Adding borders using GIMP

[eternalhope]

I needed to find a way to add borders around my pics and Major_Small very kindly shared this link with me. It is easy to follow and here are my examples.
I'd like to know what you think.

http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/Quickmask/

Before:



After:



What I did:

1. brightened and increased contrast
2. reduced saturation to produce B&W image
3. added border using GIMP to add Spread distortion

Before:



After:



What I did:

1. cropped image
2. brightened and increased contrast
3. used GIMP to add border using Gaussian Blur

[scottws]

They both look great to me. I had just found that tutorial myself, but was a lot less subtle in my use of it. See the thread "My Little Girl" for some ham-handed bordering!

[RxFotoGirl]

I think the borders add alot to these particular photos. Good job!

[Major_Small]

Great work with the borders

I honestly had a hard time imagining how a square vignette type border would work with that method, but you've proven it can look good.

[willow]

Nice addition to the photo...makes for a great presentation!

[richardpsic]

I have a bad experience using GIMP, I'm a linux user so I have to restar my pc on windows every time I need to use photoshop

This borders are a nice detail to this pictures. Good work!

[Major_Small]

what kind of "bad experience" could turn you off from a piece of software forever? O.o

[richardpsic]

You are right, I put too much drama about it haha. I was working in a photo for like 30-45 min and for some reason I lost all my modifications, I didn't feel so happy with this behavior of gimp and if that happen to me with PS I now how to recover the file. Any way, I love Linux

[BlueSage]

I really like what you did with both photos. The border technique really gives them a professional and finished look.

[Pshorten]

Love the framing idea will have to try it- thanks for the info.