This article explains how to make a torn paper edge on an image in Photoshop. This information applies to all recent versions of Adobe Photoshop for Windows and Mac.
What to Know
- Select the Lasso tool. Click and drag a jagged oval over the side of an image where you want a torn paper effect. Select Edit > Clear.Go to Select > Deselect. Choose View > Zoom in. Select the Smudge tool. In Brush Settings, set Size to 1px and Hardness to 100%.Position the cursor just inside the torn edge. Click and drag it outside the image. Repeat up and down the torn edge.
How to Make a Torn Paper Effect in Photoshop
Creating a torn paper edge effect in Photoshop is a fairly straightforward process. However, because it requires the use of a small brush, it can be time-consuming. Apply this technique to any image element where you want to create the appearance of torn paper:
- In Photoshop, open a file that contains an image you want to add a torn-paper edge to. Select the Lasso tool in the Tools palette.
- If the Lasso tool isn’t visible, click and hold the third icon from the top and select Lasso tool.
- Click and drag to draw a jagged oval around one side of the image, with one side on the image representing the torn edge and one side extending onto the canvas.
- Release the mouse button to complete the selection.
- Make sure the selection goes all the way through from top to the bottom and outside of the image.
- Select Edit in the Photoshop menu bar and choose Clear in the drop-down menu to remove the selection from the image.
- Repeat the process on the other side of the image.
- Go to Select > Deselect to remove the selection.
- Select View > Zoom In to get a close up look at the edges.
- Select the Smudge tool from the Tools palette.
- If the Smudge tool isn’t visible, click and hold the Blur or Sharpen tool and select Smudge tool from the list.
- Select the the Brush Settings in the top toolbar and set the Size to 1px and the Hardness to 100%.
- Place your cursor just inside one of the torn edges of the image and then click and drag outside of the image. You should see a fine line drawn out of the image that tapers off.
- Continue painting smudged lines like this at random out of the edges of the image. It may not look very impressive at this size, but when you zoom out, you will see that it produces a subtle effect similar to paper fibers.
When you are satisfied with the effect, save your image as a PSD file or in your preferred format.
In Photoshop, open a file that contains an image you want to add a torn-paper edge to. Select the Lasso tool in the Tools palette.
If the Lasso tool isn’t visible, click and hold the third icon from the top and select Lasso tool.
Click and drag to draw a jagged oval around one side of the image, with one side on the image representing the torn edge and one side extending onto the canvas.
Release the mouse button to complete the selection.
Make sure the selection goes all the way through from top to the bottom and outside of the image.
Select Edit in the Photoshop menu bar and choose Clear in the drop-down menu to remove the selection from the image.
Repeat the process on the other side of the image.
Go to Select > Deselect to remove the selection.
Select View > Zoom In to get a close up look at the edges.
Select the Smudge tool from the Tools palette.
If the Smudge tool isn’t visible, click and hold the Blur or Sharpen tool and select Smudge tool from the list.
Select the the Brush Settings in the top toolbar and set the Size to 1px and the Hardness to 100%.
Place your cursor just inside one of the torn edges of the image and then click and drag outside of the image. You should see a fine line drawn out of the image that tapers off.
Continue painting smudged lines like this at random out of the edges of the image. It may not look very impressive at this size, but when you zoom out, you will see that it produces a subtle effect similar to paper fibers.
You can add a shadow to the image to give it depth and make it look more realistic.
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