Framer 2.0

Overview

Framer is very useful for preparing framed images which can be displayed online, perhaps in a virtual exhibition, on social media sites or on your own and other websites. It can also be used to preview and illustrate various frame styles and layouts for images which you intend to print and frame.

This is a much simpler app than KaleidEfex and is very easy to use.

Setting up

Before you can use Framer you will need to install the ‘WorstveldSlingExtra2Oblique‘ font. Right-click on the file name and choose ‘Install‘. (You don’t need to do this if you already have this font.)

Script Flow

The MAIN MENU is displayed when you run the script. This gives you options for selecting a frame texture and setting values for the matte and frame dimensions. Click the ‘Create Frame‘ button when you are happy with your choices.

The FINISH MENU is displayed after your frame has been created. This allows you to Resize or change Colours. You can also save and/or exit the script.

The RESIZE MENU offers a variety of preset sizes as well as a custom resize option.

MAIN MENU

This offers the following options:

Frame Texture – Click this to display the available textures. Select any of these. See below for more info.
Matte Width – This is a percentage value of the longer side of your image. For example, if your original image is 3000 pixels on its longer side and matte width is set at 60%, your framed image will be 4800 pixels on the longer side.
Frame Width – This is a percentage of the matte width.
Matte Shape – The aperture in the matte can be rectangular or oval.

Add Text – This will automatically add the title of your image (the filename) and your name. See below for instructions how to use your own name.
Add Background – This extends the canvas by 10% and fills it with white. This is useful to show the frame and shadows more clearly. This isn’t added until you select ‘Keep/Finish’. See the example below.
Create Frame – the Go button!
Quit – If you change your mind…..

Example

Framed Image with added background

Note the drop shadows underneath and to the right of the frame.

Finish Menu

The menu appears once your frame has been created. It offers a variety of options:

Change Matte Colour – The Photoshop colour picker will open up. Choose a colour and click OK. You may also use the eyedropper to sample a colour anywhere in the image.
Change Frame Colour – As previously. Be aware that colours will invariably give unexpected results as the colour you are applying is blended with the original frame colour.
Change Text Colour – As previously.
Resize – This opens the RESIZE MENU. The options include a number of specific values and a custom value.
Save PSD/JPG – saves the framed image as a psd or jpg file.
Rerun – resets the image to its original state and reruns the script from the start.
Reset/Finish – This resets the framed image so it is exactly back to point where you ran the script. The script is then closed.
Keep/Finish – The image is left in its final state and the script is closed. All of the layers are retained.
Close/Finish – The active document is closed and the script finishes.

Tweaks

Once Framer has closed you can, of course, continue to edit your image. All of the layers are preserved and can be edited as you wish.

NB If you intend to do further editing, it’s generally not a good idea to resize your image beforehand.

The script adds layer styles to the Frame layer (Bevel & Emboss, Dropshadow) and the Matte layer (Bevel & Emboss). Although these are, to some extent, proportional, they are very much best guesses and you may find the effects do not work so well, especially at very small or very large sizes. Luckily these are relatively easy to adjust in Photoshop using the Layer Styles dialogue.

Global Settings

There are a number of global settings in the script which set default values. Some of these can be changed very easily by editing the script directly. It’s wise to make a copy of the script beforehand.

Open the script for editing by loading it into Notepad or a similar editor. There is a section at the top called USER SETTINGS which contains the values you can change. The editable code lines have associated comments which give guidance on what can be changed. In particular you would certainly want to change this line:

const photographerName = “~~Norman Dodds~~“;
to const photographerName = “your name“;

Make sure you change only the actual values. Any other changes will almost certainly render the script unworkable!

Don’t forget to save your edited script. It must always have a .jsx file extension.

Frame Textures

There are 14 frame textures included. There are also 14 thumbnail files in png format. These are stored in the Frames folder.

Adding your own textures

You can add your own frame textures if you wish. They need to follow a few rules:

They should be seamless textures.
The should have dimensions of exactly 1000 x 1000 pixels and a resolution of 300 ppi.
They should be saved in the Frames folder as jpgs.

You also need to create a thumbnail for each frame texture:

Resize your frame texture to 50 x 50 pixels. (It’s best to create a 50 x 50 selection and then use Image Menu >> Crop.)
Save in the Frames folder as a png file.

Any new frame textures will be in future runs of the script. There is no limit to the number of textures you can add. You can delete any of the frame textures so long as you leave two or more in the Frames folder.