How To Do A Stroke In Photoshop

E'er wanted to apply strokes to your artwork using the Stroke layer way, simply never knew exactly where or how to start?

Well, if that's the case, then this tutorial should help you out since it will explain what a Photoshop Stroke layer way is and bear witness you lot how you can utilise the Photoshop Stroke effect inside your workflow.

From how to add together a stroke in Photoshop to how to add a stroke to text in Photoshop, or even how to make a dotted stroke in Photoshop, all these questions will exist piece of cake to figure out in one case you lot stop reading this textile.

So, if you lot desire to master the Photoshop Stroke event, or perhaps figure out how to add a stroke to an empty layer, then you've come to the right place.

Follow along with us over on our Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel:

The Uses for Stroke

The Stroke upshot is used to add strokes and borders to layers and shapes. It tin exist used to create solid-color lines, colorful gradients, and patterned borders.

Although you can simply utilize the Stroke effect in one case, it can be used in conjunction with other effects to create more interesting and diverse styles.

example of using the stroke layer style effect

The Layer Styles Stroke Dialog Box

Stroke is i of the easiest effects to piece of work with, because most all the settings are self-explanatory. When you change whatsoever of the settings, it's very easy to see the difference on your canvas.

There are a few tricks to the stroke event, though. Let's find out what they are.

example of the stroke layer style settings

Size

The Size slider but sets the width of your stroke, anywhere from i px to 250 px.

In the post-obit case, you can run across how increasing the stroke size gives united states a thicker edge effectually our text.

example of using different size settings

Position

The position dropdown consists of Outside, Inside, and Center options. This setting controls the alignment of your stroke to the layer it's applied to in the post-obit ways:

Outside: Your stroke will be created from the edge of your shape and grow outwards, away from your object.
Inside: Your stroke will be created from the edge of your shape and grow inwards, towards the middle of your object.
Heart: Your stroke volition be created from the edge of your shape and grow both inward and outwards.

Choosing different Position settings is helpful when you are combining your Stroke effect with other Layer Mode settings.

In the following example, yous can see how the Inside position differs from Exterior. You will too detect that if your stroke is fix to Inside or Heart, the part of the Stroke that overlaps with the original shape will likewise pick up other effects that are practical to the layer—in this instance, a slight Bevel & Emboss.

example of using different position settings

Blend Style

The Blend Mode allows you to prepare the blending fashion for your Stroke.

Depending on the Position settings you are using, the Alloy Manner will touch on the layer you are using it on, or the layer beneath information technology.

If you are unfamiliar with how all the different Blending Modes work, I highly recommend checking out the Blending Is Fun Basix tutorial.

In the following example, you lot tin can see how changing the Alloy Way from Normal to Overlay gives the stroke a completely different wait every bit information technology interacts with other elements of the design.

example of using different blend mode settings

Opacity

The Opacity slider controls how transparent our stroke is.

A smaller number here makes your Stroke more than transparent, while a college number is more than opaque.

Tip: If you set your stroke to 0% opacity, it will act equally a mask and hide areas of the layer information technology is applied to.

In the following case, you can come across that setting the Opacity to 0% creates a mask where the stroke would normally appear.

Fill up Blazon

Fill Blazon lets you command what fill you lot want to employ to your Stroke.

It tin be a Color, Gradient, or fifty-fifty a Pattern.

Each choice gives us additional options, which are the same equally the previous settings we covered in the Gradient Overlay and Pattern Overlay articles of this series.

In the post-obit case, you can come across how changing the Fill Blazon from Color to Gradient lets us create a more conceivable metallic upshot.

example of using different fill type settings

Saving and Loading Default Settings

You can save and load default settings for each event in the Layer Styles dialog box. When y'all click Make Default, Photoshop volition store whatsoever settings are currently agile as the new default settings for that event.

If you click Reset to Default, Photoshop will then load whatever settings were last saved. This allows you to experiment and simply reload the default settings if you want to start over.

example of saving and resetting the settings

Grow Your Layer Styles Library

Want to build an extended Photoshop Layer Styles library, just don't quite have the time to make them yourself? Well, if that'due south the case then y'all should definitely head over to Envato Elements, where you'll find a peachy pick such every bit these ones:

Water ice Chrome Layer Styles

Give your fine art an icy look using this beautifully crafted layer mode pack that will plow any text into a piece of art.

ice photoshop layer style — Ice Chrome Photoshop Layer Style by Envato Elements

80s Layer Styles

Give your artwork a blast from the past using these retro neon layer styles that are sure to turn heads.

80s photoshop layer styles — 80s Photoshop Layer Styles by Envato Elements

Pressed and Embossed Book Cloth Layer Styles

Take your text to the next level using this incredibly realistic-looking pressed and embossed book cloth layer styles pack, which I admittedly guarantee will help yous stand up out.

Expand Your Photoshop Skills

Just started out using Adobe Photoshop and feel like learning more? Well, today's your lucky twenty-four hours since I've put together a petty listing of tutorials that should keep you going for the next few days!

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