How to Add a Thick Outline to Type in Photoshop GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Software & Apps > Design

How to Add a Thick Outline to Type in Photoshop

Outline text and other objects to create graphic elements

By Sue Chastain Sue Chastain Writer St. Petersburg College Sue Chastain is a former Lifewire writer and a graphics software authority with web design and print publishing credentials. She's also skilled in WordPress administration. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on February 26, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Design Graphic Design Photoshop Animation & Video 3D Design

What to Know

Select Type Tool > create text or object. In Fx menu > Stroke. Set Size, Location, Blending Mode, Opacity, and Color > OK.Or, select Horizontal Type Mask Tool > enter text > Command (macOS) or Control (Windows) > hold key to adjust text or object.Then, switch to Move Tool and add an outline (stroke) to the selection. This article explains how to create a thick outline in Photoshop 6 or later without losing the ability to edit the text or object.

How to Add a Thick Outline in Photoshop

There are several ways to create outlined text in Photoshop, but most require you to render the text. Here's a technique for a thick outline that allows the type to remain editable. You can use this technique to add an outline to any object or selection, not just text. Select the Type Tool (vertical or horizontal, as appropriate) and create the text. With the Type layer selected, choose Stroke from the fx menu. Set the size (in pixels) by using the slider or entering your own value. Choose a Location for the stroke: Inside means the stroke will be placed inside the edges of the selection.Center puts the stroke equally inside and outside the selection.Outside runs the stroke along the outside edge of the selection. Blending Mode: The choices here determine how the colored stroke will interact with the colors under the stroke. This is especially effective if the text is placed over an image. Opacity sets the transparency value for the stroke. Click once on the color chip to open the color picker. Select a color for the stroke, or pick a color from the underlying image. Click OK to apply your color. Select OK to add the effect based on your settings. In Photoshop 6 or later, the Stroke layer effect is a better way to add outlines to objects. Adding a stroke to text is not a best practice because it tends to make the text bolder and less legible. This is one of those techniques you should use only when the text is treated as a graphic element. Even then, be subtle.

How to Add a Thick Outline to Type Quickly

If you're pressed for time, here's an easy method that takes about 45 seconds. Select the Horizontal Type Mask Tool. Click once on the canvas and enter your text. The canvas will turn pink, and the underlying image or color will show through as you type. Press the Command (macOS) or Control (Windows) key, and a bounding box will appear. With the key held down, you can resize, distort, move, or rotate the text. Switch to the Move Tool, and the text appears as a selection. From there, you can add a stroke to the selection. Alternatively, you can use a Brush on the selection. Create the text outline using one of the two techniques shown. Select Window > Paths. Select the Make Work Path option from the bottom of the Paths panel. This will result in a new path named "Work Path." Select the Brush Tool. Open the Brush panel to choose an appropriate brush. Click the foreground color chip in the tools to open the Color Picker to choose a color for the Brush. In the Paths panel, with your path selected, click once on the Stroke path with brush icon (the hollow circle). The brush stroke is applied to the path.

Tips

If you edit the text, you'll need to trash the outline layer and recreate it. For a thinner outline, the layer effects method is preferred (see related information below). For a ragged outline, set the layer blend mode to Dissolve and lower the opacity. For a gradient-filled outline, Ctrl-click (Windows) or Command-click (macOS) on the outline layer, and fill the selection with a gradient. If you have a Creative Cloud account, open your Creative Cloud Library and double-click a brush you have created to apply it to a path. You can create brushes easily with the​​ Adobe Capture app, which is available for Android and iOS devices. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Outline Text in Photoshop How to Insert and Paint 3D Models in Paint 3D 10 Best Free Photo Editing Programs How to Use the Photoshop Background Eraser Tool How to Create the Out of Bounds Effect in Photoshop How to Change Background Color in Photoshop How to Apply Rubber Stamp Effects in Photoshop Elements 8 How to Make a Pattern in Photoshop How to Type on a Path in Illustrator How to Use Canva Put Text on a Path or in a Shape in Adobe Photoshop CC Creating and Using Custom Brushes in Photoshop Elements How to Draw the Outline of a Shape With Photoshop Elements How to Use the Vector Brushes in Adobe Animate CC How to Put Text on an Image in Photoshop How to Add a Border in Google Docs Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies