Adding a border with Elements 11

When going stuff in Photoshop or Elements, there's probably at least 10 different ways to do the same thing.  This is one quick way to add a border and a borderline to an image.

First, open the image in Elements.  Select the "Expert" level (purple arrow) and open the Layers Window (Window, Layers on top menu).

Double click on the Layers menu on the Background layer (pink arrow).  You'll see the pop up box that says Layer 0.  Click OK.  Now your background is a useable Layer.

Next, click the New Layer button (Pink arrow) and a Layer 1 will appear above Layer 0 (green arrow).

Next, move the Layer 1 BELOW Layer 0.

Layer 1 is where you're going to put your background Color.

Next we need to expand the Canvas to create the Frame (Border).

You go to <Image> <Resize> <Canvas Size> and a menu will appear.  You can either specify the Canvas Size or add a specific border size around the image (which is what was done in this case).

You click the "Relative" box and input the Border width that you want.  Click OK and you'll have a new border around the image.

To add the border color, you Select Layer 1 (just click on it) and go to <Edit> <Fill Layer>.  You can preselect the Foreground and Background Color (pink arrow) by clicking on it and a color menu will pop up and just click the color you want and click OK.  You can select a Foreground or Background Color or select a Custom Color.  Then Click OK and the Layer 1 will be filled with that color.

Next, select the image layer (Layer 0) and go to <Edit> <Stroke Selection>, select the color of the outline and the width and click OK.

If you did everything right and you want to save the image, you need to "flatten" the image otherwise you may not be able to save it as a Jpeg.  You can either right click on Layer 0 or Layer 1 and select "Flatten Image" or on the upper Menu, select <Layer> <Flatten Image>

Have fun.