Can you add borders to a layer?

[pdxrjt]

I am currently making a 16x20 collage of my recent trip. I have numerous layers, each being a small pic. The individual layers are all Raster layers. After I paste a pic in as a new layer, I resize and move it where I want it on the collage. If I want to add a border at this point, how can I do it? When I "add borders" it adds a border to the full 16x20 image, not the individual pic layer. I do make sure the correct layer is highlighted and selected, but even so the layers all merge and the border is on the 16 x 20 image. In the past I added borders before adding the pic as a new layer but given my current work flow, if I resize the individual pics the border is resized as well. TIA

[LeviFiction]

Not using the Add Borders command. I don't know if there is a simple command that can do this or simulate it. But a script might exist that does this. I have no doubt someone has done this already.

I think usually the Picture Frame option is used most often. You can create a frame that's just the color and size you want and it'll be resized to match the layer.

You can also use a vector, aligning it behind the image to fake a border. Just create a rectangle with the desired border size set as the stroke width. Then, with the pick tool, select the image layer first, then shift + select the vector layer. The tool Options bar will show options like Align top, Align Left, and Make Same Size. These will make the rectangle the same size as the layer and make it start at the same spot. Then link the two layers to keep them editable and make sure they move together with the move tool. Or you can merge them together completing the effect and only have one layer to work with.

You can use the edit selection option. First use Select All, then grabbing the selection tool click the "Opaque layer" option to automatically shrink the selection down to encompass only the actual layer. Next click Selections -> Edit Selection

Grab the pick tool and drag out the edges to match your desired border. Click Edit Selection again to confirm the selection, then

If you want something that looks more like the Add Borders given a day or two I could make a script that emulates it.

[pdxrjt]

Levifiction, Thanks for the thoughtful response. I will try a few of those. I may end up foregoing the borders on this collage (we'll see how the various techniques work out) and go back to resizing and adding borders before I paste the pic into the collage. Appreciate your input.

[Kathy_9]

You can use the edit selection option. First use Select All, then grabbing the selection tool click the "Opaque layer" option to automatically shrink the selection down to encompass only the actual layer. Next click Selections -> Edit Selection

Grab the pick tool and drag out the edges to match your desired border. Click Edit Selection again to confirm the selection, then

I'm intrigued by this but was unable to follow. . . I've edited selections before but what/where is the "opaque layer" option? It's probably right in front of my face but I'm not seeing it.

[JoeB]

You can use the edit selection option. First use Select All, then grabbing the selection tool click the "Opaque layer" option to automatically shrink the selection down to encompass only the actual layer. Next click Selections -> Edit Selection

Grab the pick tool and drag out the edges to match your desired border. Click Edit Selection again to confirm the selection, then

I'm intrigued by this but was unable to follow. . . I've edited selections before but what/where is the "opaque layer" option? It's probably right in front of my face but I'm not seeing it.

When you use Selections>Select All, the selection will surround the entire image, not just the selected layer, but unless you had already selected the Selection tool from the left hand toolbar then whatever tool you had selected - and its tool options bar - will be active. So Levi is saying to make sure, after selecting all, that you have the Selection tool selected. This will also, of course, provide the tool options for that tool. In that tool options bar is an option that says Create Selection As... and it has 3 icons under it. The middle icon, if moused over, says Layer Opaque. Click on it and the selection will shrink from around the whole image to the opaque part of the layer that is active.

[Kathy_9]

Thanks Joe. I was interpreting "selection tool" as any of the selection tools and not specifically the rectangular selection tool. Since the magic wand was the last tool I used and it was selected I was not seeing the layer opaque icon.

[brucet]

Would it be simpler to add a border to each picture. Save them as you go. Then import them into one file resizing them to fit?

Regards

[JoeB]

Would it be simpler to add a border to each picture. Save them as you go. Then import them into one file resizing them to fit?

Regards

I think he said the problem with that is that it resizes the border as well, and he wants to set a specific border size to the image layer after he has positioned and resized it on the background of his collage image.

[JoeB]

I have posted a script in a zipped file in the Scripting sub-forum that I think achieves what you want. I also posted the same script with the addition of it being able to create a drop shadow on the image after it creates the colored border. All relevant info about the scripts is in that post. Please let me know if it does what you or others want, if it's useful, or if there are issues with it that I didn't cover in my post in that sub-forum.

[pdxrjt]

The script seems to work well on my machine. Many thanks for that! Appreciate your time and knowledge.