There are two ways that you can display frames in the ProSelect software. Under the Frames Tool (as a frame moulding) or from within a template (as an overlay).

Frame Mouldings

When changing sizes of custom frames, the frame remains the same width and is placed around any size template as you change the paper size. Please see the Frames section  in the ProSelect Reference Manual (quick access under the Help menu in ProSelect). This is not the case if a frame used in a template (as an overlay - see below) unless you choose to set the template to be a fixed size (frame) template so is not resizeable.

ProSelect includes 12 generic frame mouldings that can be displayed around any size and shape of cropped image or layout. These frames are black, sliver, gold and wood with each available in small, medium and large sizes.

To apply one of these frames, left-click the frame tool in the right-hand tool bar and select the frame moulding from the pop-up menu. Note: When Working with Images, these frames can only be selected and shown when you are in Select Size view. 

Custom Frame Images

You can import images of your own frame mouldings for ProSelect to use.

Custom Frames images need to be prepared with certain size and name specifications. These are described in some detail in the Adding Custom Frames section of the ProSelect Reference Manual section. You can also check on our ProSelect Resources page (under the Downloads menu on the TimeExposure web site) for your suppliers frames or contact them directly if not listed and see if they have them available for ProSelect users (or wish to do so).

Installing Custom Frames into ProSelect 2011r1 and newer

Once you have prepared your frame images or have downloaded a set of ProSelect compliant images from your framer, you need to import them into ProSelect in the "Setup Frames.." area (under the Resources menu in ProSelect). This area makes organising and selecting your Frames very easy to do.  You can add up to 12 custom frame images in ProSelect (basic) and up to 300 if you have ProSelect Pro (150 in ProSelect v2011r1 through to v2013r1).

More can also be found in the easy reading ProSelect Reference Manual under the "Frames" section (quick access under the Help menu in ProSelect.)

We also have this article "Frame changes in 2011r1" for enhancements since the previous versions and Webinar recordings under Frames section of the Webinar Archives area.

Installing Custom Frames into ProSelect v4 and 2010r1

Once you have prepared your frame images or have downloaded a set of ProSelect compliant images from your framer, you need to add them to a certain folder on your computer for ProSelect to find them.

You can add up to 5 custom frame images in the basic version of ProSelect and up to 50 if you have ProSelect Pro. If you have downloaded more than this number then you will need to manually go through the images OUTSIDE of ProSelect and separate off the 5 or 50 that you wish to use. You can then install these in ProSelect as follows: 

1. Find out where your ProSelect Resources Folder is located by reading the article  Finding the ProSelect Resources Folder.
2. Close ProSelect
3. Copy your frame images into the Frames folder inside the ProSelect Resources folder that ProSelect is setup to use. Only put individual frames images into this folder - adding any folders containing frame image will not work.
4. Start ProSelect again
5. Open Preferences -> General Settings -> Frames, Templates, Layouts & Books -> Frames section and check the Load Images from Frames Resources checkbox. You can choose to turn off the generic frames if you wish by unchecking the Load: Built-in Generic Mouldings checkbox.
6. Save the Preferences.

Your frames should now be available using the frame tool as described above.

More can also be found in the easy reading ProSelect Reference Manual under "General Settings III" (for V4 & 2010r1), quick access under the Help menu in ProSelect.

Overlay Image in Templates (or irregular outside edged Frames)

If you wish you can optionally use the overlay images feature in ProSelect to create and display a completed fixed size framed product (including a special matt if you wish).  This method can also be used for "Irregular Outside Edged Frames" (please see the article for more on these type of frames).

To find out more about using Overlay images in Templates, please see

1. The ProSelect Reference Manual pages on "Editing - Adding Overlay Images" and "Creating Overlay Images in Photoshop" (quick access under the Help menu in ProSelect).
2. The Webinar Archives recordings like "Template Design | Photoshop Magic inside ProSelect" and "All About Templates Part 2".

Since these type of "frame" images will only be shown at screen size, then image files only need to be a little larger than screen size. ProSelect automatically downsizes large images to screen size when you assign them to a template, however, keeping them to a small size will make distributing them easier.

And as mentioned above, if the frame is used in a template (such as the "GNP Frame Templates" & "Obrien Schridde Designs" found via our ProSelect Resources page under the Downloads menu), then these should be set as fixed size (frame) templates and not resizeable.

Distributing Templates

If you are preparing a range of framed products for distribution to ProSelect users then the best way to do this is using the Export Collection function in ProSelect Pro. See this article for more details.