How to Add an Outline to Your Image Layers
BeFunky’s new Drop Shadow effect is an easy way to make a subject stand out from a busy background or add some emphasis. Whether you’re selling a product or looking to spice up your latest YouTube thumbnail, our Drop Shadow effect will make sure that your subject will stand out from the rest.
Using the Drop Shadow effect on an image creates a nice outline – and the best part is you can customize it to your liking. For example, if you’re a business owner looking to draw more attention to the products on your website or social media accounts, simply create an outline around your image, fill the outline with one of your brand colors, adjust the thickness, and you're done! And it all starts in the Photo Editor.
How to Add a Outline to Your Image Layers
Want to learn how to use the Drop Shadow effect to an image layer? Then follow the tutorial below to get started.
Step 1: Create Your Image Layer
The first thing you want to do is upload your photo by clicking the Open tab at the top of the Editor. You can also choose a photo from BeFunky’s stock image library (found in the same menu). After you've chosen a photo, click the Edit tab, followed by the Cutout option, and then Remove Background.
Once the background is removed, you’ll be left with the subject of your image layer.
Click Apply and a pop-up window will appear. Click the checkbox labeled Export as Layer, and then click the checkmark to apply.
Step 2: Add Your Image Layer Your Background
After creating your image layer, head back to the Image Manager. Your layer will be added directly to your canvas. However, if you decide to change up the background, you'll have to find your layer in the Image Manager. Click on it, and then choose Add as Layer. After that, you can adjust it to your desired size. But for this example, we’ll be adding our image layer on top of the original photo.
when you export as a layer it’ll add the layer to the canvas too so for your example there is no need to pull it from the image manager to the canvas - however, that step will still apply if you are changing background
Step 3: Add the Drop Shadow Effect
Now that your image layer is adjusted, select the image layer and you’ll see the Image Properties menu on the left-hand side. Expand the Drop Shadow option to adjust Distance and Angle to 0, and adjust Size to 100%. This will create a completely even outline around your image layer.
Step 4: Adjust the Drop Shadow Effect
You can now adjust the Drop Shadow effect to your liking by using the Blur, Density, and Opacity features. Use the slider to adjust each setting to get the outline around your image layer to look how you want.
You can also change the color of the drop shadow. For this example, we chose to make the outline color white, as the background of this photo is already pretty colorful.
Step 5: Save Your New Image
And that’s it! Now you can save your image to your computer, BeFunky account, and more. Just click Save, up at the top of the Editor.
Drop Shadow Effect Results
Here is the final result! We wanted to make the subject of this photo stand out from the busy, colorful background. Just a subtle outline did the trick.
Make Your Subject Pop
BeFunky’s Drop Shadow effect is great for adding emphasis to your photos – and it is the perfect addition to almost any creative project. To learn more about our latest Layer effects, check out this introductory article here. And to start using this new feature, head to the BeFunky Photo Editor!
