Creating Rounded Edges in Photoshop

[Aken]

Hey everyone! I'm digging the new Articles section of VB.org, so I figured I'd contribute a little tutorial that I learned years ago and use in almost every website design.

Creating Rounded Edges in Photoshop!

http://www.the-aken.com/vborg/preface.gif

Note: This process has worked in both Photoshop 6.0 and Photoshop CS (my current version seen in this article). I see no reason why it shouldn't work in CS2. If anyone runs into any problems using other version, please speak up!


Preface

So you've got your document open in Photoshop, and you're ready to make some rounded edges. Great! If you're not this far, well then that's a problem :) Create a new file (Ctrl + N)

Step 1: Get a fresh layer.

In your Layers window, click the Creat New Layer button (indicated by the red arrow). Feel free to rename it to whatever you'd like. Make sure you select it when you are done, which is indicated by the layer turning blue w/ white text as pictured.

http://www.the-aken.com/vborg/step1.gif

Step 2: Make a block of white.

Using the Rectangular Marquee Tool, click and drag the cursor to create a square or rectangle. Whatever shape you create is what will end up with rounded corners, so it's easiest to make this shape accurate to it's final size. (A great way to do this is by using your Guides!)

http://www.the-aken.com/vborg/step2.gif

Once you've got your selection, go to Edit > Fill. Change the Use drop-down menu to White, make sure the Mode is set to Normal, and Opacity is set to 100%. (You can ignore the Preserve Transparency checkbox.) Hit Ok!

http://www.the-aken.com/vborg/step2_2.gif

Step 3: Cut!

With the white box still selected, Cut it out! (Edit > Cut, or Ctrl + X). This effectively copies the white box to your clipboard, then deletes it off the layer.

Step 4: Paste to Channels.

On your Layers window, select the Channels tab near the top. You will see four layers - RGB, Red, Green, and Blue. Select the New Channels button on the bottom to create a new one. It will automatically default to Alpha 1 and be selected. The background will be black, don't worry about it, it's a good thing!

http://www.the-aken.com/vborg/step4.gif

Paste (Ctrl + V) your white box. It will show up in the middle of the channel and will still be selected. Hit Ctrl + D to deselect it.

http://www.the-aken.com/vborg/step4_2.gif

Step 5: Blurrr!

Here's where the fun begins! Make sure your Alpha 1 layer is still selected, and go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur. Change the Radius to 9.0 Pixels. Hit Ok! Your white layer should now look like this:

http://www.the-aken.com/vborg/step5.gif

You can see that it's getting closer to curved edges!

Step 6: Levels change.

This step is what changes our curved edges from a wierd blurry looking thing to a nice even white.

Open your Levels box by hitting Ctrl + L, or using Image > Adjustments > Levels. I know it looks a little complicated, but don't worry, it's easy :up:

Change the top three Input Levels boxes to the follow, from left to right: 121, 1.00, 136. You should not have to change the Output Levels, but they should read 0, 255. Hit Ok!

http://www.the-aken.com/vborg/step6.gif

Hey, look - we've got some rounded edges!

http://www.the-aken.com/vborg/step6_2.gif

Step 7: Back to Layers.

Now that we've got our rounded edges, we need to get them back to our normal layers. Hold Control on your keyboard and left-click your Alpha 1 channel. This will automatically select your white box. Copy it, then push the Delete Channel button on the bottom, shown below.

http://www.the-aken.com/vborg/step7.gif

Now, click back to your Layers tab, make sure your new layer is still selected (AKA blue!), and hit Paste. Bingo! One white box with rounded edges!

http://www.the-aken.com/vborg/step7_2.gif

Step 8: Cleanup + tips and tricks.

If you've got a keen eye, you'll probably notice that the edges of your box aren't a nice plain white. Often times you don't even want the box to stay white anyway, so that's not a big deal. The easiest and most efficient way to change the color of the box is to Double-Click the layer in your Layers window, which will bring up a box of Styles. Use the Color Overlay section and change it to whatever color you choose.

You can also use this Styles box to add other effects to your box, such as drop shadows, gradients, patterns, and more.

If you're interested in smaller rounded edges, for a banner or button or whatever, you can change the size of the Gaussian Blur in Step 5 - 4.0 is about half the size of the final result.

Thanks for reading, and of course if you have any questions or feedback, don't hesitate to post up! I'd like to hear if someone else has a different technique as well.

http://www.the-aken.com/vborg/final.gif

[Princeton]

Great tips :up:

thanks for sharing

[WildRover]

Top post!

