friday freebie – Page 4

Spiral bound template

Why is it that the photos that look easy to shoot actually take the most time? This Friday freebie image is a perfect example. It looks like it should have been a quick thing to do but in reality it took the best part of half a day to shoot, and edit… You see, the things I do for you 🙂

I’m really happy with the end result, which of course makes all the effort worthwhile.

Full download instructions are below but you can also
Click Here To Download the Spiral Bound Template

Using the template is as simple as pasting your own photo over the template and changing the layer blending mode to Multiply. Other layer blending modes may well work too so it’s well worth experimenting. You can also try lowering the layer opacity for the photo layer and skipping through some blending mode, you’ll get a different set of results that way.

One thing to note. The Multiply blending mode will always makes your image darker, so I’d suggest adding a Levels adjustment layer above the photo (top of the layers stack) and tweaking the brightness accordingly, if you want to get an final image that matches the original photo.

Usage rules
The image is copyright Gavin Hoey 2013. Use is limited to any personal but non-commercial purposes. Please share the Friday Freebie by linking back to this page. Do not redistribute the original image without my permission.

Download instructions

Download instructions
Click the link https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_Mmmm3K1utNLTNKNGhEWXhFTm8/view?usp=sharing
1. Click the Download button

2. The download should start automatically

Heavy Painted Border

Here’s another amazing border from my recent painting session. This time I’ve gone for a border that surrounds your photo with a wide painted edge.

Full download instructions are below but you can also
Click Here To Download the Heavy Painted Border

I’ve designed this border so it can be used in two ways and it all depends on if you add your photo above or below the border.

Once you’ve downloaded it you’ll find I’ve removed the centre of the border image but left it transparent. S0 to make the image / border combo you see here all you do is drag your photo below the border layer in Photoshop. The centre area has a short fade so it blends in nicely with the photo.

The second option is to place your photo above the border layer. Doing that will give you a hard edge and you can decide how much of the border is seen.

You’ll need to resize your image or the border with Free Transform (CTRL+T). Use the corner handles to drag the image to the size you want and when done press Enter. The border will work with any photo although it’s especially good with black and white images.

If you create a photo using the Friday Freebie then let me (and everyone else) know by leaving the link in the comments below.

Download instructions

Click the link https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_Mmmm3K1utNa19JQmtESDNVZjQ/view?usp=sharing
1. Click the Download button

2. The download should start automatically

White Painted Border

This was fun to make and not just because things got a bit too messy! This Friday Freebie was lovingly hand crafted from nothing but the finest kids paints, most of which seemed to end up on my desk and not the paper. There is a reason that happened and it’s not just because I’m rubbish at painting.

Over the years I’ve made many borders with paint but not always with paint brushes and this is a perfect example. To get the distressed edge effect I “painted” with the rubber edge of an old ice scraper that had been rolling around in the boot of my car for a few winters. I then photographed the edge and straightened in up in Photoshop.

Full download instructions are below but you can also
Click Here To Download the white painted border

Using the border is as simple as changing the layer blending mode to Screen. For the less advanced users that’s done like this…

Download the Friday Freebie and open it in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, then open the photo you wish to add to the frame. Flatten any layers (Layer – Flatten Layers) and then press CTRL+A to select it all, followed by CTRL+C to copy. Jump over to the frame and press CTRL+V to paste the image on to the frame.

You’ll need to resize the image with Free Transform (CTRL+T). Use the corner handles to drag the image into the photo area and when done press Enter. Finally change the layer blending mode from Normal to Screen to blend the photo with the template.

If you create a photo using the Friday Freebie then let me (and everyone else) know by leaving the link in the comments below.

Download instructions
Click the link https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_Mmmm3K1utNZnZxWnQxUGc0dHc/view?usp=sharing
1. Click the Download button

2. The download should start automatically

Distressed Wood Frame

This week’s Friday Freebie is a frame template that has a slightly dark, moody feel. The background is a sample of flooring bought from a DIY store. It has a wonderfully distressed and weathered look to it, making it the perfect compliment to everything from coastal scenes to urban decay. Once photographed and edited in RAW, I gave the final image a light texture effect using OnOne’s Perfect Photo Suite 8 beta, perfect for adding a touch of grunge!

Full download instructions are below but you can also
Click Here To Download the distressed wood frame

To use the Friday freebie download it and open it in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, then open the photo you wish to add to the frame. Flatten any layers (Layer – Flatten Layers) and then press CTRL+A to select it all, followed by CTRL+C to copy. Jump over to the frame and press CTRL+V to paste the image on to the frame.

You’ll need to resize the image with Free Transform (CTRL+T). Use the corner handles to drag the image into the photo area and when done press Enter. Finally change the layer blending mode from Normal to Hard Light to blend the photo with the template.

If you create a photo using the Friday Freebie then let me (and everyone else) know by leaving the link in the comments below.

Usage rules
The image is copyright Gavin Hoey 2013. Use is limited to any personal, non-commercial purposes. Please share the Friday Freebie by linking back to this page. Do not redistribute the original image without my permission.

Download instructions
Click the link https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_Mmmm3K1utNSnFEM1UwRjkxa3M/view?usp=sharing
1. Click the Download button

2. The download should start automatically

Vintage Border and Texture

This week’s Friday Freebie is a vintage border and texture combined into one. It’s a warm tone texture that combines staining and aging with a custom made distressed black edged border. The texture is actually the inside leaf of a very old and rather battered book that Sam picked up at a boot sale. All the blank pages have this amazing textured appearance and I’ll be sharing more of them as Friday freebies soon.

