Making a Metal Edge on Almost Anything in Photoshop
Note: Digital scrapbooking tutorial written with Photoshop CS2 on a PC.
It is so easy to make a metal edged tag or alpha in Photoshop using the stroke feature. ScrapSimple Tools: Custom Shapes and Styles make it even easier.
Begin by opening a new document to work in. Draw a shape with your Shapes Tool. I will use Valerie Randall's ScrapSimple Tools: Custom Shapes – Labels.
Go to the Layer Styles Palette for this layer. It can be found at the bottom of your Layers Palette and it looks like a circle with an f in it. Right-click and select "Stroke." This will bring up a menu.
In your menu you can customize your stroke. Make it as wide as you would like your metal edge. Select "Inner Stroke" from the drop-down box. You can also select the color. The color does not matter except that it should not be a color found in your shape or element. Usually, I just use the default red stroke as long as it is not a color within my shape. I chose a 50px inside stroke in the color red.
Make sure your layer is selected and get your Magic Wand Tool. Select the area inside your stroke so that the marching ants are around the whole border. Go to Edit> Copy (if you are using a custom shape it will say Copy Merged), and then Edit> Paste to move this selection to its own layer. (You can then get rid of the layer style on the original layer by right-clicking in your layer and choosing "Clear Layer Style.")
With your new edge layer selected, you can then apply any layer style you would like. To make a metal-rimmed tag, choose a metal style like Cheryl Barber's ScrapSimple Tools: Styles – Grungy Metals.
Or a smooth metal like Erica Hite's ScrapSimple Tools: Styles- Brushed Aluminum.
Fill your custom shape with your favorite paper to complete the look. (Use a Clipping Mask to fill a shape with a paper. Place your paper over your shape layer, and hit Ctrl+G, or in PSCS2, Ctrl+Alt+G.)
This technique can be used on an alpha to make a metal edge around your letters. Use an existing alpha or a font.
Use other Photoshop styles to create endless different looks. Have fun!
Layout by Melissa Renfro
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Tutorial written by Melissa Renfro
