Buzz
Today, Mytour will guide you through the process of using Adobe Photoshop to trace and outline images on both Windows and Mac computers.
Steps
Preparing the Image for Outlining
Open the image you want to trace in Photoshop. Once Photoshop is running, click on File in the top menu bar, select Open..., and choose your image.
Click on Layer in the menu bar.
Click on Duplicate Layer… and then click OK.
- You can rename the new layer; otherwise, it will be named "[Original layer name] copy."
Click on the duplicated layer in the "Layers" window located at the bottom right of the screen.
Click on the "Opacity:" field at the top right of the Layers window.
Set the opacity to 50%.
Click the lock icon at the top of the Layers window to lock the layer.
Select Layer from the menu bar.
Click on New and then choose Layer….
Name the new layer "Tracing" and click OK.
Click on the layer labeled "Background" in the Layers window.
Press the key combination Ctrl+← Backspace (PC) or ⌘+Delete (Mac). The layer will be filled with a white background.
- You will now have three layers in the layout window: The "Tracing" layer at the top; the locked layer with your image in the middle; and the white layer at the bottom. If the layers are not in this order, drag them to arrange them correctly.
Outline the Image
Click on the "Tracing" layer at the top of the window.
Select View from the menu bar.
Click on 200% to zoom in on the image. Use Zoom In or Zoom Out from the dropdown menu under View to adjust the image size for easier tracing.
Select a color for your outline. Click on the overlapping squares in the color menu at the top right of the screen, then choose a color from the spectrum below the squares. Click on the remaining square and select a similar color.
- White and black are located on the right side of the spectrum.
Choose a tool from the tool menu on the left side of the window.
- Pencil Tool: Creates uniform strokes with consistent thickness from start to finish. Ideal for fine details and small strokes. The Pencil Tool, represented by a pencil icon, is near the top of the second section in the tool menu. If you see a brush icon instead, click and hold on the brush, then select Pencil Tool.
- Brush Tool: Produces soft strokes that taper at the ends and are thicker in the middle. Perfect for creating smooth, flowing lines. The Brush Tool, symbolized by a brush icon, is near the top of the second section in the tool menu. If you see a pencil icon instead, click and hold on the pencil, then choose Brush Tool.
- Pen Tool: Generates editable paths with anchor points that can be moved or adjusted. Ideal for tracing objects that require fine-tuning or modifications. Click the pen icon below the letter T in the tool menu to select the Pen Tool.
Adjust the settings for the Pencil and Brush Tools in the top-left section of the window.
- Click the dropdown menu next to the tool icon to modify stroke thickness and gradient (hardness or softness). A higher gradient creates strokes that resemble real pencils or brushes.
- Click the folder icon to the right of the size menu to customize the shape and characteristics of the brush or pencil.
Configure the Pen Tool settings in the top-left section of the window.
- To use the Pen Tool for creating paths while outlining, click the dropdown menu to the right of the icon and select Path.
Start outlining. Use your mouse or touchpad to move the tool along the lines you want to trace.
- For the Pencil and Brush Tools, click and drag the tool along the stroke. Release the mouse to move the tool and start a new stroke.
- For the Pen Tool, click and release along the lines of the image you want to trace. A straight line will appear between the start and end points. For curves or detailed strokes, you’ll need to click more frequently.
Hide the original image. To view your work, click the eye icon next to the middle layer (the one containing the original image). The original image will disappear, revealing your traced artwork on a white background.
- Once done, click View in the menu bar and select 100% to see the image at its actual size.
Save the image. Click File in the menu bar and choose Save As…. Then, name the file and click Save.
Warnings
- Always respect the copyright of the original image owner.
- Avoid simply copying someone else’s work (what’s the fun in that?).
