Rounded Corners III: Clipping Mask

After researching a few different methods to create rounded corners, this is my personal favorite for ease and flexibility.
1) Do all prepping of photo before hand (crop, shrink, etc). Image resides on Background layer.
2) Duplicate a copy of the Background Layer (Layer1).
3) Between Background Layer and the duplicate (Layer1), create a new layer (Layer2) and fill with background color.
4) Use Tools--> Rounded Rectangle Tool (Or Text or Freeform...etc) to create shape choice
5) Go to the top photo layer (Layer1) and select Layer-->Clipping Mask

http://www.happywebdiva.com/2008/02/03/how-to-make-rounded-corners-in-photoshop/

Rounded Corners II: Vector Mask

Another good method of rounding corners using vector mask.
1) Open a new, blank document. Drag photo into the new document, which will then reside on its own layer, Layer1.
2) On Layer1, click on the Layer Mask icon at bottom of the Layers palette.
3) On Layer1, click again on the same Layer Mask icon, which now adds a Vector Mask.
4) Now select the Rounded Rectangle Tool in the Tools palette, with the Shapes layer icon selected in the Options Bar and set a radius value.


5) Make sure that the Vector mask is selected,


and then drag out the rounded rectangle shape. The only part of the photo that will be visible will be everything inside of the shape. If the shape needs repositioning while dragging the shape, hold down the spacebar.

6) Add a rounded border using Stoke. Click on Layer Styles icon at bottom of Layers palette --> Stoke.


7) Finished product


Summarized tutorial from this reference: http://www.photoshopessentials.com/photo-effects/rounded-corners/

Rounded Corners I: Quick & Dirty

I am always forgetting how to round corners on my photos. Since there are many ways to do it, I'm documenting the methods that I like. These are notes on how to create rounded corners and drop shadow box for a photo using Photoshop CS3.
This method describes the rounded corners effect using Rectangular Marquee in Photoshop CS3.

1) Open photo, which will reside on Background layer.



2) Select Rectangular Marquee Tool and draw box on the portion of the photo you want captured and rounded.


3) Select --> Modify --> Smooth


Change Sample radius to the amount of roundedness. Trial and error.

Notice how the rectangular selection now has smoothed, rounded corners.


4) Edit --> Copy
5) Open new file: File -->New
6) Edit --> Paste into new file. This should paste the image inside the rectangular marquee into the new file on Layer1.


7) To create Drop shadow box, go to Layer Style-->Drop Shadow.


8) Finished product --> Rounded corners, white border background, and drop shadow.