adding outline to text colors

[tdwills05]

I would like to know how to add an outline to a text color. For example, I add my name to a picture and the text color in the name is blue. How do I add an outline around the edges of the text in a different color. Also is there anyway that I can add color patterns to paint. In psp you can add color patterns and I was wondering if I can add them and use them in paint.

[barkbark00]

Look through the tutorial section. There are bunch of different tutorials for adding a border to text...

[Helio]

You can use the different fill types (default is solid color) to achieve the effect you want, I believe.

[tdwills05]

I apologize but I am new at this and have to have things simplified. I went to the tutorial section. I only found one post on adding outline to text colors.

It was titled.... How do I get a border / outline around my text....Below is the explaination that was in that post. I tried this as best as I could but I am not sure every step is there. I have to have detailed explainations since I am new at this . Sorry. Could someone simplify it for me or give me an easier way please. It didn't work.

Here is the instructions that were in the post and my questions in capitals.

(THIS WAS THE POST)

1. Make the font in the color you want the inner text to be.

DO I PUT THE TEXT IN NOW OR WHAT?

2. Duplicate the layer and use Brightness / Contrast to darken the color to what you want.

OR:

2. Create a new layer, move it behind your text layer, change the font color to the exact color you want, and re-type your text.

I WENT TO THE TOP AND HIT CREATE A NEW LAYER I TYPED THE WORD I WANTED TO OUTLINE AGAIN BUT I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO MOVE IT BEHIND THE TEXT LAYER THAT I HAD ALREADY TYPED

3. Select the new darker text layer, draw a rectangular marquee around the text, switch to the Move Selected Pixels tool, and nudge the darker text 1 to 2 pixels off to one side. I HAD NO PROBLEM DOING THIS BUT IT PUT THE SECOND DARKER TEXT ON TOP OF THE LIGHTER FIRST TEXT.

4. Duplicate the dark layer, draw a new selection, and nudge it to the other side.

5. Repeat step three, positioning the text in each new layer at one of the Cardinal or Inter-Cardinal directions (Up, Up and to the Right, Right, Down and to the Right, et cetera). I UNDERSTAND THE REASONING BEHIND THIS BUT CAN'T GET EACH NEW TEXT BEHIND THE FIRST ONE.

6. When you're done, you should have a continuous outline around your text!

NOW WHAT DID I LEAVE OUT OR DO WRONG? AND IS THERE AN EASIER WAY?????

I'M SORRY BUT THIS IS NEW FOR ME AND I NEED MORE DETAILED INSTRUCIONS OR EASIER ONES AND THIS IS THE ONLY POST I COULD FIND ON THIS SUBJECT. THANKS FOR MORE HELP...

[The_Lionhearted]

Ah, let me see if I can quickly help before I go to lunch.

1. Make your background transparent by pressing Ctrl+A and then Delete. Type something using the text tool. Pick a light color.

2. Create a new layer by clicking the + button on the lower right. Then move that layer down by clicking on the down arrow next to the + button.

3. On this new layer (consider it your Outline layer), pick a new color, preferably something darker. Type your text again and move it underneath your lighter text. You should now not be able to see your darker text at all!

4. While your bottom layer is selected, rectangle select the area around the text and nudge it to the left.

5. I think you've got it from here...?

Basically you have your light text layer, and a ton of other "outline" layers underneath it...there's actually lots of dark text underneath, but it gives the appearance of an outline because we've moved them all slightly out from underneath.

At the very end if you want this on a background, merge all the "outline" layers down (using the merge down button on the bottom right) and add a new layer. Move this new layer down to the bottom and create whatever background you'd like...or just fill it with blue or something. If you do this you should have three layers, one regular text layer, one outline layer, and one background layer. Have fun, hope this helps, and let me know if you need something explained more!

[BoltBait]

I think the best way to add an outline to text is to do it this way:

1) Start with a new canvas. Press Ctrl-A (to select all) and Del (to make the entire canvas transparent). You should now have a canvas that looks like a checkerboard--this means that the entire thing is transparent.

2) Select the color and font that you want your text to be, then type your text on the transparent layer.

3) In your layers window, duplicate your text layer. Make the top layer invisible (for now).

4) Select the lower layer in the layers window. Using the recolor tool, change the text color to the color you wish your outline to be.

5) Gaussian Blur the outline layer the amount of the thickness of your desired outline. For example, if you want a 2 pixel outline for your original text, Gaussian Blur this layer with a value of 2.

6) In the layers docker, duplicate this outline layer.

7) Repeat step 6 at least 10 times (or until the text outline looks solid).

8) In the layers window, turn on the visibility of the topmost text layer (that you had made invisible earlier).

That's it. You can flatten the image if you wish.

Here is the result of Arial 24 Bold with a 2px outline:

[The_Lionhearted]

Ah, clever BoltBait. I vote his method.

[Crazy Man Dan]

My apologies, tdwills05. That was a post of mine from long ago. It was put together hastily and without much attention paid to clarity. Plus, it wasn't very good in the first place. :?

The method BoltBait posted up there is a much better way, and is the way I've used since it was originally suggested. I don't recall where, when, or by whom, but it kicked my method out of the water.

So, ignore me, listen to him, and you should be fine!

[tdwills05]

This is for Boltbait,

Thanks for the instructions. They seemed simple and you are very knowledgable but like I said I am new at this and need more help.

First let me explain what I am trying to do. I am opening a GIF image or a JPEG image in paint.net. I am then trying to put my name on this image. I opened the JPEG or GIF image in paint.net. I clicked on the image then followed your instructions above on outlining text. when I pressed ctrl-a and Del it took my picture in the GIF image off and made it a checkerboard. I clicked on the checkerboard and clicked on the text tool. Then I followed instruction number two.

When I went to number three I just clicked on the lower layer in the layer window to select it. I assume that is how to select it??? I clicked on the recolor tool. but I could not figure out how to change the color of the text .I moved the recolor tool over the text in the checkerboard and it didn't change the color. the color in the second layer stayed the same.

I went ahead and finished instructions to see what would happen. when i got to number six I didn't know what the layer DOCKER was. but I just kept clicking on duplicate in the layers window. it brought up more duplicates of my text but all in the first color.

The second layer color that I tried to change I didn't know what to do.

I know I sound dumb but like I said I am new at this and need complete instructions and instructions on terms like docker. And when I got to the end even tho I had only text in one color I still tried to see what to do next so I make the top layer visible again. I had one color after making all these layers I do not know how to add all these layers to my checkerboard and i don't know how to get my original picture back that the text should have been over. I don't know how to use the color tool to change the second layer text color. If I have to put the text on an empty canvas and then transfer it to my GIF image how do I start an empty canvas and how do I transfer it?? I know this is probably simple but I have to learn basics before flying. LOL Please if you have time give me a STEP BY BABY STEP instructions on how to take a JPEG or GIF image and add text with an outline to the text. Thank you for your help and again sorry for my lack of knowledge.

[BoltBait]

I'm sorry, I didn't know you were trying to ADD to an existing image. In order to do that, simply start by adding a new layer. This new layer will be where you put your text. Then, follow the instructions above.

Here's how to use the recolor tool:

http://www.getpaint.net/doc/3.0/en/RecolorTool.html

The Layer Docker is the Layer Window.