How To Make a Sweet-Ass Border in Photoshop--Complete with Pictures!

[ROMate]

For the Photoshop users! I use PS7, but I don't think things would change TOO much between versions. In any case, handy screencaps have been included of the menus, so at the very least you can find the most similar thing on your version and change the other settings if they're different (I can't remember if they're default for me or if they were put that way after the first time I did this border effect). Well, away we go.

1: Make a new thing to work with, whatever size you like (here I used the hyperguy.net border size). Make a new layer on it and name it Border.  Choose the Polygonal Lasso tool and make a selection around the edges in whatever shape you want. Once you're done, right click on it and choose "Select Inverse", which will leave the middle open.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/Feist/TechBorder1.jpg

2: Pick a color and fill in the selection. I'll pick green. Then, go to Layer->Layer Style->Blending Options, and set the following options up like so. I've included screenshots just in case my other options for these aren't default for you.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/Feist/TechBorder2.jpg

Choose "Drop Shadow" and set the opacity for 85%.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/Feist/TechBorderDropShadow.jpg

Choose "Inner Shadow" and set the opacity for 52%.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/Feist/TechBorderInnerShadow.jpg

Choose "Outer Glow" and set the Opacity for 10%.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/Feist/TechBorderOuterGlow.jpg

Choose "Inner Glow" and set the Opacity for 30%.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/Feist/TechBorderInnerGlow.jpg

Choose "Bevel&Emboss" and set it for Inner Bevel.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/Feist/TechBorderBevelAndEmboss.jpg

Choose "Satin" and set it at 30% opacity, with Distance 11px, and Size 14px.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/Feist/TechBorderSatin.jpg

Choose "Color Overlay" and put Opacity at 100%. Experiment with the colors to find one that looks good for you.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/Feist/TechBorderColorOverlay.jpg

Choose "Stroke" and set the Size  to one 1, outside, at 100% opacity. Pick any color you like for the stroke.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/Feist/TechBorderStroke.jpg

3: Finally, you can deselect the layer. Use the Marquee tool to draw a box or an ellipse and cut out little sections of the border's inner edge as it suits you. You don't even have to do this step if you don't want to.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/Feist/TechBorder3.jpg

4: And done! You can add multiple borders to one banner, but be careful not to clutter it. Hope you found this useful.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/Feist/Example.jpg

[Echelon]

I know this is two months later ... but ... <_<

Seriously, awesome tutorial here. I just tried something, being someone who's not very good at being creative in photoshop, and I made something pretty awesome.

At first I doupted you, setting almost every Blending Option on just seemed weird, but when the product was finished, phew.

I give this two thumbs up! =P

[ROMate]

Yeah, setting all the blending options is kinda tedious, but the effect is worth it. Thanks for reading. =)