Get Messy.
Back in the day, photographers would print their negatives in film carriers that they had filed for a unique and almost signature edge on their prints. Today, film is almost gone, but the sloppy border effect lives on! So why settle for plain keylines around your images when you can add artistic edges for dramatic effect? Go for totally custom and easy-to-apply Sloppy Borders!
What It Does
Sloppy Borders will create the artistic borders you’re looking for. It is a very adaptable program. With it, you can apply the same border to each file for a signature look, or apply a random border to each file. You can apply borders to a folder of files, or to files you select in Bridge. No need to pre-sort your portraits from your landscapes, and it will work with any image file of any aspect ratio. It just works.
Have It Your Way
Sloppy Borders was written with customization in mind, and the borders you apply are limited only by your imagination. You can use one of the border files included, or create your own (instructions for doing so are included in the easy-to-follow manual). You can even make the inner edge smooth if you like…the possibilities are almost endless.
Easily controlled
Applies sloppy borders in one of two styles, single or double. Your images can be any aspect ratio, and the sloppy borders will be adjusted to fit each one individuallySloppy borders are created from:
- one of the included files
- a custom border file created by you (instructions for making your own are included, natch)
Sloppy borders can be applied to:
- a folder of files
- files selected in Bridge
The sloppy border colour and canvas (background) colour is up to you, with presets for black and white
For extra variation, borders can be rotated randomly or by a fixed amount
Yes, border files are included
I just thought I’d let you know that Sloppy Borders is Awesome! I love it!
— Mitch W.
A Comparative Anatomical Study of the Sloppy Border, MikeD Style
With this plugin you can apply two styles of sloppy border: Singles and Doubles. What does that mean? Glad you asked. Read
Singles
Singles are created when a single border is applied to your images, leading to the look you see below:
The border is first adjusted to fit your image perfectly, and then applied so that the image fades into the border.
The border itself is created from one of these options:
- a border file you specify, making the borders on all images the same
- a border files chosen randomly, making your borders non-uniform
- nothing, creating a smooth inner edge
Doubles
Doubles are created when two borders are applied to your images, resulting in the look shown below:
These are created by the interaction of the Single described to the left with the addition of a second border.
Like the Single, this second border is created by applying one of:
- a border file you specify, making the borders on all images the same
- a border file chosen randomly, making your borders unique
- nothing, creating a smooth outer edge
Take a peek
If all randomization is enabled, over 80 different borders can result from the 10 included border files. Here are a few examples.
We’ve got you covered, but…
Sloppy Borders is compatible with any Windows PC or Mac running Photoshop version CS3, CS4, CS5, CS5.5 or CS6. Trends come and go, and due to a lack of interest Sloppy Borders will not be updated for Photoshop CC or higher. It’ll work, but you’ll have to install things manually and it’s unsupported. Caveat Emptor.