Adding a border around text in Photoshop is a handy trick to make your text stand out. By following a few simple steps, you can create a border, customize it to your liking, and apply it to your text. This quick overview will give you a gist of what to do, and then we’ll dive into the details.
Step by Step Tutorial: How to Draw a Border Around Text in Photoshop
Before we start, it’s important to know that adding a border around text in Photoshop involves creating a stroke layer style. This will give your text a neat outline, which is what we commonly refer to as a border.
Step 1: Open your Photoshop document
First things first, you’ll need to open the document where your text is, or create a new one if you’re starting from scratch.
When you open your document, make sure that the text you want to add a border to is on its own layer. This will ensure that the border only applies to the text and not to other elements in the document.
Step 2: Select the Text Layer
Click on the text layer that you want to add a border to from the Layers panel.
Selecting the correct layer is crucial because the border will only be applied to the layer that’s active. If you have multiple text layers and you want borders on all of them, you’ll have to repeat these steps for each layer.
Step 3: Add a Stroke Layer Style
With the text layer selected, click on the ‘fx’ button at the bottom of the Layers panel and select ‘Stroke’ from the list of options that appear.
The ‘fx’ button is where all the magic happens in Photoshop. It’s where you can add various effects and styles to your layers, and in this case, we’re using it to add a stroke, which is our border.
Step 4: Adjust the Stroke Settings
In the Layer Style dialog box that appears, you can adjust the size, position, color, and opacity of your stroke to create the perfect border for your text.
This step is where you can get creative. Play around with the settings to see what looks best for your project. The size will determine how thick the border is, the position can be inside, outside, or centered on the text, and the color and opacity will affect how the border looks against the background.
Step 5: Apply the Stroke
Once you’re happy with your settings, click ‘OK’ to apply the stroke to your text.
And just like that, you’ve added a border around your text! If at any point you want to change the border, just double-click on the ‘Stroke’ effect under your text layer in the Layers panel and tweak the settings again.
After completing these steps, you’ll have a nicely bordered piece of text that should pop out more against the background, making it more visible and prominent in your design.
Tips: Enhancing Your Text Border in Photoshop
- Experiment with different stroke sizes to find the perfect weight for your border.
- Try out different colors and opacities for your stroke to see how they affect the overall look of your text.
- Use the position setting to adjust whether the stroke sits inside, outside, or centered on your text.
- Remember that you can also add multiple strokes to the same text by using the ‘Layer Styles’ panel for more complex borders.
- If you want to apply the same border to multiple text layers, you can copy the layer style by right-clicking on the layer with the stroke and selecting ‘Copy Layer Style,’ then paste it onto the other text layers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I remove a border from text in Photoshop?
To remove a border from text in Photoshop, simply go to the ‘Layers’ panel, find the text layer with the stroke effect, right-click on ‘Stroke,’ and select ‘Clear Layer Style.’
Can I add more than one border to my text?
Yes, you can add multiple borders by clicking on the ‘fx’ button and selecting ‘Stroke’ again after applying the first border. Each new stroke will appear below the previous one in the ‘Layers’ Styles’ panel.
What if I want a dashed or dotted border?
Photoshop’s stroke option doesn’t offer a dashed or dotted pattern by default. However, you can create your own custom pattern and apply it as a stroke in the ‘Layer Style’ dialog box.
Can I save my border settings for future use?
Absolutely! Once you’ve configured your stroke settings, you can click on ‘New Style’ in the ‘Layer Style’ dialog box to save those settings for future use.
Is it possible to add a border to text without using the ‘Stroke’ layer style?
While the ‘Stroke’ layer style is the most straightforward method, you can also create a border by duplicating your text layer, increasing its size, and placing it behind your original text layer.
Summary
- Open your Photoshop document.
- Select the Text Layer.
- Add a Stroke Layer Style.
- Adjust the Stroke Settings.
- Apply the Stroke.
Conclusion
Mastering how to draw a border around text in Photoshop can elevate your design skills to the next level. Whether you’re working on a logo, a poster, or social media graphics, adding a border can make your text stand out and capture the attention it deserves. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different styles and settings to find what works best for you. And now that you know the steps, why not open Photoshop and give it a try? You might just surprise yourself with how easy and effective this simple trick can be. Keep creating, keep learning, and let your creativity shine with every project you undertake.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.