[pacificthinktees]

I have a design I created and wanted to create a stroke-like (I think that's the right lingo!) border around the image. The image is all text and what my customer is looking for is a zebra print border around the text. I haven't the foggiest idea where to even start. Any help would be MUCH appreciated! And specifics, please! I'm new to PS CS3

Here's the image:

 

[Deathtricity]

If you have photoshop you can get a image of the zebra print you want, use a clipping mask over the image and just erase every where you do not want the zebra print, this is a time heavy way but its one way. (don't forget if your bringing in a vector file to photoshop to Size it when you open it to the print size to avoid scaling problems later). I would recommend youtube for clipping mask videos.

 

[pacificthinktees]

The tutorials I'm finding for doing a clipping mask are only if I want the text itself to contain the zebra print. I'd just like the zebra print as a border that "hugs" the contours of my text. Does that make sense? Thank you for your reply. Sorry I didn't explain it too well.

I just attached the image that's SIMILAR to what I'm going for to the original post

 

[Hegemone]

Use the tutorial to make a zebra letter. Then place a slightly smaller solid letter on top. Boom you have a solid letter with a zebra border.

I did this in a few minutes with idraw on the iPad. It demonstrates how working with illustrator to design makes some sense. Photoshop is intended to be a photo manipulator rather then a vector design program. Though over the years they have started including a few creation tools.

If you want to experiment download the free Inkscape and watch a few tutorials.

 

[idonaldson]

Or if you have Corel I can walk you through how to do this by just using the pattern fill and the contour tool. Did a say a bad word - Corel

 

[Hegemone]

Lolz nothing wrong with Corel. Different strokes for different folks. (vector pun intended).

 

[LEO]

in Photoshop:
* find zebra wallpaper you like and scale it to be somewhat square... and the dpi of image
*Select ALL & go to FILE--> DEFINE PATTERN
* Type your text and RIGHT CLICK to bring up the BLENDING OPTIONS.
* click on STROKE and in drop down menu change the FILL TYPE from COLOR to PATTERN.
* go to last pattern in your collection and click on it.
The stroke will now be the zebra pattern and you can scale it.

LEO

 

[dcdesigns]

If you wanted something like this here is a quick non vector approach: find a free zebra backdrop. take your pink isolated graphic and stroke in white to the desired area of hugging your zebra black/white border. This is just a quick example of what I think you might be trying to achieve.

 

[chomplady]

Sorry, don't know how to do it in Photoshop, but you in Illustrator you can do the following...

a. type out your copy, create outlines
b. copy, paste behind, add stroke to desired thickness, object>outline stroke>add.
c. repeat step b. This should be the size that you want the zebra background to be.
d. place your vector zebra pattern behind all. I got mine online by googling free zebra vector.
e. select zebra pattern, create compound path, select both zebra pattern and outermost outline from step c. In pathfinder, select intersect.

This completes your design. You can now define all your colors. I would add an outline behind the zebra pattern to define the edges, but that's just a personal preference.

Good luck!