Softening the edges

[mrswright5]

What would be the best technique for softening the edges of this to mimic this other piece?

Thank you!


 

[mrswright5]

The Print area (within the white paper) is 8x12 if that helps at all!

[Damien Symonds]

Literally just add a white Solid Color layer, and use a soft brush to mask it on?

Or make a Marquee selection (don't have any feather set for the Marquee Tool) around the photo at approximately the right place, then invert the selection, then add the white Solid Color layer.  Then make sure you click on the mask of the layer, then use Gaussian Blur to your taste.

[mrswright5]

I was hoping for a guaranteed even look, but I will give this a shot.

[Damien Symonds]

Then yes, the second method I mentioned.

[mrswright5]

Ah, I finally got it to work. I moved the layer, which was throwing it off. Thank you!