[HPIA]

We need more good tutorials on making borders...

Thanks!

[unenergizer]

I dont understand why you would want to make a shape that way. It would be much easier to use your rectangular marquee tool, then making a box. Then going to Select > Modify > Smooth. Then choose how many pixels you want the box rounded off to. Very simple.

[bigdog829]

Or just use the pen tool & select the rounded rectangle

[Aken]

Well first of all, after you've done this technique a few times and get it memorized, it's very fast and easy to do, even over and over.

This technique also introduces added extras such as filters and channels - things that a lot of new designers aren't going to have a clue what they do, or if they even exist. And while I realize that this tutorial doesn't really explain what gaussian blur or channels can also be used for, it's an introduction to them none-the-less.

And more importantly, you can use this exact method to create curves not entirely devoted to just a rectangle or square, for instance:

http://www.the-aken.com/vborg/lots.jpg

Try doing that smoothly and quickly with your pen tool :)

I'm aware of other methods to creating just a simple rounded edge on a rectangle, and that's great if it's all you need. But if you're like me, you like learning new and interesting techniques. I think this opens a lot beyond a simple box.

[unenergizer]

I wasn't complaining. I was wondering why you would use steps making it more complex than it has to be. I understand what you were trying to get across now. Great tutorial. Im sure it will help plenty. :)

[Aken]

Didn't think you were complaining - I understand why you'd be curious. Now you know! :D

[gusfune]

Or you can just make a selection using the Rounded Circle shape... Will save some time...

[Aken]

If you're referring to using the Rounded Rectangle shape tool, I've already explained the benefits of using this technique over it.

If you're ferring to using the Elyptical Marquee tool, I have no idea how that would help.

Feel free to explain! :)

[giovannicosta]

Fantastic, thankyou

[Ohiosweetheart]

I wish someone would write a tutorial for this for Paint Shop Pro. :)

[Triky]

Thank you, Aken. :)

[Triky]

Hey, Aken. Now I need to know how to save it for a web site. If I click on Save for Web it save the enire box.. and I need the top-left corner, the top-right corner, the left line, the right line, the bottom line, etc, etc. Wich is the best way for do this?

[Aken]

Typically when I want to create a box outline for a website, I use the following steps:

1) I start off by adding Guides to get the appropriate size box that I'm looking for.

2) Make the box using the steps in this article.

3) Using the Rectangular Marquee tool, I select a small square box (usually about 20-25 pixels) around the left corner, use the Copy Merged function to copy everything inside of it (in case you didn't know, Copy Merged copies every layer instead of just the one you currently have selected in the Layers palette), and then open a new image, paste it, then Save for Web.

4) Use the selection / copy merged / blah blah step for the other corners, the whole top, the background, or whatever other parts of your box you want to use.

5) Use and enjoy :)


Currently my normal computer is broken, so I'm stuck on my mom's laptop, otherwise I would've made that little how-to a little more in-depth. Hopefully I made it clear enough. If you have any questions, just ask! :cool:

[Triky]

Thank you, I will try!

[Triky]

How can I define wich colour the Alpha 1 will come with?

[beer4life]

I wish someone would write a tutorial for this for Paint Shop Pro. :)

Not to deride this excellent article, but to point out the simpler alternative for casual use.
I must point out that you will get obvious pixel degradation on the curves as you will with whatever method you use. A couple of samples for you to see.
Kindest Regards, Bill.

[Aken]

Sorry to anyone who viewed this article in the last week or so, and saw no images in the first post. I recently switched web hosts, and forgot I had the images hosted on that site. They have been re-uploaded and work fine once again :D

[amnesia623]

<a href="http://www.spiffycorners.com/sc.php?sc=content_holder&bg=ffffff&fg=000000" target="_blank">http://www.spiffycorners.com/sc.php?...ffff&fg=000000</a>

Or you can make rounded corners the old fashioned css way without using images

[ChU v2]

Thanks for this tutorial, I've used it several times to make great looking buttons!

[GetGamer.com]

Nice tutorial, but for making rectangular shapes, I use the rounded rectangle. Saves a bunch of steps! Your point on using the technique for non-rectangular shapes is noted.

[saidsrc]

thanks man, its good tip.

[K4GAP]

I wish someone would write a tutorial for this for Paint Shop Pro. :)

Amen, I've been using PSP since it first came out and everything on my site was made with it.

[K4GAP]

I wish someone would write a tutorial for this for Paint Shop Pro. :)

Very easy in PSP. Just use the "rounded rectangle" in your selection tool. This is of course in PSP 7. (My fav of all PSP versions)