Introduction
Free Course! 10 steps to make any photo amazing: affinity.sale/10-steps
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Download the example photo: affinityrevolution.com/borders-and-outlines-photo
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In this tutorial, I'll show you how to easily add borders and outlines in Affinity Photo. These techniques are great for YouTube thumbnails, or to give your photos a frame.
Content
Today I'll show you how to outline the subject of your photo and then how to add a border to your image.
Let's get started if you'd like to follow along with me.
I've left a download link for this image in the video description to start off this video we're going to work on adding an outline around the subject of our image.
To do this, we first need to make a selection of our model, so I'm going to select the selection brush tool and then I can go ahead and click and drag to make a selection.
Remember that if you ever select too much, you can hold down alt or option on your keyboard and then click to remove from your selection.
Now the key for this technique is to have a very smooth selection.
We don't need to include all of the flyaway hairs, because that will make the outline look a little strange.
So I didn't include every hair in my selection, but I think that'll be just fine at this point: go ahead and press refine in the context toolbar now to show you this a little bit better.
I'm going to change the preview to black and white.
If you zoom in here, you can see, we have quite a few fuzzy and jagged edges.
We don't want that when we're creating our outline, so I'm going to increase the smoothness.
This slider will go ahead and smooth over all of those bumpy areas.
However, there's a bit of a trade-off with this smooth slider I'll, go back to the overlay preview to show you that if you crank this too far, you start to lose key details of your subject and include too much of the background.
So I'm going to decrease this smoothness.
I think for this image around 25 pixels looks pretty good I'll go ahead and press apply so now that we have that selection made, I'm going to duplicate our selection onto its own layer, so I'll press command or ctrl j.
To do that, then I can press command or control d to deselect.
So now we have our model on her own layer and we still have this background layer separate because she's the only thing on this layer, we can go ahead and add our outline next.
So go ahead and go to the fx icon and click on that and then go down to where it says, outline click on that and check it on and now you can go ahead and raise the radius to add an outline.
You can really increase this and you can even type in your own value.
If you want a very large outline for this image, I'm just going to use an outline of around 50 pixels, then I'm going to change the color to white.
You can see that because our selection was very smooth.
This outline also looks very smooth, so we've added the outline, but we can do more work to separate her from her background even more.
The first thing I want to do is I'll, select the background layer and then I'm going to click on fx and then I'm going to add a gaussian blur I'll go ahead and increase the radius to blur that background and to get rid of these transparent edges.
I'll click preserve alpha.
You can go ahead and blur this background as much as you want, and you can see that as I do this these little flyaway hairs that we didn't include now disappear.
Another way to separate her from the background even more is to add some darkness to the background I'll go to our adjustments and apply a brightness and contrast adjustment, then I'll, lower the brightness.
Alright, this looks pretty good now.
One last thing you can do to really polish off.
This outline is to go around and paint on the outline to fix any strange areas, for example with this image.
This hat area is a little tricky to get right in the selection, to fix that I'm going to select our top layer and then add a new pixel layer.
Now we can select the paint brush tool and we can go ahead and paint in white paint over that area to remove those background areas from peeking through.
I have a zero percent hardness on my paintbrush to make sure that the edges stay nice and soft, and you can do this around the entire border if you need to, but I think in this image, it really only needs it right up here now you can see the before and after of just cleaning up that edge.
Okay.
So we're done with adding an outline to our subject so for this next part of the video I'm going to show you how you can add a border around the outside of the image.
The first thing we need to do is we need to make the photo bigger so that we have a place to put the border to do this, I'm going to grab the crop tool and then I'll drag outward around all of the edges.
Then I'll press apply so now you can see we have this checker print background and all I need to do is go up here to layer and add a new fill layer that we can put underneath our subject.
I'm just going to make this black and then I'll drag it to the bottom uh-oh.
We have a couple of problems.
The first problem is that we can see the outline on the bottom.
That looks a little strange also.
I don't think the border is even on all of the sides, because I just freehand dragged out each of the sides.
We can fix all of these problems, though I'm going to press command or control z until our picture looks back to normal.
So the first thing we need to do to fix that outline from popping out the bottom.
Is we need to combine all of these layers into a single layer once you do this, though you won't be able to edit the adjustments anymore.
So just make sure that you like how your image looks.
First, then, you can right click on any layer and then press merge visible.
Then I'm just going to select all the other layers and then I'm going to delete them so since they're all on one layer.
Now, if I cropped out, you can see that that white border isn't there anymore.
So that's exactly what we want, but to get the border to be exactly the same size on each of the sides.
We actually need to use a different technique than the crop tool.
So to do this, there's a little hidden feature up here.
