faster loading so they do not appear as nice as they could be).

Sometimes when you frame an image using .pfr frames from the IMAGE | PICTURE FRAME option in Paint Shop Pro, the resulting framed image is not in proportion. Sometime the quality of the frame is lost and it looks stretched and out of shape.

You could adjust the size of the image you want to frame to suite the proportions of the frame, but I will show another way how you can correct this problem by converting your .pfr file to a tube file.

All the .PFR files at BARRY'S PLACE are also saved as TUBES for your convenience. This tutorial will show you how to convert any .pfr files you have in your collection into tube files.

Apply a frame to the image - IMAGE | PICTURE FRAME. Check the results to see if you are satisfied. I am not happy with the results as shown in the image below.

In Paint Shop Pro's Browser - FILE | BROWSE, (CTRL + B) locate your .pfr Picture frame files. When you export a picture frame, by default they are saved in MY PSP8 FILES in My Documents for PSP 8 or MY PSP FILES in My Documents for PSP9. You EXPORT frames into Paint Shop Pro by going to FILE | EXPORT | PICTURE FRAME and then they are saved in the above folders that I mentioned.

Export the frame as a tube - go to FILE | EXPORT | PICTURE TUBE - or the shortcut for that is hold down the ALT key then the letters F T P U on your keyboard while you hold the ALT key. Name the frame and click OK.

Return to the image you want to frame, or re-open it and then right click on the layer of the image and click on PROMOTE BACKGROUND LAYER - see image below

Your image now looks like this - You should ZOOM in / out to suite your needs (Use the + or - buttons on your calculator side of your keyboard) or go to VIEW | ZOOM or use the magnifying tool. (I can use the scroll button on my mouse to zoom in or out - very handy).

I have zoomed out a lot for the screen shot below - purely for this tutorial. The canvas size is rather large. But that is fine as we will delete the bits we don't want later.

Add a new layer - LAYERS | NEW RASTA LAYER, click on the TUBE brush and search for the frame that you exported as a tube. Select the frame which is now a tube and play around with the size of the tube and position it over the image. You can drag the frame around with the move tool to find the best place for framing the image.As you can see in the image below a small section of the photo is protruding on the right of the frame - we will delete that later.

I tubed the frame at 80% of the original size, you can adjust the sharpness if you like. I dragged the frame over the image to where I would like it.

Make sure that you FIRST select the layer that the photo is on - see step #1. - Then using the selection tool draw a rectangle around the part of the photo that is exposed. You do not have to be precise as the photo is below the frame, just as long as you select all the exposed part. Then hit DELETE on your keyboard. Then de-select by going to SELECTIONS | SELECT NONE (Ctrl + D).

Right click on your layers and click on MERGE VISIBLE.

Select the MAGIC WAND with the following settings - see images below

Making sure that you have merged the layers into one, click with the magic wand on a blank area, away from your image. You will see the "marching ants" as they say - around the outskirts of the photo and the canvas itself. Go to the next step now.

Go to SELECTIONS | INVERT. Now the "marching ants" surround the photo only. Go to IMAGE | CROP TO SELECTION and then the transparent area disappears and you are left with your final image. See the image below this one.

I Hope You Found This Information Useful. If You Have Any Queries, Please Do Not Hesitate To Contact Me
webmaster@psptubez.com
Regards Barry