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How Do I Outline Something in Photoshop?

Last updated on January 22, 2023 @ 7:05 am

When it comes to photo editing software, Adobe Photoshop is the industry standard. Photoshop has a wide range of features that can be used to edit photos, create graphics, and even design website layouts.

One of the most basic but essential features in Photoshop is the ability to create outlines. Outlines can be used to highlight certain elements in an image or to create a border around an image. In this article, we will show you how to outline something in Photoshop.

PRO TIP: When outlining something in Photoshop, be careful not to create a hard edge that will be visible in the final image. If you need to create a sharp edge, use a layer mask or selection instead.

Step 1: Open the image you want to outline in Photoshop.

Step 2: Select the “Pen Tool” from the toolbar on the left side of the screen.

In the Photoshop toolbar, click the Pen tool

Step 3: Use the Pen Tool to trace around the element you want to outline. As you trace, you will see a path being created. Make sure to click around corners so that the path is smooth.

Outline the image using Photoshop pen tool

Step 4: Once you have traced around the entire element, right-click on the path and select “Stroke Path.”

Right click on the Photoshop pen tool path and select stroke path in the menu

Step 5: In the “Stroke Path” dialogue box that appears, select “Brush” from the “Tool” drop-down menu.

In the Photoshop stroke path dialog box, select the Brush tool in the dropdown menu;

Step 6: Adjust the “Size” and “Hardness” of the brush so that it is the desired thickness.

Step 7: Click “OK” to stroke the path with the brush.

Click Ok once you're done in Photoshop stroke path

Now you know how to outline something in Photoshop!

Outlined image using Photoshop pen tool

Conclusion: 

Creating outlines in Photoshop is a quick and easy way to highlight certain elements in an image or create a border around an image. Using the Pen Tool, you can trace around any element you want to outline. Once you have traced around the element, you can use the Brush Tool to stroke the path with any color or thickness you want.

Drew Clemente

Drew Clemente

Devops & Sysadmin engineer. I basically build infrastructure online.