How To Add An Outline In Photoshop

In this article, you volition learn how to create an outline or multiple outlines effectually a field of study or shape within Photoshop. You will also larn how to convert a solid shape or a complex drawing like a cartoon character, into just its outlines.

These steps are really handy for creating posters, interesting elements for your video projection or just for creating your own badges, icons or logos.

And then permit's bound right in and start learning!

Add a Simple Outline Around a Subject field in Photoshop

1. Open your image in Photoshop.

two. Printing CTRL+J (CMD+J on Mac) to indistinguishable the layer.

iii. Make a choice around the subject that you want to outline. On the latest version of Photoshop, you merely coil downwardly on the Properties console and click on the button that says 'Select Subject area'. This is a one-click method that will apace create a selection effectually whatever obvious subject in your prototype. This might non work on the epitome that you have or you might have an older version of Photoshop. In that case, you should select your bailiwick manually using any of the selection tools such as the polygon or magnetic lasso tool.

four. Once you are washed selecting your subject, you lot can refine your choice using the select and mask special workspace inside Photoshop. The push to access this workspace appears on the toolbar as soon as y'all make a option using any tool. For a detailed guide on how to use this special workspace, check out my pilus selection guide.

5. After yous take finalized your pick to your satisfaction, make certain your working layer is selected and click on the layer mask icon at the lesser of the layers panel (rectangle with a circle within it). This creates a layer mask out of your selection and cuts out the subject from the image and hides the residue of the epitome. Yous tin double-bank check this past turning off the original layer and viewing only the masked layer. You tin can click on the 'middle' icon beside whatever layer to toggle its visibility.

half-dozen. You can too create a layer mask from the select and mask special workspace by selecting 'layer mask' in the 'output to' drop-down menu that is found at the bottom of the panel.

7. Now double click on your masked layer to bring up the layer style panel. Here, cheque the 'stroke' choice and tweak the color, size (thickness), and other options to taste.

8. Brand certain the 'position' option is set to 'outside' so that the outline doesn't eat into your epitome.

And y'all are done! Your subject is now surrounded by an outline that emphasizes them in the image. Y'all can tweak the stroke size, color, and other options endlessly till you are satisfied.

Add Multiple Outlines to An Image Within Photoshop

1. Go back to the layer style panel by double-clicking on your masked layer.

2. Click on the little plus icon beside the Stroke option to add another stroke layer to the layer mode. You lot might non see any difference initially considering the new stroke layer is an verbal re-create of the previous one and is hidden underneath information technology.

three. Change the color and the size of the new one to be unlike from the previous ane. The size of the new one has to be larger or y'all have to make the previous stroke size smaller to see the new stroke layer that you lot have just added.

4. Yous can add progressively more than strokes around your discipline now past clicking on the + icon to add together more than and increasing the size and also changing the color each time.

Now y'all know how to create multiple outlines in Photoshop around any shape or image.

Make an Outline In Photoshop Around The Entire Image

To create an outline around the entire epitome, also known equally a frame, you can just double click on the layer you desire to frame to bring upward the layer style options (without making a choice offset).

Now only cheque the stroke option as described in the steps above. Become through tweaking the options to make it wait just the fashion you want. Add more stroke layers if you want multiple frames around the image.

Merely make sure that you lot take set the position option to 'inside' this time. Otherwise, the stroke volition be subconscious by the canvas and it won't bear witness up. This is a good way to frame an prototype using Photoshop using the specific color and thickness that you want.

Convert An Paradigm Into Only The Outlines

1. To convert simple images like a cartoon character or a logo into just the outlines, such equally what yous would see in a coloring book, showtime past opening the image in Photoshop.

2. At present go to Epitome and select Grayscale past going to Image –> Mode –> Grayscale. It might ask for confirmation for discarding color data. Click on 'Discard'.

3. Next, make a copy of the layer past pressing CTRL+J (CMD+J on Mac).

iv. On the superlative layer, click on the blend manner drop-down bill of fare and select the color dodge or linear dodge (add together) selection. You will run into that the image now looks like a uncomplicated blackness and white (and gray) outline of its original self.

5. Now select both the layers and right-click. Select the 'merge layers' pick on the card that comes up. Now you have a flat image to work with.

6. Use the 'background eraser' tool to selectively delete parts of the paradigm to make it transparent. Go around clicking on solid areas to make them disappear.

vii. If you are working on an epitome with shading and gradients, it is best to utilize the levels tool (CTRL+L or CMD+L on Mac) to make the lines and areas solid and loftier in dissimilarity before erasing.

This process only works with images that already have an outline. To turn a solid shape into an outline, follow the steps below.

Convert a Solid Shape Into Its Outline

one. Open the shape paradigm in Photoshop.

2. Doubleclick on the layer to change information technology into a layer that tin exist edited.

3. Use the pick tool to cut out the shape that you want to convert. Alternatively, if it is on a simple solid colour background, utilise the background eraser tool to clear out the groundwork completely.

4. At present double click on the layer to bring up the layer style panel.

five. Check the stroke pick and set the position to 'inside' to create an outline around the within of the shape. Change the colour of the stroke to black or white as applicative to reach maximum contrast with the prototype.

half dozen. Click OK to apply the stroke upshot.

7. Now right-click on your layer and click the 'Rasterize Layer Mode' option.

8. Next, employ the groundwork eraser tool again to erase the color from inside the outline. This will give yous a transparent image with just the outline.

9. Alternatively, employ the levels tool by pressing CTRL+L (CMD+L on Mac) to change the colors into loftier contrast black and white. You tin also employ the 'Grayscale' mode option start and then modify the levels.

10. You tin now go ahead identify a new background or leave it equally information technology is.

Conclusion

So there yous have it. A super-easy way to change whatsoever solid shape into its outline. Call back that this technique works best with simple shapes. Yous tin also apply this to circuitous shapes past creating a proper cutout showtime using the select and mask workflow.

I hope I was able to answer all the questions you lot take regarding creating outlines in Photoshop.

If yous yet take questions or demand more help, don't hesitate to leave a annotate below or reach out to me on Instagram. I answer all the comments and messages I become and I promise to effort my best to help you out.

Tom Shu

Hi! I'm a Washington State-based professional photographer and filmmaker. I quit my corporate task in 2018 to pursue this passion full-time and have been lucky enough to piece of work on projects all over the earth with brands such as Visa, Airbnb, and prAna. Here are examples of the work we exercise in case you're wondering. My goal with all these articles is to assist you out, and then if you lot ever take whatever questions merely send me an electronic mail at [email protected], DM me at my Instagram @tom.shu or leave a annotate on whatsoever of the articles!