Pay it Forward - Rounded Corners in Photoshop

I love love love photographs with rounded corners.  I looked into this a few months ago and learned that you can not do this is Elements.  So - now that I have Photoshop CS4, I was ready.   The instructions seem a little tedious at first - but I promise you - after you do it a few times, it only takes a few seconds.  Here's how you do it!!  Have fun!

Before Picture - Boring Square Corners. . .

Step 1.  Within Photoshop, take a look at the Layers palette.  The photo should be on it's own layer.  You will create another layer right on top of that.

Step 2.  Within the new layer, use the rounded rectangle tool to draw a "rounded rectangle" around the perimeter of the picture.  Pay attention to how you are centering the main focus of the image.

Step 3.  Go back to the layers palette and double click on the layer you just drew in.  Double click on that layer.  The Layer Style Palette should come up.  In the Advanced Blending Area slide the Fill Opacity down to 0%.  Click Ok and exit out.

Step 4.  Within the layers palette click on the Paths tab and then click on the little arrow to the right.  From the drop down menu select "Make Selection".  In the Make Selection box make sure the Feather Radius is set to 0 pixels and Anti Aliased is checked.  Then click "ok".

Step 5.  Now with the selection still pending - got to Edit - Copy Merged.  

Step 6.  Click File - New to create a new document

Step 7.  In the new document - click Edit -Paste

That's it!  Your new picture should have rounded corners.  You can also do this to make oval pictures and other shapes.