Video:Turn a Photo Into a Polaroid

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Transcript:Turn a Photo Into a Polaroid

Hi, I'm Don Schechter for About.com Computing. Today I'll show you how to change a photo to look like a Polaroid using Photoshop Elements.

Duplicate the Photo

First open Photoshop Elements, and go to File, Open, and select the photo you want. Now I will duplicate my photo so I will still have the original. Go to File and choose 'duplicate.' Close the original so you don't accidentally overwrite it.

Convert the Background Into a Layer

Now convert the background into a layer by double-clicking the background in the Layers palette and changing the name. I'll change it to 'photo.' Click 'OK.'

Select Your Photo

Select the rectangular marquee tool. In the options bar at the top, set the mode to 'fixed aspect ratio.' The width and height should be set to 1. This will give you a square instead of a rectangle shape. Make sure the feather is set to 0.

Click and drag a square around the part of the photo you want as the Polaroid. Now go to Select and choose 'inverse.' Press the delete key. Deselect your photo.

Create a White Frame

Go to the rectangle marquee tool again, and switch the mode back to 'normal.' Click and drag a rectangle around your photo, leaving 1/4 inch on the top, left, and right edges but about an inch at the bottom.

Now make a new layer by going to Layer, New, and selecting 'new layer.' I'll name it 'white,' since it will be the white part of the Polaroid.

Open the color picker window and select 'white.' Click 'OK.' Click on the paint bucket, and fill in the rectangle that you just made.

Place the Photo in the Frame

In your palette, drag the photo layer above the white layer. Now select the Move tool to adjust the placement of the photo on the Polaroid paper. Or you can use the arrow keys to nudge it in 1 pixel increments.

Create a Shadow

Now I'll add a subtle shadow so it looks like the paper is overlapping the photo. Make a new layer by clicking the 'more' button on the top of the layers palette.

Choose 'new layer,' and name it. Go to Edit, Stroke Selection, and set the stroke to 1 pixel. Change the color to black and click 'OK.' Now change the location to outside. Click 'OK.'

Blend the Shadow

Now I'll put a small Gaussian blur onto the outline to blend it in. Make sure the outline layer is selected.

Go to Filter, Blur, Gaussian blur, and make it 1 pixel. Click 'OK.' To make the outline a bit more subtle, select it and change the opacity using the slider at the top of the layer palette.

Add Texture to the Photo

To add texture to the Polaroid paper, select that layer. Go to Filter, Texture, and select 'texturizer.' I will set the texture to scaling to 95 percent, relief to 1, and light to the top right side.

Make the Photo Look 3D

To add a bevel and drop shadow to make it look 3D, we have to merge the layers together. Go to Layer and select 'merge visible.' Now under the Artwork and Effects sidebar, click on 'styles and effects palette,' and choose 'layer styles and bevels' under each dropdown menu. Click on 'simple inner bevel effect,' and click the 'apply' button.

To add the drop shadow, switch to Drop Shadow and click the 'low shadow effect.' Click the 'apply' button.

Adjust the Shadow and Bevel

To adjust the shadow and bevel, double-click on the icon in the layer. I will change the lighting angle to 130 degrees, the shadow distance to 1, and the bevel size to 1. You can adjust these settings as you see fit.

Now I'll just add some text. And here's the Polaroid with a simple backdrop.

Thanks for watching. To learn more, visit us on the Web at computing.about.com.