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Create a Realistic Photo Print in Photoshop

Creating the Document

Start by setting up a document with a transparent background. I chose 5" x 7" at 300 dpi because I will be using it for print. Open up the photo you want to use, resize it as close to the new document as possible. Set guides on the new document at .25"

Creating the Background

Select the rectangle tool and set it to shape layers. Draw a rectangle the size of the document, in my case I drew a 5" x 7" rectangle. Right click on the new shape layer and select blending options. Create a gradient overlay that fades from beige to white. I chose C=9 M=5 Y=20 K=0 for my beige. Set the angle to 145 degrees.

Adding the Photo

Select the photo you have open that you want to use. Select the move tool and drag the photo into the new document you have set up. Select Edit>Free Transform and scale the image proportionately so it fits within the guides you set up. There may be some extra room on the document ... if so, just adjust the top or bottom guide so it leaves a .25" space between the image and the guide. Select the shape layer and free transform it so it fits to the new guide. Crop as needed so you have a nice quarter inch frame behind your photo.
Create a new layer and select the gradient tool. Rename the layer to gradient 1. Make sure you choose foreground to transparent for the gradient style. Select black as the color and set the opacity slider for the black to 30%. Click in the upper left and corner and drag about a half an inch into the document so you have a nicely shaded corner. Create a new layer and name it gradient 2. Do the same thing, but this time in the bottom right hand corner.

Creating the Drop Shadow

Hold down the shift key and select your shape layer, photo layer, and both gradient layers. They should all be selected. Go to Edit>Free Transform and scale the three layers proportionately so you have about a half inch or so of transparent background showing.
Right click on your shape layer and select duplicate. Name it drop shadow and click ok. Move it below the original shape layer. Double click the drop shadow layer thumbnail and change the color to black.
Select the direct selection tool Right click on the center bottom part of the rectangle shape, right click and select Add Anchor Point. Move the anchor point straight up, about where the image begins so you have a nice slight curve. With the direct selection tool still active, right click the middle left of the rectangle and select Add Anchor Point. Adjust the anchor point by dragging it in, just like you did with the bottom anchor point.
Right click on the drop shadow layer and choose rasterize layer. Right click again and select blending options, make sure to remove the gradient overlay. You should have a solid black rectangle underneath the rest of the layers.
Move the rectangle over and down a little bit, this is your drop shadow so adjust it to your desire. If it is hard to adjust with the transparent background, temporarily fill the background with white. Set the opacity of the drop shadow layer to 50%
Select Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur. Make sure the preview box is checked. I set my blur to 15 pixels. Adjust it how you like so there is a nice soft edge around the rectangle.

Final Adjustments

Select View>Clear Guides so you can see the results better. If you want to, shift click to select all layers except the background. Select Edit>Free Transform, rotate all the layers a little bit so it is at a fun angle, and feel free to scale it down a little bit. Delete your white background so it is once again transparent. Save it as a TIFF and preserve the transparency if you wish to use it in print. This way you can place it on a background that has a texture or different color.
Thank you!

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