Create border with rounded edge

[aod]

I am trying to create a simple border around an image. The border is a yellow line with black outline (inside and out), and rounded edges.

I can create the desired shape using the rectangular marquee tool, feathered by about 5px, however when I stroke around the selection, the resulting outline edges are faded. I assume feathering just does this. What is the proper way to achieve this?

Many Thanks

 

[rootyb]

You're right, feathering is just blurring the edges of a selection, which is why you get the faded look.

There are a couple of ways to do what you're trying to do. If it's a rectangle with rounded corners you need, you can just use the rounded rectangle tool (click-hold on the rectangle shape tool to select it).

Otherwise, a reasonably good way is to create a selection, switch to your "Channels" palette, create a new alpha channel, then fill your selection on that alpha channel with pure white. Deselect (ctrl-d), then do a gaussian blur with a radius of about twice what you want your corner radius to be. Then, click Image > Adjust > Levels, and adjust the levels sliders until you have a fairly sharp edge (make sure not to tighten it too much, or you'll lose any antialiasing on the edges), and voila, you should have rounded corners.

Problem with that method, though, is that it can be hard to get your edges exactly where you want them. You should consider using guides to clarify where edges should be, since the levels command can expand and contract the size of your shape a bit.

 

[aod]

Hi

Many thanks for your reply.

I have been trying to use the rounded rectangle tool (shape), to create my border, however I?ve been having difficulty, as it automatically creates a layer mask ? and that completely looses me ? also the shape is filled and I only want the outline, can?t work out how to manipulate.

I?ll try the Channel method and see how I get on?

Thanks again

 

[Gaussian]

Create a solid shape, then set the fill to 0% and add a stroke layer style effect, that is... if this is what you want.
As for the layer mask, it's actually a vector mask; one is based on pixels, the other one based on vectors aka paths.
Try for example to click on the layer mask button while on the shape layer; it will create the layer mask. So basically you have the choice to add no masks at all or a regular mask or a vector mask or both, with each having its own advantages.

Shapes are bascially a solid color layer with a vector mask attached. You can double check this while having a shape layer active and clicking on the paths tab in our palette.
Do understand that you can't attach a layer style to a path, so if you draw a path with the path option selected in your options bar (see attachment), then you won't be able to use layer styles. Well you can use them, but they simply don't do anything. So the trick is to draw a shape instead and use it will fill 0% which will hide the visible shape. Remember this trick, it can be quite handy sometimes and not a lot of people know it.

 

[Gaussian]

Now if you have CS3, it would be easy to do with a smart object.

- You start by creating a shape, set fill to 0% and stroke it with a layer style.
- You convert this layer style to smart object
- You add another stroke layer style, but this time to the smart object, which should automatically stroke both in and outside

I added the screenshot, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's still confusing, but that's just the thing with smart objects, which is like with masks, you just need to get used to them with a lot of practice. Both have one thing in common though: lots of potential!