It was the subject of a Forum thread a couple weeks ago, but it’s not the first time someone has asked. So let me see if I can dispel some of the mystery for you.
 

The above image illustrates the difference between an outside stroke, a center stroke, and an inside stroke as applied to a rectangular selection. The selection is represented by the thin black line.

 

Which one is wrong? In most cases, none of them are wrong. It’s simply personal preference. Whew. That’s good news because I hate to be wrong!

 

I can, however, think of one situation in which an inside stroke is the only correct choice—a rectangular photo. And here’s why:

 

The outside and center strokes, when applied to a rectangular photo, look unnatural. They cause the photo corners to appear rounded. Not only that, but they will hide any drop shadow you apply.

 

The image on the left represents an incorrect use of a stroke outline as applied to a rectangular photo. The stroke has rounded corners and, because it’s extending past the boundaries of the photo, it’s hiding the lovely drop shadow. It’s there, you just cannot see it!

 

The image on the right was given the same drop shadow as the one on the left, but the stroke was applied to the inside instead of the outside. The corners remain nice and crisp and the drop shadow is peeking out from behind the photo just like it was intended to do.

 

I hope this little note helps. Keep those questions coming in the Forum. Have a great week.

 

 

P.S. This is the last week of the sale on Photoshop Elements 15. Read $40 off—Photoshop Elements 15 for more info.

 

P.P.S. Watch your inbox Thanksgiving Day for a BIG SAVINGS event including discounts, freebies, and a contest.

 

 

There’s one word that resonates all over the web this time of year—Thankful. What are you thankful for?

 

This week consider joining the Creative Team to scrap thankfulness in a whole new way. It’s the subject of our latest challenge and you can find all the details on the blog.

 

 

Many scrapbook kits come with pretty little butterflies. In this tutorial I’ll show you the quick and painless way to set a butterfly free by making it jump off the page and fly away.

 

Skills practiced: