![\"Red](\"https:\/\/www.yourscrappingcafe.com\/home\/d19521157\/public_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rain-275314smaller.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nOnce again, I prefer to have a bit more control over the results than I can generally accomplish using that Guided edit. But, perhaps that\u2019s just me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Note<\/strong>: The featured image at the top of this post is a good example of the technique I\u2019m presenting today (as well as the blur technique). If you want to see more details about that layout you can find it in my 2022 Gallery<\/a><\/strong>. The title of the layout is \u201cDance Recital Hair & Makeup\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Earlier this year I wrote about a fun technique in my \u201cBlur Distractions<\/a><\/strong>\u201d post. Today I thought I\u2019d show you a twist on that same technique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On that original post I provided a template but also showed you how to create everything from \u201cscratch\u201d. Today I\u2019m going to be doing the same thing but with a new template.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve actually created a new template based off the original Blur & Focus Template from that \u201cBlur Distractions\u201d post I mentioned above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This new template is going to look and \u201cwork\u201d pretty much the same (other than the color of the text) as the Blur & Focus template. It\u2019s certainly not necessary to use the template it just makes it go quicker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The single biggest difference between the two templates is that the new one uses a Gradient Map to turn the majority of the photo to black & white allowing the focal point to remain in brilliant color to draw the eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I can hear the wheels turning in your head. \u201cWhy a gradient map vs. just converting the photo to black & white?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n First of all, gradient maps are adjustment layers, meaning they are non-destructive. The original color photo remains unharmed underneath the gradient map layer, providing flexibility to turn the effect on or off, or to make further adjustments later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using a gradient map instead of “convert to black and white” in PSE also allows for greater control over image contrast. By adjusting the color stops in the gradient editor, you can push darker tones towards black and lighter tones towards white, increasing the image’s contrast in a more controlled way than when using \u201cconvert to B&W\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And if you really want to think outside the box, instead of a standard black & white, you can choose or create a gradient with any combination of colors, creating a very unique look for your photo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re not a template user\u2026no worries. My plan is to show you how to accomplish the same effect without a template a little further along in this post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The template is set up to use a standard 6\u201d x 4\u201d (landscape) photo. It certainly can be easily rotated to accommodate a portrait-oriented photo if needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Note:<\/strong> If you want to follow along all you have to do is click here<\/a><\/strong> or on the image below and the template will be automatically downloaded for you. This template is in PSD format. If you can\u2019t use this format, please message<\/a><\/strong> me and I will help you get a TIFF file instead.<\/p>\n\n\n Before I get started here\u2019s a quick reminder, I use PSE 2024. If you use a different version, some of my screen shots may look different than what you see on your screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When I open my Frame&PopEffect template in PSE, it looks exactly like the image you see above. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This template lets you choose a favorite photo and \u201ccolor pop\u201d just a special part of that photo. The color pop is accomplished by adding a frame and<\/em> applying a Black & White Gradient Map to the majority of the photo. Leaving the focal point in brilliant color to draw the eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready? Let’s go…<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may have noticed that the \u201cphoto spot\u201d looks similar to a polaroid frame. But the template also includes an option for a simple rectangular frame which is the first layer in the Layers Panel (should be hidden when you open this template).<\/p>\n\n\n\n And here is what the Layers Panel looks like:<\/p>\n\n\n And if you have the original template (Blur&FocusEffect) you may also have noticed something else that\u2019s new in this template. I\u2019ve added a photo mask (should be hidden) that can be used instead of the \u201cframed\u201d photo spot! I\u2019ll tell you more about that in a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You will also see a hidden Gradient Map layer (named B&W Gradient Map<\/em><\/strong>) directly above the Background<\/em><\/strong> layer. I\u2019ll also explain that Gradient Map layer shortly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m going to be using a fall landscape photo that I found on Pixabay<\/a><\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n I picked this photo specifically because there\u2019s no way I could use the PSE Color Pop Guided edit and achieve anything close to the results you\u2019ll see in a few minutes. If you\u2019re following along, you can use any photo you like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With my Frame & Pop template open in PSE, I drag my photo into the file just above the Background layer:<\/p>\n\n\n The frame is definitely not in the right place for this photo. This is easy enough to fix. I\u2019ve linked<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>all the frame parts (including the photo mask) so they move as one when I reposition them over the photo:<\/p>\n\n\n Now, I can click on any one of those \u201cframe\u201d layers in the actual file and move them all simultaneously so they\u2019re roughly centered over the section I want to keep in color:<\/p>\n\n\n Next, I duplicate the photo. In the Layers Panel I move the duplicate photo above the Polaroid Frame layer and clip it to the Polaroid Frame Layer:<\/p>\n\n\n The frame isn\u2019t in the exact spot I wanted but I can fix that later. Now I can unhide the B&W Gradient Map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tada! Like magic, the original photo layer is now black & white.<\/p>\n\n\n I can now play with the gradient to change the depth of black, or the highlights of white. First, I need to ensure that my Foreground\/Background color chips are set to the defaults (press D).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then in the Layers Panel, I double-click on the thumbnail of the B&W Gradient Map and PSE opens the Gradient Map options box:<\/p>\n\n\n I click somewhere inside the gradient color box and PSE opens the Gradient Editor:<\/p>\n\n\n I can now adjust the darkness and lightness of the black & white by changing the colors associated with the two bottom color stops. Changing the black to a lighter shade (#313131) and the white to a darker shade (#eaeaea) results in something like this:<\/p>\n\n\n Making that adjustment did give the B&W photo a lighter tone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m pretty happy with the original look so I\u2019m going to press Ctrl-Z to undo the gradient edit!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then I close the Gradient Map (click the X in the upper right corner). If you\u2019re following along feel free to make any adjustments you choose on your Gradient Map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All that\u2019s left is to adjust the position of the \u201cframe\u201d (but not the clipped photo) and save this as a JPG for use on a layout. I could also save it as a PSD (with a unique name) in case I want\/need to make any other adjustments later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Note<\/strong>: Remember, I\u2019ve linked all the frame parts so they move as one. You can resize, reposition and\/or rotate the frame anyway you choose to highlight your subject. Also remember to never move the photo when moving the frame.<\/p>\n\n\n Whether you\u2019re messing with the Gradient Map adjustments or not, using the template makes this all so quick and easy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n But what if I wanted a completely different frame or perhaps even a blended\/masked photo with or without a frame?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adding a different frame is easy. All I have to do is grab whatever frame I like from my stash, pull it into the file and layer it above the Polaroid (or Simple) Frame in the Layers Panel:<\/p>\n\n\n Note<\/strong>: The frame I\u2019m using is from \u201cFinally Fall\u201d by Alexis Design Studio (retired). If you\u2019re following along, you can use any frame of your choosing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve already rotated it so it is landscape oriented vs. portrait. I also repositioned and resized the frame. Next, I hide the Frame and Frame Drop Shadow layers in the Layers Panel. Then I unlink the Polaroid Frame in the Layers Panel and resize the Polaroid Frame to fill the new frame:<\/p>\n\n\n Note<\/strong>: If you\u2019re following along and have used the Simple Frame vs. the Polaroid Frame, then you will resize that frame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And that\u2019s how easy it is to add a different frame using this template. I\u2019m not going to add a drop shadow at this point. I usually don\u2019t save a \u201ccolor pop\u201d photo as a JPG file. So, I’ll wait to add the drop shadow after copying the necessary layers to my project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using the new photo mask requires some different steps but is equally easy. I\u2019m going to go back to the look I had before using that new frame:<\/p>\n\n\n This time I hide the Polaroid Frame, Frame and Frame Drop Shadow layers. Then I unclip the photo from the Polaroid Frame in the Layers Panel and move the photo layer so that it is directly above the ColorPopMask layer in the Layers Panel. Now all I have to do is unhide the ColorPopMask and clip the photo to the mask:<\/p>\n\n\n Note<\/strong>: If you\u2019re following along and using a different photo, you may need\/want to resize the mask. just be sure to unlink the mask in the Layers Panel before doing that. You also can use any mask of your choosing instead of the one provided in the template.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This doesn\u2019t \u201chighlight\u201d the chosen subject quite the same as a frame does, at least not on this photo! But I have found that if I add a light shadow (Lighting angle: 120 degrees, Color: (#696258), Size: 10px, Distance: 8px and Opacity: 65%) it helps some:<\/p>\n\n\n But what really helps it pop in a \u201ccleaner\u201d way is a very slight bevel. I just go to the top menu bar and click Layer->Layer Style->Style Settings. PSE opens the Style Settings box and I set the Lighting angle to 120 degrees, Size to 15px and Direction to Up:<\/p>\n\n\n Using either a shadow or bevel on the mask is totally optional. And honestly, on some photos neither may be required. Besides that, there\u2019s nothing that says you can\u2019t put a frame over a masked photo (no shadow or bevel) for a completely different look:<\/p>\n\n\n I hope you\u2019ve enjoyed seeing how simple the template makes this color pop technique and will give it a try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I know at the beginning of this post I had said I was going to show you how to create this effect without a template! I got a little carried away showing some extra options and I really didn\u2019t want this to get too long. So, rather than cramming too much in today I thought it best to finish next week!<\/p>\n\n\n\n I promise we\u2019ll take a look at creating this effect without using this template next week!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember, the template is free. If you haven\u2019t already done so, click here<\/a><\/strong> and the template will be automatically downloaded for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Think outside the box, you can change the gradient map to use any combination of colors, to create a very unique look for your photo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using a gradient map instead of “convert to black and white” for the background photo allows for greater control over image contrast. That\u2019s why the template already has one set up for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can resize, reposition and\/or rotate the frame provided in the template anyway you choose to highlight your subject. Just don\u2019t move the photo!<\/p>\n\n\n\n You are not required to use the \u201cframe\u201d provided with the template. You can use any frame you choose and\/or a photo mask for your color popped subject.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nothing dictates that you must use a frame at all. It\u2019s your project so you can highlight the colored portion of your photo any way you choose!<\/p>\n\n\n\n One more tip for adjusting the tone of the black & white photo version of your photo. Sometimes modifying the colors in the gradient map can get tricky. If you\u2019re having trouble making adjustments that give you the look you\u2019d prefer, try creating a new layer below the photo and fill it with white. Then play with the opacity level of the photo to see if that helps you get a better tone for the black & white.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And think about this\u2026Creativity is a continual surprise! \u2013 Ray Bradbury<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thanks for reading this week\u2019s Tuesday Tip. Remember, if you have any suggestions or questions please don\u2019t hesitate to “Message Me<\/a><\/strong>“. Check back next week for tips about color pop without a template. Click \u201cFollow Me<\/a><\/strong>\u201d to stay in touch. I hope you have a wonderful week!<\/p>\n\n\nBlack & White & Color<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nFrame & Pop Template<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nExtra Tips<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n