You can change the stroke color in Photoshop using the "Stroke" dialog box, accessible through the "Edit" menu.
Here's a detailed breakdown of the process:
1. Select the Area You Want to Stroke:
- Use any of Photoshop's selection tools (e.g., Marquee Tool, Lasso Tool, Magic Wand Tool) to select the area or layer you want to add or modify the stroke on. If you want to stroke an entire layer's contents, this step is still important; if you have a shape layer, select the layer itself in the Layers panel.
2. Access the Stroke Dialog Box:
- Go to the "Edit" menu at the top of the screen.
- Select "Stroke (Outline) Selection...". (Note: If you have nothing selected, this option will be greyed out.)
3. Configure the Stroke:
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The "Stroke" dialog box will appear. Here you can specify the following:
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Width: Enter the desired width of the stroke in pixels.
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Color: Click the color swatch to open the Color Picker and choose the desired stroke color.
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Location: Choose where the stroke will be applied relative to the selection:
- Inside: The stroke will be drawn inside the selected area.
- Center: The stroke will be centered on the selection boundary (half inside, half outside).
- Outside: The stroke will be drawn outside the selected area.
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Blending: Choose the desired blending mode for the stroke (e.g., Normal, Multiply, Overlay). This determines how the stroke interacts with the underlying pixels.
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Opacity: Adjust the opacity of the stroke.
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Preserve Transparency: If checked, the stroke will not affect transparent areas of the selected layer.
4. Apply the Stroke:
- Click "OK" to apply the stroke with the specified settings.
Example Scenario: Changing the Stroke Color of a Shape
- Create a shape layer using the Shape Tools (e.g., Rectangle Tool, Ellipse Tool).
- Select the shape layer in the Layers panel.
- Double-click the Stroke swatch in the Properties panel (usually located on the right side of the screen) to change the color directly. Alternatively, use the steps outlined above using selection if necessary.
Important Considerations:
- Rasterized Layers: If you're working with a rasterized layer (not a shape or type layer), the stroke will be directly applied to the pixels. This means that if you later want to change the stroke, you'll need to repeat the process. Consider working with shape layers whenever possible for non-destructive editing.
- Layer Styles: You can also add a stroke as a Layer Style. Double-click the layer in the Layers panel to open the Layer Style dialog, and select "Stroke" from the left-hand menu. This allows for non-destructive stroke effects that can be easily modified later.
- Smart Objects: Applying a stroke to a Smart Object allows for non-destructive editing, as you can edit the contents of the Smart Object separately.
