How To Add a Border in Photoshop

In graphic design, an easy way to make something stand out is to add a border around it. In this article, we'll show you how to add borders to images, shapes, and text in Photoshop.

The best way to improve your Photoshop skills is to practice, practice, practice. Try adding a frame in Photoshop by following the steps below.

How to add a border around an image in Photoshop

Imagine you have a photo or image that you want to add a border to in Photoshop. They plan to print the picture and have it framed. When you add a frame to the image, it looks like you've added an inner mask.

Also, let's imagine that you don't want the border to cover even a pixel of the image itself, so you first need to increase the size of canvas– the work area around an image within an image window – and then add the frame in this additional area. Luckily, this is easy to do in Photoshop.

1. Open your image in Photoshop.

2. If the image has multiple layers, flatten the image by selecting it layer > smooth image.

3. Next, we'll change the background layer to a regular layer that can be moved to a different spot in the layer stacking order, allowing you to change its blending mode or opacity. Choose layer > New > level from the background. Alternatively, double-click the layer in the Layers panel. Note that the new name is Level 0. Select the OK Button.

4. Now let's enlarge the canvas. Choose image > canvas size. You want to enlarge the canvas to accommodate the frame you want to add. Make sure, that Relative The check box is checked and the anchor is set to the center of the grid. Then enter the number of pixels by which you want to enlarge the canvas. Remember that half the pixels are added to each edge of the canvas. So if you want a border that's 100px wide, you'll need to increase the width and height of the canvas by 200px each.

5. Now we have an image with an expanded canvas.

6. To add a frame, select Create a new fill or adjustment layer button in the Layers panel and select Monochrome from the list.

7. In the Color Picker window, select and select the color you want the border to be OK Button.

8. Finally, in the Layers panel, drag the color fill layer you just created below the image layer.

Now your picture should have a frame. You can save it, but remember that Save as… So you don't save over your original image.

Play around with the color of the frame by double-clicking the color fill layer and selecting a different color, and try changing the thickness of the frame by resizing the canvas (image > canvas size). Enter negative numbers to make the canvas smaller.

How to add a border to a shape in Photoshop

Next, you'll learn how to add a border to a shape in Photoshop.

1. Open a file or create a new document in Photoshop.
2. Create a new layer using the button at the bottom of the Layers panel or by selecting it layer > New > layer or via the key combination layer + ctrl + n.

3. Choose a contour selection tool from the toolbox. You can choose the rectangle tool, rounded rectangle tool, ellipse tool, polygon tool or custom shape tool.

4. Select the tool and drag it across the canvas so your picture is framed.

5. Choose move Tool to adjust the borders of the created frame.

6. Make sure you have selected the outline selection tool selected in step 3 To fill is set to none in the options bar.

7. Now let's add a stroke to the frame and create the frame. In the options bar, choose the line style you want (solid, gradient, or pattern) and its color. In the example below, we have selected a solid line in red. To access more color options, select the color picker - the multicolored box on the right.

8. Next, choose the thickness of the stroke. You can enter the number of pixels or use the slider to choose the thickness of the stroke.

9. Now you should see the border around the created frame.

be sure to Save as… so you don't overwrite the original image.

How to add a border to text in Photoshop

In Photoshop, adding a border to text is called outlining. The process of outlining is similar to adding a stroke to a frame like we did in the example above.

1. Create or open a new document in Photoshop.
2. Choose Horizontal or vertical type tool and enter your text.

3. In the Layers panel, right-click and select the text layer fill options or select layer > layer style > fill options.
4. In the dialog that appears, choose Layer Style stroke from the left list.

5. When Outline is selected in the Layer Style dialog box, you can adjust the appearance of the text outlines. Specify the thickness of the outline by typing or using a number of pixels size slider.
6. Set those position of the stroke to the inside, outside or center. If you have them preview When the box is checked, you'll see the effects of your selection on your document.

7. Choose blend mode and opacity. (Check out our guide to blending in Photoshop for everything you ever wanted to know on the subject.)
8. Next select the fill type on color, gradient or pattern. if you choose Color, Use the color picker to choose the color of the text outlines. When you're done, select OK.

Photoshop is packed with features and functionality. To learn more, read our article on masking in Photoshop, then apply your new knowledge by performing a face swap in Photoshop!

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