Add a border around this oval?

[terrypin]

As you see, I made this oval (or letter box) shape with two circles and a rectangle, on a transparent background.



Around the oval I want to add a border, say red. I could make another in a new image, but in red, and then paste it as a layer and enlarge it, but is there an easier way please?

[Kathy_9]

You could merge visible layers and use the add border feature.

[ehume]

You could merge visible layers and use the add border feature.

Would that add an oval border, or just put a border around the whole image?

[LeviFiction]

Does the vector rectangle tool in PSP8 not provide for rounded edges? Or does it just present the wrong kind of curve?

If a rounded edges rectangle worked, you could just use the stroke to give it a border.

[JoeB]

Duplicate your image (to save your vector creation), convert duplicate to a raster layer, magic wand to select the complete oval, then Selections>Modify>Select Selection Borders, choose the number of pixels for the border, then use flood fill to the border with your border color. If you don't want the border merged with the oval then after you have your border selection then create a new raster layer above the oval before filling the selection and the border will be on its own layer.

[ehume]

Duplicate your image (to save your vector creation), convert duplicate to a raster layer, magic wand to select the complete oval, then Selections>Modify>Select Selection Borders, choose the number of pixels for the border, then use flood fill to the border with your border color. If you don't want the border merged with the oval then after you have your border selection then create a new raster layer above the oval before filling the selection and the border will be on its own layer.

Yes. And first make the duplicate a Selection, the use the Selection tool to enlarge it before merging it; but the method, though nice, is complicated. it would be a nice feature to be able to border-ize a selected object in one go.

[Kathy_9]

Would that add an oval border, or just put a border around the whole image?

Yep, you're right; it would do the whole image.

[ehume]

Quick and dirty outlining an irregular shape: So I selected a bird, then promoted the selection to a layer. Then I duplicated that layer. Then I selected Menu > Selections > Modify > Expand... > Number of Pixels = 50. I then poured the expanded selection with black and put the smaller selection's layer above the black layer. Then reduced the image so it was 950 pixels wide:

The point is that it can be done without a whole lot of thought.

[terrypin]

Thanks all, I'll try those suggestions tomorrow. Meanwhile I made this after playing around for a while.



BTW, yes, it must be this shape, not a rounded rectangle.

Tuesday 6 August 2019, 2230, UK

[hartpaul]

Is this what you are after?

[lata]

Hi Terry

Do you need the black oval with a red border
1 / magic wand to select black
2 / Selection – Modify – Expand – try 10 pixels
3 / Flood Tool – Flood border with red

Upps, just seen image above , like that

post updated
Terry i have removed those posts.

[terrypin]

By way of clarification. I use the ovals to highlight text, especially place names on maps, as part of videos. For example:



Although I've achieved my aim (using that example I showed earlier), I didn't note the steps to do so methodically. So I'm now stepping through the suggestions to establish an optimum method for future use (and as a learning exercise).

Note that my video editor can render the interior transparent in either of two ways:
- Use a PNG with transparency
- Use any image with a black interior and the program's 'chroma key' function to make it transparent.

So my original question could now be revised to:
"How do I most easily use either PSP 8 or PSP 2018 to make a red oval (on a transparent background?"
The method I had initially used was to make a black oval solid, which was why I was (and still am) seeking the quickest way to add a red border to it.

[ehume]

You know those are lozenges, not strictly speaking ovals. Ovals would be easier to deal with. OTOH I like the way your lozenges draw out the text.

[terrypin]

Thanks, I’ve been calling it ‘oval’ rather casually, but I’ll try to use ‘lozenge’ henceforth. Another label could be ‘letter box’. Some years ago Suzie Shook made me a script and used that label to describe it. (I guess I could use that script as one way to make a lozenge in the current context.)

As for ‘oval’, I’m unsure of its definition? Perhaps two ends of an ellipse joined by straight lines?

[terrypin]

Does the vector rectangle tool in PSP8 not provide for rounded edges? Or does it just present the wrong kind of curve?

If a rounded edges rectangle worked, you could just use the stroke to give it a border.

I rather like the lozenge shape (which I’ve wrongly been calling oval).