Always wanted to apply strokes to your artwork using the Stroke layer style, but never knew exactly where or how to start?
Well, if that’s the case, then this tutorial should help you out since it will explain what a Photoshop Stroke layer style is and show you how you can use the Photoshop Stroke effect within your workflow.
From how to add a stroke in Photoshop to how to add a stroke to text in Photoshop, or even how to make a dotted stroke in Photoshop, all these questions will be easy to figure out once you finish reading this material.
So, if you want to master the Photoshop Stroke effect, or maybe figure out how to add a stroke to an empty layer, then you’ve come to the right place.
Follow along with us over on our Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel:
The Uses for Stroke
The Stroke effect is used to add strokes and borders to layers and shapes. It can be used to create solid-color lines, colorful gradients, and patterned borders.
Although you can only apply the Stroke effect once, it can be used in conjunction with other effects to create more interesting and diverse styles.
The Layer Styles Stroke Dialog Box
Stroke is one of the easiest effects to work with, because almost all the settings are self-explanatory. When you change any of the settings, it’s very easy to see the difference on your canvas.
There are a few tricks to the stroke effect, though. Let’s find out what they are.
Size
The Size slider simply sets the width of your stroke, anywhere from 1 px to 250 px.
In the following example, you can see how increasing the stroke size gives us a thicker border around our text.
Position
The position dropdown consists of Outside, Inside, and Center options. This setting controls the alignment of your stroke to the layer it’s applied to in the following ways:
- Outside: Your stroke will be created from the edge of your shape and grow outwards, away from your object.
- Inside: Your stroke will be created from the edge of your shape and grow inwards, towards the center of your object.
- Center: Your stroke will be created from the edge of your shape and grow both inwards and outwards.
Choosing different Position settings is helpful when you are combining your Stroke effect with other Layer Style settings.
In the following example, you can see how the Inside position differs from Outside. You will also notice that if your stroke is set to Inside or Center, the part of the Stroke that overlaps with the original shape will also pick up other effects that are applied to the layer—in this case, a slight Bevel & Emboss.
Blend Mode
The Blend Mode allows you to set the blending mode for your Stroke.
Depending on the Position settings you are using, the Blend Mode will affect the layer you are using it on, or the layer beneath it.
If you are unfamiliar with how all the different Blending Modes work, I highly recommend checking out the Blending Is Fun Basix tutorial.
In the following example, you can see how changing the Blend Mode from Normal to Overlay gives the stroke a completely different look as it interacts with other elements of the design.
Opacity
The Opacity slider controls how transparent our stroke is.
A smaller number here makes your Stroke more transparent, while a higher number is more opaque.
Tip: If you set your stroke to 0% opacity, it will act as a mask and hide areas of the layer it is applied to.
In the following example, you can see that setting the Opacity to 0% creates a mask where the stroke would normally appear.
Fill Type
Fill Type lets you control what fill you want to apply to your Stroke.
It can be a Color, Gradient, or even a Pattern.
Each choice gives us additional options, which are the same as the previous settings we covered in the Gradient Overlay and Pattern Overlay articles of this series.
In the following example, you can see how changing the Fill Type from Color to Gradient lets us create a more believable metallic effect.
Saving and Loading Default Settings
You can save and load default settings for each effect in the Layer Styles dialog box. When you click Make Default, Photoshop will store whatever settings are currently active as the new default settings for that effect.
If you click Reset to Default, Photoshop will then load whatever settings were last saved. This allows you to experiment and simply reload the default settings if you want to start over.
Grow Your Layer Styles Library
Want to build an extended Photoshop Layer Styles library, but don’t quite have the time to make them yourself? Well, if that’s the case then you should definitely head over to Envato Elements, where you’ll find a great selection such as these ones:
Ice Chrome Layer Styles
Give your art an icy look using this beautifully crafted layer style pack that will turn any text into a piece of art.
80s Layer Styles
Give your artwork a blast from the past using these retro neon layer styles that are sure to turn heads.
Pressed and Embossed Book Cloth Layer Styles
Take your text to the next level using this incredibly realistic-looking pressed and embossed book cloth layer styles pack, which I absolutely guarantee will help you stand out.
Expand Your Photoshop Skills
Just started out using Adobe Photoshop and feel like learning more? Well, today’s your lucky day since I’ve put together a little list of tutorials that should keep you going for the next few days!
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The A to Z of Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop CC (and versions before it) is filled with tools, panels, and effects meant to give users as much control as possible over their… -
Introduction to Photoshop Layer Styles
Photoshop layer styles are a popular way to add effects, such as drop shadows and strokes, to layers in a non-destructive way. With the right knowledge and… -
Understanding Inner Shadows in Photoshop
Photoshop layer styles are a popular way to add effects, such as drop shadows and strokes, to layers in a non-destructive way. With the right knowledge and… -
How to Create a Realistic Embroidery Text Effect in Adobe Photoshop
In this tutorial, I will show you how to create a realistic embroidery text effect in Photoshop using stitch brushes and layer styles. The end result will be… -
How to Create a Realistic Chrome Text Effect in Adobe Photoshop
This super easy and quick tutorial will show you how to use a couple of textures and layer styles to create a shiny, reflective chrome text effect. Let’s get… -
How to Use Drop Shadows in Photoshop
Photoshop layer styles are a popular way to add effects, such as drop shadows and strokes, to layers in a non-destructive way. With the right knowledge and… -
How to Create a ‘Stranger Things’ Inspired Text Effect in Adobe Photoshop
Learn an easy way to create a Stranger Things series inspired text effect, using only layer styles and some simple adjustments. -
How to Create a Stylized Chalk Text Effect in Adobe Photoshop
Use a texture, a couple of filters, and some drop shadow effects to create a super easy and quick stylized chalk text effect -
How to Create a Disney Frozen Inspired Text Effect in Photoshop
In this tutorial we are going to create a text effect inspired by the ‘Frozen’ Disney movies. The main concept is to show you how to create an ice texture… -
Quick Tip: Create a Glass Text Effect in Photoshop Using Layer Styles
In this quick tip tutorial we will show you how to create a glass text effect using layer styles in Photoshop. Let’s get started!
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