*Element
ELEMENT: Slide Mounts
By Zee Helmick 2005
Apr 30, 2005, 22:18

Open a New Image. (File > New)

Activate the Rectangle Tool and choose the Draw Square mode.  Check the box marked Create on Vector.  Slide mounts typically have rounded corners.  For this example, I changed both the Horizontal and Vertical Radius to 10.00.

Be sure your foreground or stroke color is transparent and you have chosen a color for the background or fill. 

Draw your square, apply it (by clicking the checkmark)  and then center the square by using the Object Selection Tool)  and clicking Center in Canvas.)  

You will now create the slide mount’s opening.  Change the background color to something that contrasts and is easy to see.  In the example, I have used black.

Create a new Vector Layer (Layers > New Vector Layer > OK)

Reactivate the Rectangle Tool and choose the Draw Rectangle mode.  (At this point, you may need to re-apply the previous square shape by clicking the checkmark again }. 

Change both the Horizontal and Vertical Radius values to 0.00.

Draw a rectangle in the contrasting color on the new vector layer and center the rectangle vertically.

Be sure the Vector Layer containing the slide mount’s opening is active (in this case, the black rectangle.)

Go to Selections > From Vector Object.  The black rectangle should now be selected.

Go to Layers > Convert to Raster Layer.  This changes the Vector Layer with the black rectangle into a Raster Layer.

Without deselecting the rectangle, hit your delete button and delete the black rectangle.  DO NOT DESELECT AFTER DELETING THE RECTANGLE.

Go to your Layers palette and make sure the Vector layer containing the slide mount is active.  Again, DO NOT DESELECT.

Go to Layers > Convert to Raster Layer.  This changes the Vector layer with the purple slide mount into a Raster layer.

Without deselecting the rectangle, hit your delete button and delete the middle section of the slide mount.  This creates the opening of your slide mount.

Deselect the opening. (Selections > Select None)

With the Magic Wand Tool select the slide mount. 

Apply a slight inner bevel to give the slide mount dimension.  (Effects > 3D Effects > Inner Bevel)

Experiment with the different values.  In the example, I used the following settings:

You can now place a photo under the slide mount.  Remember to add a drop shadow. (Effects > 3D Effects > Drop Shadow)