A "torn edge" affect in photoshop

[Conor]

I need to modify a straight edged image to make it appear as if it is torn. Is there anyway to do this and if possible can anyone showw me an example.

[gianna]

That's an easy trick.

Make sure your "paper" is on a separate layer than your background. Then use the lasso tool to select a jagged area along the edge (example (http://www.pixel8labs.com/images/wddc/torn_edge1.jpg)). Hit "delete" to clear the selection. Deselect the area.

Then "Layers" > "Layer Style" > "Drop Shadow" with the default settings, except bring the opacity down to "20" or thereabouts.

It will look like this (http://www.pixel8labs.com/images/wddc/torn_edge2.jpg). For more realism, select a color lighter than the "paper" you are working with, and the paintbrush tool with a fairly small brush. Use the Magic Wand to select everything OUTSIDE the "paper" on the "paper" layer. Zoom in on your torn edge and paint in areas inside the "paper" that have been exposed by the tearing, like this (http://www.pixel8labs.com/images/wddc/torn_edge3.jpg).

When you are done, it should look like this (http://www.pixel8labs.com/images/wddc/torn_edge4.jpg). For help, try tearing a real piece of paper to see how it looks.

Good luck,
-g

[Sam]

I slapped together a little tutorial based on how I've done it in the past:
Tear effect (http://www.samingle.com/tear/)

[Conor]

both ways look good! so I guess I will try both and see which comes out best for my needs.

[Sam]

sorry, didn't see gianna's there before I posted... his/hers is much nice in my opinion, i was kinda going for more of a clean rip than a natural rip i suppose.