How do I add an outline around my finished drawing?

[pewpewkapow]

I've been using photoshop elements for years because it came free with my computer, lol. I was always just self taught and never really knew how to use it perfectly, but it got the job done. A friend recently got me photoshop CS5 and I really want to learn to use it properly... One of the things I've always wanted to know how to do is add an outline around a drawing. I like to draw outline around my finished drawings sometimes but they're always wonky because I draw them by hand - I've noticed a lot of people do out lines on their drawings as well but they're perfect, see here;

http://cronobreaker.deviantart.com/art/Gaming-stickers-3-331493511

http://witchpaws.deviantart.com/art/Pokemon-XY-Starters-347450241

http://buttbear.deviantart.com/art/BLURGBLUG-321573220

Does anyone know how to do that in photoshop CS5?

Also, is there anyway to fill in the lineart with a blank colour? Normally I draw my lineart and then colour it in with a layer underneath but it takes ages because I colour it in with the pen and then erase any bits that went outside of the line art... Does that make sense? I'm sorry, I'm not very good at explaining, lol

 

[iDad]

it is called a stroke it is in the menu bar >layer>layer style

 

[rufinatti]

Also, is there anyway to fill in the lineart with a blank colour? Normally I draw my lineart and then colour it in with a layer underneath but it takes ages because I colour it in with the pen and then erase any bits that went outside of the line art... Does that make sense? I'm sorry, I'm not very good at explaining, lol

I would recommend watching this excellent video tutorial.

http://www.robinwood.com/Catalog/Technical/PhotoshopTuts/PhotoTutPages/CelPaintPS.html

 

[ibclare]

As iDad said, first make your selection so that it is on a transparent BG. In other words, extract the image, render it. The drop down the to fx on the layer panel, click, select stroke. Choose the color and outline thickness. With text you do the same thing. With some straight lines within images, use the brush or pencil. Click it, hold down shift, and click the destination of the line. Where you see multiple curvy strokes inside the image, it may be that a pen tool was used to define a line and that path was stroked to make the line.



Good referral rufinatti. Another way is to ctl/cmd click the layer thumbnail and on a separate layer, fill it with color. It's basically the same method. I pick one according to the kind of work I'm doing. If you're really sure that you won't need to make changes, select and fill on the same layer. I suggest always keeping a separate layer of the original drawing in case you need to make changes or just screw up (not that any of us ever have . . . ). I would really suggest you find classes in Photoshop. There are so many ways to do the same thing. What you are asking is really basic. That's fine, but you need to get some structured instruction, IMO.

Sometimes it will be appropriate to hand color areas. If they are within existing selections, or you can select the area, such as the eyes above, you can paint within the selection and you cannot paint outside the lines, only within the selected area. The eyes weren't a good choice, lol. I'd just select a hard round brush of the same size at 100%, and click. But that's the idea. Select and paint.

 

[ALB68]

Do this for stroke on layer. Notice my background is transparent.