Art [T] How to Make Borders [E]

[Ellerby]

[center]Photoshop CS2[/center]
[center][img]http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/5779/logocopyuc9.jpg[/img][/center]

Welcome to my first tutorial! This would be how to make [b]borders[/b]. What I'm going to do to teach you how to make a border is I'll take you through the steps I used to make that logo up there. :bdance:

So, you will learn two things reading this tutorial.
[indent]Making a nice border.
Putting a border on text.[/indent]

Let's get started! First you'll want to select the [b]Rectangular Marquee Tool[/b] seen below.
[CENTER]
[img]http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/6179/toolsop0.jpg[/img][/CENTER]

Next, before you just left click and drag the box, you'll want to make a new layer. Since it's a border, you'll want it to be above everything else (otherwise it wouldn't be much a border). Once you have your top layer selected, go ahead and left click on your image, dragging the rectangular box to your preferred border width and height. In my case, I put a border around the whole image.

[center][img]http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/3900/step2ld4.jpg[/img][/center]

Once you let go, you have a two options. You can edit the size of the rectangle by right-clicking it and selecting Transform Selection (this also allows you to turn the rectangle and such) and you can add the border. So, let's right click the rectangle and select Stroke. A window similar to the one below will pop up.

[center][img]http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/2208/step3gt8.jpg[/img][/center]

The text box at the top determines how wide your border will be. It is always pixels so you don't have to worry about adding px to the end every time you put a new number in. I did 4 pixels.

The box below that is the colour of the border. Simple stuff. I chose black.

The "Location" box is the placing of the border. If you choose Inside, the border will start on the dotted line of your rectangle and stretch its way inward the amount of pixels you punched in. Outside does just the opposite and center is just half of the border on the outside of the rectangle and half on the inside. :)

Once you're done, hit OK and the border will be applied. Sweet, huh?



Now for text!

First you need to type in your text. Do this by... nevermind. If you don't know how to put text in you don't deserve to be using photoshop. (HINT: It's the button that has a giant T)

So, once you have your text applied (note: my text is white so the border stands out more), right click the text layer and hit blending options. See below.

[center][img]http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/4158/step4ve4.jpg[/img][/center]

Once you do that, a window similar to the one below will pop up. Click the box that says "Stroke" at the bottom.

[center][img]http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/4386/step5nv2.jpg[/img][/center]

This is where you edit the border around your text. The color is at the bottom there right below the fill type (Pattern, Normal or Gradient). The pixel width is at the top and the position is right below that. There's also an opacity section where you can change how transparent the border is. Personally, I love making nice thick borders and having them at 50% opacity. However for this logo I have chosen 3 px, inside, 100% Opacity, and a black colour.

When you're done, click OK and the border will be applied to that layer (this not only works for text, but anything in a layer aswell in case you are wondering). And we're done! Let's see the finished product...

[center][img]http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/5779/logocopyuc9.jpg[/img][/center]

Lookin' snazzy.

[Horendithas]

[COLOR=DarkRed]Is there a way to apply a border to text like that in Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0? When I right click on the text layer like you indicate there isn't a selection for blending options. Or am I out of luck since I don't have Photoshop CS2?[/COLOR]

[Ellerby]

[COLOR=DimGray][FONT=Tahoma]It's a bit different for text on Photoshop numbers. I believe you're able to highlight the text and right click stroke but I'm not sure. My school has Photoshop 7 so when I go there on Monday I'll tell you. :cool:

You could, of course, just rasterize the text layer (Easiest way of doing that is selecting the text layer and try to brush it.

Click yes when it asks if you'd like to rasterize) and apply a border with the Magnetic Tool (right click the Rectangular Marquee and select magnetic). When you click and drag around the text, it'll snap to the first colour and continue around. Once you have a full shape, do it the way I first mentioned (right click inside and hit stroke).[/FONT] [/COLOR]