Photo with ripped paper effect in Photoshop

Published on September 30, 2025

Create a ripped paper effect (Generative Fill)

In this blog I will show you how to add a ripped or torn paper effect to your photo in Adobe Photoshop.

Rather watch the video with instructions? Click here to watch the tutorial on YouTube or scroll down to the end of this page.

You can download the photo I used here.

Step 1: Selections

Open the photo you want to use. Select the lasso tool and make a rough selection around your subject.

Press CTRL+J to duplicate the selected area in a new layer.

Then create a solid color layer and pick a background color.

Place the color fill layer below the layer with the subject. Then select the layer with the subject.

Make a new selection with the lasso tool. Make sure this selection is larger than the photo.

Press CTRL+ALT and click on the thumbnail of your subject layer. This area is now deselected. Only the area around your photo should be selected.

I feather the selection, because I find that this gives a better result when using Generative Fill.

To do this, go to ‘Select > Modify > Feather‘. I use a feather radius of 20 pixels.

Step 2: Ripped paper effect

Go to ‘Edit > Generative fill‘. I used the prompt ‘ripped paper edge’.

Photoshop will now give you 3 different variations. If you don’t like any of the variations, you can generate again until you’re happy with the result.