Start with the paper you’d like to tear. I’m just using something I put together quickly. Make sure it’s on a layer that you can gain transparency on (it won’t have a padlock icon to the right of the layer name. To get a background layer to show transparency, just double click on it, and accept the new layer properties.)
Using the rectangle tool set to path, draw a rectangle of the portion of the paper you’d like to keep Make sure to go past the edges on the non-torn parts, as we’re going to be using the stroke option. Go to the paths tab in the layer menu, and name your path “paper.” Right click on the path and choose “make selection.” Make sure your options are set so the feather is 0 and hit ok. Invert this selection and delete the other portion of the paper. Deselect.
Choose your brush tool and load the Dry Media Brushes. Choose the Pastel Medium Tip brush. Change the settings as you like to get your desired effect. I used a 100px setting with some changes on the spacing and other settings. Play around until you get what you’d like.
Go back to your paths palette and highlight your paper path. Set your foreground color to a lighter shade of the paper’s main color. Click on the hollow circle icon at the bottom of the pallette (stroke path) making sure your brush tool is active. Accept the default settings.
It’s now starting to look like a torn edge! Lets make it look a bit more realistic though. Go back to your layers pallette and ctrl-click on your paper layer. This will select everything in the layer. Make a new layer then go back to your paths pallette. Click on the make work path from selection button at the bottom of the pallette.
Now, reduce the size on your brush tool. (I used a 25px setting) Set the color to lighter color of the first edge color and choose the stroke path option again, making sure your brush tool is active and your new path is selected.
Now use the nudge tool to move this new layer so it is further over your paper layer. There is no set amount, just do what looks best to you. You’ll notice that there are edges on the non-torn portion of the paper. Use your eraser tool to remove these edges. Add noise at 5% monochromatic and then merge this layer down. Add a drop shadow with settings to make it look realistic and you’re finished! You should end up with something similar to this:
Hope you liked this tutorial!
