Using Stroke Layer Styles in Photoshop

Audience: Beginners
Category: Photoshop Tips
Operating System: Windows 7
Software: Adobe Photoshop CS5

Photos, photos, and more photos! I have a pretty large family, so when I make digital scrapbooking layouts, I tend to use lots of photos to get everyone in. Sometimes that works well, but other times it can be overwhelming visually. To accentuate my photos and keep them from blurring into a busy mess, I often add a stroke around them.

Here’s how you can add a stroke to the pictures in your layout:

1. Selected the layer your photo is clipped to (if your photo is not clipped to a layer, select the photo). Locate the Layer Style button at the bottom of the Layers Palette and choose “Stroke.”

In the Layer Style dialog box that opens, choose the width of the stroke; whether you want the stroke inside, outside, or centered; and the color of the stroke. I usually choose:

• between 30 and 50 pixels, depending on the size of the photo
• inside so I keep the sharp corners (outside and center will round them)
• white – although I have been known to choose a cream or gray that is already in the layout.

You can play around with the Blending modes and opacity, but I usually leave those alone.

To copy the style to additional photos, there are a couple of quick and easy techniques.

• If you only have a one or two more photos, you can hold down the Alt key while dragging the fx symbol on the layer (not the button at the bottom of the Layers Palette) from one layer to another.
• If you have lots of photos, it will probably be faster to right-click on the Layer Style you want to copy and choose “Copy Layer Style.” Then, choose all of the layers that you want to add that style to by holding down Ctrl and clicking each of them. Now, right-click on one of the highlighted layers and choose “Paste Layer Style.”

To add additional styles to your layers, you can follow step 1 above and choose another option, like “Drop Shadow.” If you have purchased premade styles from the PS & PSE Styles section of the Scrap Girls Boutique, hold down the Shift key before clicking on the style in the Styles Palette to add the style to your layer instead of replacing it.

As you’re preserving your memories this year, go wild and include everyone on your layout! Then, upload your layouts to the Scrap Girls Gallery so we can see how you accentuate your photos.

Digital scrapbooking products used:

Tutorial written by Monica Lebsack