Free Duotone Frames

In Elements 5, there is a new palette, the Artwork and Effects palette. From it, one can apply frames, themes, styles, effects, backgrounds and graphics. You can add your own custom content to the palette. I have made a number of duotone frames for you to use on your print creations. These change your picture to be a simulated duotone (like black and white only with tint/tone manipulation) in the frame along with a thin gray border and drop shadow. Scroll down the page to see several examples.

Elements 6 users only : to add the backgrounds to your Content palette, Close Elements. Take the files out of their unzipped folder (select all/copy) and paste them into the following location:
In Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\6.0\Photo Creations\frames
In VISTA: C:\ProgramData\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\6.0\Photo Creations\frames

When you reopen Editor, you may have to switch menu choices (backgrounds to frames then back to backgrounds) to get the new items to show up.

Elements 5 users: To add these frames to your Artwork and Effects palette, follow the instructions below:

[If (below) you don't see the Application Data folder within the All Users folder, go to the menu at the top of your screen and click on Tools > Folder Options > View (tab) > scroll to find Hidden Files and Folders, and click on the Show Hidden Files and Folders radio button. Click OK.]

Close Elements 5.
Go to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0 and delete two files: one called MediaDatabase.db3, and the other called ThumbDatabase.db3.
[Please note: a number of people have emailed me to say that it is not necessary to delete these two files. My instructions are those provided by the Adobe team from beta-testing. Perhaps they changed something...In any event, feel free to try loading my material without deleting the two files listed above. If my stuff does not show up in your Artwork and Effects palette, close Elements, and delete the two files.]
Go here: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Photo Creations\artwork\frames and put my free Duotones frame folder (called Duotones), the unzipped folder (not the zipped file) into the the “frames” folder.
Open Editor. It will take a minute or two for the Artwork and Effects palette database to rebuild. That is normal.
In the Artwork and Effects palette, click the Artwork button at the top of the palette. Then, from the menu on the left, find the Frames section. From the menu on the right, look for the “Duotones” entry, which is my new content. Make a new layout or blank document and apply the frames. Add a picture to see the effect of the duotone on the image. There are twenty duotone frames, and all are horizontal. Use Fit Frame to Photo to make the frame conform to any picture.

Download the zipped file here:
Duotone Frames
118 kb

Let me know if you have any problems with getting things to work. It's really not hard at all.

I also have Free Geometric Backgrounds, Free Animal Backgrounds, FreeWoodcut Backgrounds, Free Graphics, Free Grunge Frames, Free Classic Frames, Free Matted Frames, Free Whenever Diary Pages, Free Big Squares Calendars, and Free Calendar Pages available for download.

If you are a beginning user of Elements 5, you might like my .pdf book, Elementary School. It contains 112 tutorials for new users of Elements 5.

Older Tutorials
Quick Mask
Rubberstamping
More Adjustments
Sharpening
Filters
Color

Download the zipped file here:
Duotone Frames
118 kb

I also have Free Geometric Backgrounds, Free Animal Backgrounds, Free Woodcut Backgrounds, Free Graphics, Free Grunge Frames, Free Classic Frames, Free Matted Frames, Free Whenever Diary Pages, Free Big Squares Calendars, and Free Calendar Pages available for download.

If you are a beginning user of Elements 5, you might like my .pdf book, Elementary School. It contains 112 tutorials for new users of Elements 5.

Copyright © 2006 by Jay Arraich.
All rights reserved.
All photographs copyright ©2006 by Jay Arraich
jay@arraich.com