This article teaches you how to create a border (also known as a "stroke") around content using Adobe Illustrator. You can apply this method to both Windows and Mac versions of Illustrator.
Step
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Step 1. Open Illustrator
The program icon is an orange "Ai" on a black background.
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Step 2. Open your Illustrator project
Click open…, then select an existing project. If you don't have one, pick a photo to get started.
For some versions of Illustrator, you must click File first before choosing open… in the dropdown menu.
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Step 3. Click the dropdown box labeled "Typography"
It's on the top right of the page. After that, a drop down menu will open.
- This box also has the words "Start".
- If this box says "Essentials" skip to the next step.
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Step 4. Click Essentials
It's at the top of the drop-down menu.
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Step 5. Select your content
Click the photo, text, or other element on the page that you want to border.
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Step 6. Click the Window label
It's at the top of the window (Windows) or screen (Mac). After that, a drop down menu will appear.
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Step 7. Click Appearance
It's at the top of the drop-down menu. A mini Appearance window will open near your project.
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Step 8. Click the button
It's in the top right corner of the Appearance window. After that, a drop down menu will appear.
This button icon actually has four horizontal lines instead of three
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Step 9. Click Add New Stroke
It's in the drop-down menu. After that, the Stroke menu will open.
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Step 10. Click the "Stroke" icon twice
The icon is a box wrapped in another box in the lower-left corner of the window. After that, the Stroke Color window will open.
You will see a white box with a red line in front or behind the " Stroke " icon
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Step 11. Choose a color
Click and drag up or down on the color bar on the right side of the window to change the color, then click a part of the gradient to choose a specific shade for that color.
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Step 12. Click OK
It's in the top-right corner of the Stroke Color window.
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Step 13. Click the Effect label
It's at the top of the window or screen. After that, a drop down menu will appear.
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Step 14. Select the Path option
It's near the top of the drop-down menu Effect. A pop-up window will appear next to the options Path.
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Step 15. Click the Outline Object button
You will find it in the pop-up window. Then, a border will appear around the content.
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Step 16. Edit the thickness of the border
You'll see numbered boxes to the right of the " Stroke " heading in the Appearance window. The thickness of the border will increase if you click the arrow pointing up, and decrease if you click on the arrow pointing down.
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Step 17. Save the work
Click File, then click Save in the drop down menu to save the project.