Polaroid Picture Effect

Open the photo you want to use. I am using the picture below I found on the Internet:

First we need to select the area we want to use for the Polaroid. Select the Rectangular Marquee tool from the toolbox. Make sure feather is set to 0.

Click and drag a square selection around the focal point of the photo.

When you are satisfied with your selection, go to Select > Inverse.

Press the Delete key. This will bring up the Fill dialog box. Click White from the Use drop down list.

Next add a subtle shadow to give the effect that the paper is overlapping the photo. Again you need to inverse selection to select the photo:

To give a subtle shadow effect you will put a black stroke around the inside of the selection. Click Edit and select Stroke. At the stroke dialog box use the values below.

Now to get the white border to stand out select the white border with the magic wand tool . While holding the Ctrl key press the J key on they keyboard to copy the selection to a new layer. With the new layer still selected click the Layer Style button at the bottom of the Layers and choose Bevel and Emboss:

Click OK to accept the default setting. Here is how the picture should now look:

The last step is to add text to the bottom section of the border. Select the Horizontal Type Tool . Choose your font and color at the Horizontal Type Tool options located at the top of the document window. Click on the canvas and type your text.

Here is my finished product: