Add, or stroke, an edge

While not required, a small edge around an image can help create a clean separation between image and paper and/or mat.  Even though an edge can be created in the master file, it is usually created in the print file since it is easily added.  This helps keep the size of the master file to a minimum.

Basically, there are two methods of creating an edge.  The first is to slightly increase the size of the document and then add the edge so that it does not overlay image pixels.  This will be referred to as an outside edge.  The second, and most common, is to add an edge that overlays the image's pixels.  This will be referred to as an inside edge.
 

Outside Edge - Flattened Image

In this technique, the document size is increased by the size of the stroke.  The stroke is added to the image layer without overlaying any image pixels.  In this example, we will use a 3 pixel wide stroke.  The Background layer should remain locked.

1. Show/Hide the steps
   1. Set the foreground color in the Tools panel to the color you want the stroke to be.
   2. Click Image > Canvas Size.
   3. Change Width to 6 and the unit of measure to pixels.  This will add 3 pixels to both the left and right sides of the image.
   4. Change Height to 6 and the unit of measure to pixels.  This will add 3 pixels to both the top and bottom of the image.
   5. Click the Relative check box so that it is checked.  See Figure 1.
   6. Leave Anchor such that the image is centered both horizontally and vertically.
   7. Make sure Canvas extension color is Foreground.  If this option is disabled, there is no default Background layer.  To create a Background layer, make the bottommost layer the active layer and then click Layer > New > Background From Layer.
   8. Click OK.  The file's dimensions will be increased and the new area will be filled by the color identified as the canvas extension color.

      Caution

      If the image was previously resized to have a specific width and height, the Outside Edge techniques will change the image's dimensions.  If this is unacceptable, consider adding an inside edge instead of an outside edge.

       

 

Outside Edge - Layered Image

In this technique, the document size is increased by the size of the stroke.  It differs from the previous technique in that the stroke is added above any adjustment layers to prevent the stroke from being affected by the adjustment layers  In this example, we will use a 3 pixel wide stroke.  The Background layer will need to be unlocked.

1. Show/Hide the steps
   1. In the Layer's panel, double click the Background layer.
   2. In the New Layer dialog box, type a name and then click OK.  This unlocks the Background layer.
   3. Click Image > Canvas Size.
   4. Change Width to 6 and the unit of measure to pixels.  This will add 3 pixels to both the left and right sides of the image.  We can use whatever size we want, but it has to be an even number.
   5. Change Height to 6 and the unit of measure to pixels.  This will add 3 pixels to both the top and bottom of the image.  Make sure size for height is the same as used for width.
   6. Click the Relative check box so that it is checked.  See Figure 1.
   7. Leave Anchor such that the image is centered both horizontally and vertically.
   8. Canvas extension color should be grayed out.
   9. Click OK.  The file's dimensions will be increased and the new area will be transparent.
   10. Create a new layer by clicking Layer > New > Layer.  Or, by clicking the Create a new layer icon on the bottom of the Layers panel.  Name it something meaningful, such as Edge.
   11. Make sure it is the top most layer.  If it is not, click and drag it till it is the top most layer.
   12. Using the paint bucket tool and white as the foreground color , fill the layer with white paint.  Do not be concerned when the image becomes concealed by white.
   13. Add a stroke by clicking Layer > Layer Style > Stroke.  Or, click the Add a layer style icon at the bottom of the Layers panel and select Stroke.
   14. Set Size to the desired size.  In this example, use 3 pixels.  The size should be exactly half the size used in steps 4 and 5.
   15. Change Position to Inside.  Even though we are using Inside, the stroke will actually be on the outside of the image because we increased the canvas size in the previous steps.
   16. Make sure Blending Mode is Normal.
   17. Make sure Opacity is 100%.
   18. Make sure Fill Type is Color.
   19. Click once on the Color box to set the color of the edge.  Black is RGB values 0, 0, 0.
   20. Click OK to close the Color Picker dialog box.
   21. Click OK to close the Layer Style dialog box.  This will create the stroke.
   22. In the Layers panel, set the edge layer's Fill value to 0%.   Do not change Opacity, leave it 100% or the edge will be affected.  The layer's blending mode should be left to Normal.

       Caution

       If the image was previously resized to have a specific width and height, the Outside Edge techniques will change the image's dimensions.  If this is unacceptable, consider adding an inside edge instead of an outside edge.

        

 

Inside Edge - Flattened Image

This technique will add an edge without having to change the size of the image.  The stroke is added to the image layer.  The stroke will overlay image pixels.  The Background layer will need to be unlocked.

1. Show/Hide the steps
   1. In the Layer's panel, double click the Background layer.
   2. In the New Layer dialog box, type a name and then click OK.
   3. Add a stroke by clicking Layer > Layer Style > Stroke.  Or, click the Add a layer style icon at the bottom of the Layers panel and select Stroke.
   4. Set Size to the desired size.  Try 2 or 3 pixels to start with.
   5. Change Position to Inside.
   6. Make sure Blending Mode is Normal.
   7. Make sure Opacity is 100%.
   8. Make sure Fill Type is Color.
   9. Click once on the Color box to set the color of the edge.  Black is RGB values 0, 0, 0.
   10. Click OK to close the Color Picker dialog box.
   11. Click OK to close the Layer Style dialog box.  This will create the stroke.
   12. If desired, click Layer > Flatten Image to re-flatten the image.

 

Inside Edge - Layered Image

This technique will add an edge without having to change the size of the image.  The image does not have to have a locked Background layer.  This technique adds the stroke above any adjustment layers to prevent the stroke from being affected by the adjustment layers.

1. Show/Hide the steps
   1. Create a new layer by clicking Layer > New > Layer.  Or, by clicking the Create a new layer icon on the bottom of the Layers panel.  Name it something meaningful, such as Edge.
   2. Make sure it is the top most layer.  If it is not, click and drag it till it is the top most layer.
   3. Using the paint bucket tool and white as the foreground color , fill the layer with white paint.  Do not be concerned when the image becomes concealed by white.
   4. Add a stroke by clicking Layer > Layer Style > Stroke.  Or, click the Add a layer style icon at the bottom of the Layers panel and select Stroke.
   5. Set Size to the desired size.  Try 2 or 3 pixels to start with.
   6. Change Position to Inside.
   7. Make sure Blending Mode is Normal.
   8. Make sure Opacity is 100%.
   9. Make sure Fill Type is Color.
   10. Click once on the Color box to set the color of the edge.  Black is RGB values 0, 0, 0.
   11. Click OK to close the Color Picker dialog box.
   12. Click OK to close the Layer Style dialog box.  This will create the stroke.
   13. In the Layers panel, set the edge layer's Fill value to 0%.   Do not change Opacity, leave it 100% or the edge will be affected.  Blending mode should be left to Normal.

If you use any of the layered image techniques, remember to keep the edge layer above any layers that affect color or tone.  Such as black/white point Curves adjustment, darken corners adjustment, and black and white toning adjustment.  If the edge layer were below any of these adjustments, the edge itself would be affected.