Adding custom frames & borders in LrC

[MMarz]

Lightroom Version Number

15.2

Operating System

1. macOS 27 Golden Gate

I use LR Mogrify2 and the Print module to create standard frames and borders.

Years ago I used a technique that allowed me to add custom borders like scratched film, grunge, paint strokes etc to images which I believe was done within LrC. I still have all of the various border files but the process got disconnected a few years ago when I switched from Windows to Mac. Would love to recreate it for a project I have coming up.

Any suggestions or tutorials for how to do this?

 

[johnbeardy]

This recent thread should help.

 

[MMarz]

This recent thread should help.

Thank you. Appreciate the response.
Not what I am looking for though. Adding stroke borders in Mogrify and the Print module will do most of what I see in the windows only Borders plugin.
I suspect I can do what I am looking for using PS, but I am certain I used to do it in LrC. I never learned my way around PS.

 

[johnbeardy]

I may have replied to you elsewhere that Lightroom doesn't have a way to add custom borders using jpg or png files. So what I think you may have done is add watermarks, and that these looked like borders - in other words, a workaround. So in Print, Page panel, enable Watermarks and choose Edit Watermarks. Then enable the Graphics option and point to a png file (which can be stored anywhere on your system). The key is then Watermark Effects where you can scale the watermark so it acts as a custom border. Have you tried that?

 

[MMarz]

Yes.. You did.. and I did try what you describe. It's almost what I need.
I am able to choose a border and lay it over the image. Scale it to fit. But the field in the border image is opaque so the main image isn't visible. I think I would have open the border in PS (or another editor) and delete the field in the border file so it is transparent and the main image can be seen behind the watermark/border.

For example, the center section would need to be transparent so the three outside stroke border can be overlaid onto the main image. Sadly, I am an absolute fail with PS.

 

[MMarz]

So I scoured all of the old frames and borders and found a few files to which I did exactly as described above. Somehow I edited those original files so the areas where the image should display through are transparent. These work exactly as you suggested they would!
Now I just need to figure out how I modified those old files so I can replicate the process.

 

[johnbeardy]

OK, the key is to make the file transparent. So on one layer is your border, with the central area deleted. A trick is to add the border through Layer Styles, and then use the layer's Fill percentage at 0% to remove pixel content on the layer, leaving only the layer style.

Delete the Background layer and export the file as a 24 bit png.

 

[johnbeardy]

Ah, sounds like you're now on the right track. The files will ideally be the same proportions as the pictures you're applying them to.

 

[MMarz]

OK, the key is to make the file transparent. So on one layer is your border, with the central area deleted. A trick is to add the border through Layer Styles, and then use the layer's Fill percentage at 0% to remove pixel content on the layer, leaving only the layer style.

Delete the Background layer and export the file as a 24 bit png.

And this is best done in PhotoShop?

 

[MMarz]

Ah, sounds like you're now on the right track. The files will ideally be the same proportions as the pictures you're applying them to.

OK.. that was absolutely it. Thank you!
Found a quick YouTube short to make the center transparent.

Saved it as a PNG file and it worked perfectly!
Only thing I can't find is how to specify 24 bit.
And, can you tell me where LrC saves the watermark presets? I made a few while testing that I'd like to delete.

 

[lightroomtoolbox]

Yes.. You did.. and I did try what you describe. It's almost what I need.
I am able to choose a border and lay it over the image. Scale it to fit. But the field in the border image is opaque so the main image isn't visible. I think I would have open the border in PS (or another editor) and delete the field in the border file so it is transparent and the main image can be seen behind the watermark/border.

For example, the center section would need to be transparent so the three outside stroke border can be overlaid onto the main image. Sadly, I am an absolute fail with PS.
View attachment 30504

If you just want those kind of frames, the plugin Borders will help you (I guess I will port it to mac in a few weeks). If you want scatches and textures in your frames, you will need to work in photoshop. In photoshop you can use NIK collection to make that (the old free version is perfect for this task)

 

[MMarz]

If you just want those kind of frames, the plugin Borders will help you (I guess I will port it to mac in a few weeks). If you want scatches and textures in your frames, you will need to work in photoshop. In photoshop you can use NIK collection to make that (the old free version is perfect for this task)

Thank you. For this project I need a few of the scratches, brush strokes etc. But I would likely make great use of the Borders plugin if/when available on Mac.
I've already modified about thirty of the old frames/borders using PS.
And I figured out how to delete the test borders I saved.
I'll look around for the NIK collection.

 

[johnbeardy]

Saved it as a PNG file and it worked perfectly!
Only thing I can't find is how to specify 24 bit.
And, can you tell me where LrC saves the watermark presets? I made a few while testing that I'd like to delete.

File > Export > Save for Web, then PNG24 . By the way, I should have just said PNG24 rather than 24 bit.

Lightroom saves preset definitions in a subfolder of its main presets folder. Preferences Presets > Show All Other Lightroom Presets. The graphics can be anywhere that makes sense to you.

 

[Gnits]

There is preference option to save presets per Catalog. If this is set by mistake and you are not familiar with using this option, then major confusion may ensue.

I have set this to be per catalog... because my main catalog is on an External Drive... which I share between my main Win desktop and my travel Mac Air...

Despite my awareness of this.. I still got snookered (twice) when I reset my preferences... forgetting that this setting was reset (also) to keeping presets at app level, so all my presets and plugins effectively disappeared (twice) before the penny dropped for me.

Bottom line.. it is worth tracking down the exact location of, say, your most recent presets and be aware of the option to store at system or catalog level.