How to make a jagged and/or torn edge effect...?

[Kar209]

Hey there...

I have been looking through the manual, searching Google for tuts/info and reading the manuals for Ps & Illy till my face turned blue ... about how to go about the following ... and i would sure appreciate your help...

I'd like to make a website header for a project of mine where just the bottom edge of the large rectangle shape would have either a torn paper or jagged appearance.

I've tried the filters but they cause all sides of the shape to be affected. And so I then tried a clipping mask but thus far i have only been able to accomplish what i am looking to do in the exact opposite way of what i want.

I have tried subtract front shape, i have tried to rotate things... pretty much everything this dyslexic newbie can muster up. i have been at it all day and so i'm feeling quite fruster'rated.

So, if you can picture what i am trying to draw out in words for ya, i sure would appreciate any and all input you may have for me.

Thank you in advance for your time!!

[Mylenium]

Find a piece of paper, tear it, char it a bit with a lighter, soak it in coffee or tea, crinkle it up, have your cat pee on it - whatever it takes  - and scan it. Seriously, trying to do such a simple and obvious thing digitally is completely loco...

Mylenium

[Kar209]

thank you for your response but that is not at all remotely close to what i am looking to do.

[Steve Fairbairn]

char it a bit with a lighter, soak it in coffee or tea, crinkle it up, have your cat pee on it - whatever it takes

Hmmm? Use black paper.

[Kar209]

hey steve,

thank you for your input as well. however, i am not looking for a "real" effect. i want it to be like it was torn but to be made from a manipulated shape.

i still haven't had a chance to try Jacobs suggestion but it is on my list of things to do soon.

i'll remember to return to post rather it worked for me. however, currently Ps & Illy are not working and so i've been busy trying to fix them.

[Steve Fairbairn]

I am still inclined to think that the best way to make something look like torn paper is by tearing some paper. Why use effects when it so easy to get the real thing?

[Jacob Bugge · Accepted solution]

Kara,

You may see whether you can get close enough with this:

1) Cut the rectangle at the lower corners with the Scissors Tool;

2) With the bottom side path selected, Effect>Distort & Transform>Roughen with Smooth Points and trying out the other vaues to get the desired look if possible;

3) Object>Expand Appearance, Ungroup and delete the unwanted nostroke/nofill path;

4) Join the paths into one.

Save for Web as PNG24 (or GIF if you must) to have the transparency (and crispness).

[Kar209]

hey jacob,

thank you so much!! i'll give that a go and let ya know how it works for me.

definitely not looking for my cat to pee on paper ...

[Kar209]

Hello Jacob,

Sorry so long to get back...

I finally had a chance to use the steps you provided and they worked out better for me than anything else I tried. Thank you very much for your time!!

Hope all is well

[Jacob Bugge]

You are welcome, Kara.

And thank you. All is well.

How is the weather over there? Over here we switch between late summer and full autumn, sometimes within the same day. Today started in autumn, was summer in the afternoon, and is autumn again now that midnight is getting close.

[Mike_in_British_Columbia]

Inkscape has a (vector) torn edges effect, and for a bitmap effect, try (as a plugin) AlienSkin "Burnt edges" if you can find it.