Do you put borders around your digital photos?

[erictpeterson]

I have started putting borders around some of my photos and I kind of like the way they look (example below, more at http://etpeterson.com/descansos) but I wondered what other people thought? Does it distract from the photo? Or just waste pixels?

I like the frame in part because when I am using the image as part of a blog post the photo is more clearly framed in the page (e.g., https://etpeterson.com/2025/02/11/ben/)

 

[christilou]

I like them, especially for posting online because it defines the image I think. I do it quite often but I also like 4:3 ratio.

 

[erictpeterson]

I like them, especially for posting online because it defines the image I think. I do it quite often but I also like 4:3 ratio.

Thanks. Yeah I think they look better in 4:3; at 16:9 or square something looks not quite right ... not sure why.

 

[arkitect]

Just a personal preference, but I don't.

If tastefully done they can be a nice finishing touch. But some folk do go all the way to detract from their images by heavy use of inappropriate borders.

Just IMHO. 🙂

 

[erictpeterson]

Just a personal preference, but I don't.

If tastefully done they can be a nice finishing touch. But some folk do go all the way to detract from their images by heavy use of inappropriate borders.

Just IMHO. 🙂

Now I am trying to imagine an "inappropriate border" ...

I should probably just drink some more coffee, huh ;-)

 

[arkitect]

Now I am trying to imagine an "inappropriate border" ...

I should probably just drink some more coffee, huh ;-)

🤣 Haha! I mean the ones that are "artistic" — scratchy pencil lines… gilded frames… drop shadows (hallo 90s!).

If I had to I'd go for a thin(ish) white border akin to printed photos of decades ago.

 

[gryphon1911]

I do when I post to my photo blog because I want something to put the automated EXIF data onto.

 

[RichardC]

@WhidbeyLVR knows I do like a border 🤣

Physical prints without a border or a frame don't look finished to me. If you do a side by side of a wedding print and the same print in a mount or frame, the latter almost always looks better.

The preference has crept over to my digital images. The argument against would be that the image is served up on a background of some sort anyway, however, the colour could be dependent upon the viewer's device settings.

vs ~

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[erictpeterson]

I do when I post to my photo blog because I want something to put the automated EXIF data onto.

Can you share an example of that? Or send a URL I can look at? I like the EXIF idea ...

 

[PacNWMike]

I'm not a fan of borders. Maybe a very thin border that mimics the bevel on a mat. I have my screen set to neutral grey and I find a border distracting. Same with watermarks. No thanks. Just my 2₧

 

[RichardC]

I'm not a fan of borders. Maybe a very thin border that mimics the bevel on a mat. I have my screen set to neutral grey and I find a border distracting. Same with watermarks. No thanks. Just my 2₧

I don't like gigantic watermarks either. Just a name in the corner as a reminder is fine.

I think if photographers realised just how easy it is to get rid of a watermark, many simply wouldn't bother.

 

[erictpeterson]

I don't like gigantic watermarks either. Just a name in the corner as a reminder is fine.

I think if photographers realised just how easy it is to get rid of a watermark, many simply wouldn't bother.

I was trying to figure out how to use a frame and put my "logo" on the photo but it kept looking cheese.

On watermarks ... I tried using one a few years ago and people were like "these photos aren't good enough to bother stealing" LOL :-(

 

[gryphon1911]

Can you share an example of that? Or send a URL I can look at? I like the EXIF idea ...

Check out any of the reviews:

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Photography discussions and gear talk by the owner of Best Light Photographic.

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I used Faststone Image Viewer in the past, but since moving to MacOS, I have switched to XnViewMP.

 

[RichardC]

I was trying to figure out how to use a frame and put my "logo" on the photo but it kept looking cheese.

On watermarks ... I tried using one a few years ago and people were like "these photos aren't good enough to bother stealing" LOL :-(

I made a custom brush in photoshop. Typed my name in a script type of font and saved it as a brush.

When I remember, I simply change the brush to my custom brush and dab it once at 50% opacity.

Make a new image in Photoshop. White background.

Make a new layer.

Use the horizontal text tool to draw a text area.

Type something.

From the top menu choose Image > trim

Making sure you have your type layer selected, go to Edit > define brush preset. Give it a name and it will be available in your brushes 🙂

 

[OzPhotoNut]

You will never see a border or watermark on my images. I'm not a fan of them at all.

 

[WhidbeyLVR]

I almost always put a thin white border on my B&W images, and almost never any border on my color images. It's a conscious decision, but I can't readily explain or justify why. I just prefer them that way.

 

[rayvonn]

Case by case basis for me. My first instinct is not to but I can see they are warranted from time to time. I do like @erictpeterson 's borders a lot.

 

[erictpeterson]

Case by case basis for me. My first instinct is not to but I can see they are warranted from time to time. I do like @erictpeterson 's borders a lot.

Thanks, I appreciate the compliment. I went round and round on the sizing for 4:3 images but I think where I have landed is okay.

 

[erictpeterson]

I almost always put a thin white border on my B&W images, and almost never any border on my color images. It's a conscious decision, but I can't readily explain or justify why. I just prefer them that way.

Yes! For the longest time I was only putting them on BW images (here's an example) and I ** love ** how they look around black and white.

I'm just less sure about color.

 

[erictpeterson]

I made a custom brush in photoshop. Typed my name in a script type of font and saved it as a brush.

When I remember, I simply change the brush to my custom brush and dab it once at 50% opacity.

View attachment 530945

Make a new image in Photoshop. White background.

Make a new layer.

Use the horizontal text tool to draw a text area.

Type something.

From the top menu choose Image > trim

Making sure you have your type layer selected, go to Edit > define brush preset. Give it a name and it will be available in your brushes 🙂

When I use a frame I apply it using the Print module in Lightroom Classic (since it's really easy that way.) I wonder how I could do this in LRC?