Instagram 3D Pop-Out Photo Effect in Photoshop [Free Editable Template!]
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Instagram 3D pop out effect in Photoshop makes a single photo look like its subject is bursting out of the frame of an Instagram post.
Let me introduce to you a new method to feature your latest photos in a fun, quirky way. It’s an Instagram 3D pop-out photo effect worthy of double-taps from your family and friends!
This is one of my Photoshop tutorials where I’ll teach you how to create an editable template. You can keep using that template for other photos, which saves you time.
Key Takeaways
- Linking layers lets you move, scale and transform the inside and outside copies together using the chain icon in the Layers panel.
- Select Subject gives you a fast starting selection, but you still need to refine it with Alt-drag before adding a Layer Mask.
- A Clipping Mask keeps a new Drop Shadow from spilling onto the background around the subject.
- The Instagram 3D pop out effect in Photoshop uses two copies of the same photo: one masked to stay inside the post and one masked to appear outside it.
- You do not need a phone to publish the result. A desktop app like Windowed can upload a JPEG straight from your computer.
Table of contents
- What You Will Learn
- Requirements
- Keyboard Shortcuts
- Setting Up The Photoshop Document
- Linking Both Layers
- Setting up a Ruler Guide
- Transforming the Image
- Creating a Selection of the Subject
- Making it Realistic
- Getting Rid of the Shadow in the Original Background
- Fine-Tuning the Mask
- How to Upload Your Instagram 3D Pop-Out Photo Effect Directly from Your Laptop
- Free Instagram 3D Pop Out Effect in Photoshop Template
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
- Related Links
What You Will Learn
- How to duplicate and link two copies of a photo so they move and transform together
- How to mask a subject so it appears to break out of an Instagram frame
- How to match a drop shadow’s color and keep it off the background with a Clipping Mask
- How to fine-tune a layer mask with the Brush tool
- How to upload a finished image to Instagram from a desktop computer
Requirements
Before you start
- Photoshop 2020 (version 21.1) or the current version
- A photo of a subject to mask out, such as a person jumping or posing against a plain background
- The free editable Instagram template PSD linked below
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Action | Windows | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate layer | Ctrl J | Command J |
| Show or hide Rulers | Ctrl R | Command R |
| Free Transform | Ctrl T | Command T |
| Zoom to show transform handles beyond the canvas | Ctrl 0 | Command 0 |
| Subtract from an active selection while dragging | Alt drag | Option drag |
| Flip a guide’s orientation while dragging | Alt | Option |
| Create Clipping Mask | Ctrl Alt G | Command Option G |
Setting Up The Photoshop Document
Start by opening an Instagram Post Template and naming the layer “IG Overlay.”
To follow along you can download the editable template here.
For the subject, I will use a photo of a girl jumping in the air that I have downloaded from Unsplash, or you can use any photo that you want!
Open the image in Photoshop and using the Move tool, click-and-drag the photo onto the tab with the Instagram template. Upon releasing your mouse, the photo will lay on top of your working document.
Start by renaming your layer to “Outside” as the contents of this layer will be popping outside of the IG Overlay.
Linking Both Layers
Next, duplicate the layer by pressing CtrlJ (Windows) or CommandJ (macOS). Rename it to “Inside,” as the contents of this layer will stay inside of the IG Overlay.
Then click-and-drag the layer and place it at the bottom of the layer stack, directly below the IG Overlay layer.
Select the Outside layer and hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (macOS) and select the Inside layer as well.
With both layers selected, excluding the IG Overlay, click on the chain link icon at the bottom of the Layers panel. This creates a link between the two layers.
With Linked layers you apply changes to both layers, such as repositioning or transforming it without having to select both layers.
By selecting only one of the layers and moving it, you can see that the same changes are applied to both layers.
Setting up a Ruler Guide
For now, disable the Outside layer.
To add guides, first enable your ruler. Press CtrlR (Windows) or CommandR (macOS). You can also go into View > Ruler to enable or disable the Ruler.
With the ruler enabled, you can create a guide by click-and-dragging from either of the vertical and horizontal rulers onto your canvas.
Place a horizontal guide right above where the image post ends.
Tip: If you drag a vertical guide but wanted a horizontal one, do not start over. Hold Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) before you release the mouse and the guide flips to horizontal. This works the other way around too.
Enable the Outside layer once again.
Transforming the Image
Press CtrlT (Windows) or CommandT (macOS) to transform the layers at the same time, and you only have to select either one of the layers to do this.
Press Ctrl0 (Windows) or Command0 (macOS) to see the transformation handles that lie outside of the canvas and give you a bird’s eye view of the whole document.
You can click-and-drag on one of these handles to scale and fit the image within the frame of your IG Overlay. When you are satisfied with the scaling, double-click on the hand tool to fit the image to the screen.
Creating a Selection of the Subject
To truly create an impressive Instagram 3D pop-out photo effect, the Outside layer should only show the jumping girl without its background.