Full download instructions are below but you can also
Click Here To Download the vintage border & texture

As with all textures it works best with photos that have large areas of bright tones such as this one which has loads of bright sky. All you need to do is paste the texture above your photo and set the blending mode. There are loads of different layer blending modes and they’ll all give a different look but I’d suggest Multiply as the best mode to try first.

This is a fairly dark texture and the Multiply blending mode will also make the image less bright. Once you’ve added the texture I’d suggest adding a Levels adjustment layer to either your photo or at the top of the layer stack and moving the middle levels slider to adjust the overall brightness… if required.

If you create a photo using the Friday Freebie then let me (and everyone else) know by leaving the link in the comments below.

Download instructions
Click the link https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_Mmmm3K1utNaTlfSUdvSjB1b0U/view?usp=sharing

1. Click the Download button

2. The download should start automatically

This weeks Friday Freebie is a a high resolution image that adds a light flare to any image. I’ve also added some lens internal artefacts to the
template for that added touch of interest. Best of all it’s unbelievably easy to use and works with any image.

Click Here To download the Light flare template

Once downloaded, the light flare template will need to be unzipped. To apply it to your photo open an image in either Photoshop or Photoshop Elements and then open the lens flare template. Copy and paste the template over the image and change the layer blending mode to Screen. Finally use Free Transform to resize, rotate and reposition the lens flare to suite the image below.

If you create a photo using the Friday Freebie then let me (and everyone else) know by leaving the link in the comments below.

Eroded Edge Texture

This weeks Friday Freebie is an eroded texture which is simple to use and gives amazing results. It’s a black and white texture that has a dark mottled centre, fading to a lighter edge.

Full download instructions are below but you can also
Click Here To Download the Eroded Edge Texture

Unlike most textures, the eroded edge effect works best with photos that have large areas of darker tones. All you need to do is paste the texture over your photo and set the layer blending mode. There are loads of different layer blending modes to choose from and they’ll all give a different look, with this texture Screen blending mode worked well as did Overlay and Soft Light.

If you create a photo using the Friday Freebie then let me (and everyone else) know by leaving the link in the comments below.

Usage rules
The texture image is copyright Gavin Hoey 2013. Use is limited to any personal, non-commercial purposes. Please share the Friday Freebie by linking back to this page. Do not redistribute the original texture without my permission.

Download instructions
Click the link https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_Mmmm3K1utNc2tESjJKYTNIUUk/view?usp=sharing
1. Click the Download button

2. The download should start automatically

Paint Drip Brushes

This weeks Friday Freebie is a set of four high resolution Photoshop brushes. Following on from the coffee ring brushes I shared a few weeks back, these brushes can be made to look like drips and drops of liquid such as paint or in my case, tea.

Click Here To Download the Drip Brushes

These brushes were hand crafted in my studio by dropping splats of paint onto white paper. Once I had a few good ones I photographed the results and then defined them as a brush. It’s a great wet weather project that you can try yourself.

Once downloaded, the brushes will need to be unzipped before they are installed. The brush set is compatible with all versions of Photoshop and Photoshop Elements. If you need help installing them then remember to search on Google and YouTube for the answers.

If you create a photo using the Friday Freebie then let me (and everyone else) know by leaving the link in the comments below.

Usage rules
The brushes are copyright Gavin Hoey 2013. Use is limited to any personal, non-commercial purposes. Please share the Friday Freebie by linking back to this page. Do not redistribute the original image without my permission

Squared edged border action

This weeks Friday Freebie is a work in progress from my next action set. The new set won’t be ready just yet but once completed it will be the successor to my hugely popular Amazing Borders Set 1. A good border can really set off a photo but making an action that adds a reasonably border to pretty much any photo you can find is tougher then you might image!

You can download the action here:
Squared edged border action

This action makes a eroded edge border that has a blocky, square edge feel. Personally I blame Minecraft for making blocks fashionable once again 😉 The Action makes a copy of your photo so the original will be untouched. It also flattens the photo at the end, so if you wish to modify the border press CTRL+Z to undo that step.

The action will work with Photoshop CC, CS6, CS4, CS4, CS3, CS2 etc and will work with Elements11 and older versions, if you can jump through the hoops that older Elements put in place to add actions.

If you create a great photo with my action then feel free to link to it by leaving a comment below.

Usage rules
The action is copyright Gavin Hoey 2013. Use is limited to any personal, non-commercial purposes. Please share the Friday Freebie by linking back to this page. Do not redistribute the original action without my permission.

Download instructions
The direct link to download the actions is https://www.gavtrain.com/free/square-border-gavtrain.zip

No support is provided with the Friday Freebies. If you need help Google or YouTube the question and you’ll almost certainly find the answer 🙂

Coffee Stain Photoshop Brushes

This weeks Friday Freebie is a set of four high resolution Photoshop brushes. What they do is probably pretty obvious but if you can’t see the photo then the words coffee cup rings should explain everything.

Click Here To Download the Coffee ring brushes

These brushes were hand crafted in my studio using only the finest tea stains (I’m not a coffee drinker) which I photographed and turned into very high resolution brushes. They are the perfect compliment to your grungy images and add some instant aging to your retro images. They work brilliantly with the ageing texture that I ran as the Friday Freebie a few weeks back. It’s also the same texture I used on the photo opposite.

If you create a photo using the Friday Freebie then let me (and everyone else) know by leaving the link in the comments below.