Go to document then resize canvas.
This allows you to add pixels to the sides of your image to expand your document just make sure to turn off this little lock button.
Then you can click in here and right next to the existing size, go ahead and press plus 200 I'll.
Do that to the other side as well.
I want this size to expand from the center point, so I'm going to change the anchor to the center and then I'll press resize, because I typed in 200 pixels.
We know that each one of these sides is exactly 200 pixels, which is perfect.
So now all we need to do is add a color to the background.
So I'll do the same thing.
I did before I'll go to layer and then new fill layer and then I'll drag this underneath and we can make it any color that we'd like and there we have it now.
You know how to add, outlines and borders in affinity photo if you want to learn more affinity, tricks be sure to check out my free course in the video description where you'll learn, 10 simple steps to make any photo amazing.
Thanks for watching my friends and I'll, see you in the next affinity revolution tutorial.
FAQs
First of all, to add a grid in Affinity Designer, you can either go to View > Show Grid or press Control-'. To enable Snap to Grid, go to View > Snapping to check the Enable snapping box and Snap to grid.
How do you make a grid in affinity photo? ›
First of all, to add a grid in Affinity Designer, you can either go to View > Show Grid or press Control-'. To enable Snap to Grid, go to View > Snapping to check the Enable snapping box and Snap to grid.
How do I use affinity photo templates? ›
After importing
- Select File>New.
- Select Templates.
- Select a folder to see the templates it contains.
- Choose a template.
- Click Create.
Adding Text to the Document
To add text to the document, will need to use one of the Affinity Photo text tools. These appear over on the left side of the interface in the Tools Palette when you're using the Photo Persona unless you've moved it. There are two text tools grouped together in the Tools Palette.
How are outlines formatted? ›
The standard outline format uses an alphanumeric system, which alternates letters and numerals at the start of each section. Main topics like sections or chapters are listed as Roman numerals. Paragraphs are usually listed as capital letters. Points and subtopics within a paragraph are listed as Arabic numerals.
Where is the text tool in affinity? ›
Affinity Photo provides two text tools, available in the Tools panel on the left: Artistic Text Tool and Frame Text Tool. Alongside these two dedicated tools, you can also use the Move Tool to change the position of the text within the photo or to change the properties of the text.
Can I draw in affinity photo? ›
With the Pencil Tool you can create a hand-drawn look by drawing freehand, variable width, lines as if you were drawing on paper. Stabilized pencil strokes. As you draw, nodes are created automatically along the stroke which can optionally be smoothed as you draw by enabling the Stabilizer feature.
How do I show grid lines in a photo? ›
How to Add Grid to Photo on Android or iPhone? To add grid to photo on Android, you can try Drawing Grid Maker. After opening a picture on it, you need to set the number of rows and columns, the color of the grid, and the line width. And if you're an iPhone user, the best tool is Grid # – Add grid on image.
What is the keyboard shortcut to create outlines for text? ›
When you have your document open, go ahead and select all the text elements on the artboard. Once they are selected, go under the Type menu and select Create Outlines. You can also achieve this using the keyboard shortcut CTRL-SHIFT-O (for windows) or CMD-SHIFT-O (for macs).
Is there a font with outline? ›
Exco Sans Minimalist Typeface
Exco Sans is an ultra-modern and minimalist outline font that can give even the simplest designs a touch of style. In this pack from Envato Elements, you can make use of the Exco Sans outline font as italic, shadow, and regular version of the font.
Affinity Photo allows you to create (export) and open document templates, which typically contain placeholder content. Templates have a . aftemplate file extension. When saving a template, a preferred set of defaults will be saved with it.
How easy is Affinity Photo to use? ›
Whilst many enthusiastic Affinity Photo users may tell you that it's easier to learn than Photoshop, I would say that it's probably similar in difficulty. If you don't know how to use Photoshop, you will probably find it slow to learn initially.
Are there plugins for Affinity Photo? ›
To view auto-configured installed plugins: From the Affinity Photo menu, select Preferences. Select the Photoshop Plugins tab. Click Open Default Folder in Finder.
How do you add lines in design? ›
Draw basic lines and shapes
- In the toolbox, do one of the following: To draw a line or shape, select the Line tool , the Ellipse tool , the Rectangle tool , or the Polygon tool . ...
- Drag in the document window to create the path or frame. To draw from the center out, hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS).
Stroke panel
- Style—Select a line style button to change how the line is drawn. ...
- Width—Drag to change the width (thickness) of the selected line.
- Cap—Select one of the cap style buttons (Round, Butt, or Square) to vary the contour of the line end.