This same layer masking approach is what makes it possible to match a subject into any background in Photoshop.
To do this, select the Quick Selection tool and on your Options Bar, click on the Select Subject button to let Photoshop’s built-in AI do its magic.
Upon clicking on the Select Subject button, Adobe’s A.I. will make a reasonably good selection with minor faults that we can easily change.
Hold the Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) key while clicking-and-dragging on areas you want to deselect.
Since most of her upper body will be inside the frame of the IG Overlay, the selection doesn’t have to be perfect. The exception is her lower legs and feet, where it will show beyond the IG Overlay frame.
With the selection active, click on the Layer Mask icon at the bottom of the Layers panel to add a layer mask and only show the subject.
If you select the Move tool and move around the layer, you will notice how the subject in the Outside layer is now completely separated from the background. Since we linked both of the layers together in the earlier process, it becomes easier for you to place the subject wherever you want within the frame.
Making it Realistic
To make it more realistic, double-click on the side of the Outside layer to bring out the Layer Style window.
Click on the Drop Shadow and double-click to reveal the adjustments you can apply to it.
For the first step, you can click-and-drag on the subject to move the placement of the shadow.
Next, make sure the color of your new shadow is similar to the color of the shadows in the actual image.
Double-click on the color thumbnail to bring out the Color Picker window.
Then, use the Eyedropper tool to click on the shadow on the actual image and select it as your new Drop Shadow color.
Press OK to exit the window.
Feel free to adjust the Distance, Spread, Size, and Opacity of the drop shadow to your preference. When you’re happy with the adjustments, press OK to exit the window.
Getting Rid of the Shadow in the Original Background
If you look closely, there’s a noticeable difference between the shadow of the subject on its original background versus the newly-applied Drop Shadow. To avoid this, press CtrlAltG (Windows) or CommandOptionG (macOS) to create a Clipping Mask.
By creating a Clipping Mask, any effects or adjustments applied to the current layer will only affect the layer directly below it.
By moving around the Outside layer, the Drop Shadow is now only visible when parts of the subject overlap with the IG Overlay.
Fine-Tuning the Mask
Zoom in to your image and see if there are details where you can improve the masking of the background.
By zooming into the area behind the knees, there is a tiny part of the original background left unmasked.
To start hiding that tiny detail, click on the Layer Mask thumbnail. Then use the Brush tool, set the foreground color to black (#000000), and paint over that tiny area to conceal it with the mask.
Likewise, if you made a mistake and accidentally hid pixels, just set the Foreground color to white (#ffffff) to reveal those pixels again.
Double-click on the Hand tool to fit the image to the screen and see your new masterpiece!
To save the image as a JPEG file, go to File > Export > Export. On the File Settings, set the Format to JPEG.
Then click on the Export button at the bottom to wrap it up, and it’s ready to be uploaded!
How to Upload Your Instagram 3D Pop-Out Photo Effect Directly from Your Laptop
While the usual way to upload photos onto Instagram is from your mobile devices, there’s an excellent option if you want to upload photos directly from your laptop or desktop!
My favorite program is Windowed. The user interface looks exactly like Instagram on your mobile device.
To upload photos, click on the plus (+) icon on the bottom of the window and select your file.
You can also find other programs that work both on Windows and macOS that will be perfect for you.
Free Instagram 3D Pop Out Effect in Photoshop Template
Download the PSD Here.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Instagram 3D pop out effect makes a subject look like it is jumping out of the frame of an Instagram post. It uses two masked copies of the same photo: one that stays inside the post and one that appears to escape it.
Select both layers, holding Ctrl (Windows) or Command (macOS) to add the second one. Then click the chain link icon at the bottom of the Layers panel to link them.
Select Subject uses Adobe’s built-in AI to automatically select the most obvious subject in a photo. It gives a good starting selection, but you usually need to refine the edges by hand.
A Clipping Mask restricts a layer style, like a Drop Shadow, to only the layer directly below it. That keeps the new shadow off the original background instead of doubling up with the shadow already in the photo.
Yes. Apps like Windowed mirror the Instagram interface on your desktop, so you can upload a JPEG without moving it to your phone first.
No. The tutorial was recorded in Photoshop 2020 (version 21.1). Every tool it uses, including Select Subject and Layer Mask, still works the same way in the current version of Photoshop.
Hold Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) and drag to remove any extra pixels the AI included. You can also make a fresh selection with the Quick Selection tool to grab pixels it missed.
Conclusion
The Instagram 3D pop out effect in Photoshop only takes two linked layers, a mask and a matched shadow to sell the illusion.
Once you build the layers, save the file and reuse the same template for every new photo.
Watch the full video above, and comment on the video if you have a question.
Selections and Masking Mastery
Complete course includes 2.5 hours of step-by-step lessons, 6 structured modules, downloadable practice files, and custom Photoshop brushes. Everything you need to master selections and masks in one place.
Keep going
Want to try this effect on something other than an Instagram post? Learn how to create a 3D pop-out effect in Photoshop.
