Out of this Frame

Out of this Frame is a delightful digital project that uses Photoshop Elements 8.0.

Out of this frame has many steps, but far less complicated than Messy Match Up.

1. Open picture into Photoshop elements

2. Select the whole canvas by clicking "Ctrl" and "A" at the same time

3. Copy the image by clicking "Ctrl" and "C" at the same time

4. Click "Ctrl" and "V" at the same time; this will paste the photo into a new layer (if it doesn't, create a new layer, select the layer, then paste)

5. Click the eye next to the original layer (Probably named "Background"); this will hide the layer so as not to confuse in step #

6. Make a new layer; this will be the "frame" layer

7. Have the square selection tool (the "Rectangle Marquee Tool") as the tool in use and select a part of the photo that includes some of the subject and some of the rest of the picture

8. Go to Edit, then Stroke (Outline) Selection

9. Edit the color and size accordingly to your preferences then click "OK"

(Optional: Going to image, then transform, then skew allows you to change the outline from a boring old rectangle to a more interesting frame)

10. Deselect by holding "Ctrl" and "D'"at the same time or by simply pushing "Esc"

11. Go to the Background Copy layer

12. Select everything inside the frame, then Use the "Quick Selection Tool," "Magic Wand," or one of the lasso tools to continue the selection of the rest of the subject

At this point, only the subject and part of the background inside the frame should be selected.

13. Inverse the selection by going to Select, then Inverse (or you can click "Shift," "Ctrl," and "i" all at the same time)

14. Take the Erase tool and erase the background outside the frame

15. Make another layer underneath the frame and Background Copy layer, but above the original Background layer

16. Make a pretty background on the new layer! Use the gradient tool, different paint brush styles, or however else you see fit.

17 . Go back to the Background Copy layer and do what I like to call "Fine Tune" or "Touch Up" (I have no idea what Normal People call this. I don't socialize with Normal People very often. They're quite hard to find.)

18. Now, make sure the picture looks the way you want it to be then save it as a .jpeg image

And TA-DA! You've completed one picture for the Out of this Frame Project. ....Congratulations?

What I was able to conjure:

"A Subliminal Message"

"The Doctor Sends You His Love"

"Another Leaf Fallen"

"All for One, and One for Al- ....Wait.... Where Are the Rest of Our Bodies?"

" 'ER-MER-GERD HERMSTERK ERPDATED!' ....'WILL YOU SHUT UP ABOUT HOMESTUCK?!' "

(Models: Sophomore Winter of THS and Freshman Casey of FHS)

I have to say, this is by far, my favorite Photography Project this year.

:]