After opening the image in Affinity Photo, choose the Pen Tool in the Tools Palette on the left of the Photo Persona. It shows an icon that looks like the nib of a fountain pen. It's also grouped with another tool called the Node Tool, so you may find that's visible instead.
What are the 3 types of outlines? ›
Three types of outlines are most commonly used. They are: alphanumeric outline, full sentence outline, and decimal outline.
What are the 2 types of outline format? ›
There are two major types of outlines: topic outlines and sentence outlines.
What is the most common outline format? ›
Alphanumeric Outlines
This is the most common type of outline and usually instantly recognizable to most people.
How do I edit text in affinity? ›
To edit text on the page:
- Do one of the following: Select any text tool, then click (or drag) in the text object. A standard insertion point appears at the click position. Select a single word, paragraph or portion of text (see above).
- Type to insert new text or overwrite selected text, respectively.
Affinity Publisher is an excellent choice for pro photographers who are making photo books, wedding albums, promotional booklets, leaflets and flyers.
Is Affinity Photo beginner friendly? ›
I really enjoyed using Affinity Photo. The interface was easy to learn and the features were very versatile. I was able to easily improve the quality of my photos and add personal touches with ease. I would definitely recommend this software to anyone looking for an easy-to-use photo editor.
Can I use Affinity Photo instead of Photoshop? ›
What is this? Both Affinity and Photoshop are built for photo editing, so the main window is for your image. Although Affinity wins me over with its colorful design, Photoshop allows you to open the same image file in more than one window.
How do you draw smooth lines in affinity photos? ›
On the Stroke panel, click Pressure. From the displayed profile chart, do one of the following: Drag either end node downwards to reduce the stroke width uniformly along the stroke length. Select either end node twice (or press the ), then drag it downwards to taper the stroke in that direction.
Is there a blend tool in affinity? ›
In the Layers panel, select a layer (or object). Choose a blend mode from the pop-up menu on the panel.
What is a photo grid? ›
A photo grid is the most commonly used photo collage pattern. At its simplest, a photo grid arranges photos in a fixed number of rows and columns, as shown below. A photo grid with pictures arranged in a grid of 3 rows and 5 columns.
What is a gridline? ›
What is a grid line? A map grid line is a regularly spaced series of connected vertices that separate the map into equal areas and is a system by which locations can be identified on a map using the x,y coordinates based on the lines. Longitude and latitude lines typically make up the grid lines in a map.
What is the rule of 1 3 in photography? ›
The rule of thirds is a composition guideline that places your subject in the left or right third of an image, leaving the other two thirds more open. While there are other forms of composition, the rule of thirds generally leads to compelling and well-composed shots.
How do you create an outline in affinity designer? ›
To create an outline selection:
- With a selection in place, from the Select menu, select Outline.
- Adjust the settings in the dialog.
- Click Apply.
Vector curves (lines and shapes) are easily created using the Pen Tool. The tool has several modes that change the way the curve is drawn.
Affinity Photo allows you to create (export) and open document templates, which typically contain placeholder content. Templates have a . aftemplate file extension. When saving a template, a preferred set of defaults will be saved with it.
How do you create an outline format? ›
How do I write an outline?
- Identify your topic or thesis statement.
- Decide what points you would like to discuss during your paper.
- Put your points in logical, numerical order so that each point connects back to your main point.
- Write possible transitions between paragraphs.
Here are five steps to a strong outline:
- Choose Your Topic and Establish Your Purpose. A lot of writers struggle to define the initial focus for their paper. ...
- Create A List Of Main Ideas. This is the brainstorming part of the writing process. ...
- Organize Your Main Ideas. ...
- Flush Out Your Main Points. ...
- Review and Adjust.
What is this? Both Affinity and Photoshop are built for photo editing, so the main window is for your image. Although Affinity wins me over with its colorful design, Photoshop allows you to open the same image file in more than one window.
Does Affinity Photo replace Photoshop? ›
At the end of the day, these are both great apps, and while Photoshop may still be the gold standard for photo editing, Affinity Photo 2 is every bit just as good.
How do I outline an image without Photoshop? ›
Go to fotor.com, and click the 'Create a design' button on the homepage. Drag & drop your image into the canvas, and click 'Edit' at the top menu. Click the second icon under the 'Image Style' tab. This will create a black outline on your image.
What is the shortcut for outline stroke? ›
Outline stroke
Use the keyboard shortcut: Mac: Shift Command O. Window: Shift Ctrl O.
Does Affinity Designer have a pattern tool? ›
Use the Layers panel to select the pattern layer that you want to work on, or create a new pattern layer. Select the Paint Brush Tool or another brush-based tool and adjust it to your preferences. Paint on the page to paint a pattern. The stroke will be repeated across the entire document.
