Inked edge effect

[Cera]

What's the best way to get that inked edge effect? Do you just use a grunge brush and go along all of the edges, or is there something easier or that looks better. I've tried the grunge brush thing, and I can't get it to look good at all. Maybe I'm doing it wrong. Thanks for the help!

-Cera

[Sharon1313]

I don't know what program you're working in, but if you have a dodge and burn tool, using the "burn" feature will usually give you a pretty realistic inked edge. I like it better than using a brush, it's a bit more subtle.

[debbiel]

I know on a lot of tutorials they do more than just use a brush. After using the brush, you can use the Gaussian Blur filter, blending modes, change opacity, then add a new layer and use another brush and do it all again.

[ScrapMel]

Depending on your program, in PS you can use the inner glow - color is what you want to.
For PSE, do this trick so get it right:
create a layer above what you want to ink; Fill it with a 50% gray and then set the blend mode to screen. Use this layer to dodge and burn on - if you get it too dark, lower the opacity of that layer - or trash it all together and create a new layer. This gives you more flexibility to ink how and where you want. If you burn/dodge on your object, it is permanent!

[Samara]

Here is a tutorial I wrote on inked edges...
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/university/tutorials/ps_inkededges_sg/ps_inkededges_sg.shtml

[Cera]

Wow! thanks guys! I pretty much use PSE, but also sometimes an older version of PS. Oops. I forgot to put that in the original message.
Thank you so much for the help!

[debbiel]

I just learned the easiest and funnest way to darken edges. Click on inner shadow and move the size up to 204 or whatever (depending on the size of you layout) and you automatically get a darkened edge. You can change the color to suit yourself. Misty Cato has just put up a scratched edge tutorial on her blog. It is easy and fun and will work in elements.

[Cera]

Cool! I actually tried that in PSE, but I could only get the inner shadow on 2 sides. I couldn't figure out how to do it for all 4 sides. I tried duplicating and rotating, etc.

However, I did try changing the layer style to complex, and then choosing the "pepper" option, and it worked great for a distressed inked edge effect!
I also tried the dodge and burn as well, which was very cool, and much more specific and customizable, but took longer, so I might not want to use if I'm inking all of my papers, but for something specific, it was great!

Thanks!
You guys are awesome!