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Participant
May 12, 2024
Answered

How to make a stroke around another stroke?

  • May 12, 2024
  • 5 replies
  • 1847 views

So i made i mouth using pen tool which is basically a stroke only. I want to create a line around it so how do i do another stroke over this one? I tried dublicating this shape and using the copy as a line around but it doesn't really match the borders, maybe there is some way to make a figure a bit bigger than the previous one and put it right around it?

 

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    Correct answer Conrad_C

    Maybe I’m missing something about the requirements since this hasn’t been suggested yet, but isn’t the easiest way to click the Contents / Add button to simply add another Stroke to the Shape Layer? It wouldn’t even require adding a Layer Style because adding more strokes is already built into shape layer Contents.

     

    In the picture below, Stroke 2 is the 19pt red path, and Stroke 1 is the 55pt white path behind Stroke 2, both applied to the same path within one shape layer.

     

     

    A major problem with duplicating the layer is that if you want to edit the path, now you have to make sure the duplicate is edited to match. Or duplicate it again and then have to replicate the differences in formatting, plus copy any keyframes. It seems better to do it all within the same shape layer, either by adding a Stroke or with Layer Styles.

    5 replies

    Conrad_C
    Community Expert
    Conrad_CCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    May 14, 2024

    Maybe I’m missing something about the requirements since this hasn’t been suggested yet, but isn’t the easiest way to click the Contents / Add button to simply add another Stroke to the Shape Layer? It wouldn’t even require adding a Layer Style because adding more strokes is already built into shape layer Contents.

     

    In the picture below, Stroke 2 is the 19pt red path, and Stroke 1 is the 55pt white path behind Stroke 2, both applied to the same path within one shape layer.

     

     

    A major problem with duplicating the layer is that if you want to edit the path, now you have to make sure the duplicate is edited to match. Or duplicate it again and then have to replicate the differences in formatting, plus copy any keyframes. It seems better to do it all within the same shape layer, either by adding a Stroke or with Layer Styles.

    Participant
    May 14, 2024

    I did not know you could do that! It was exactly what i was looking for thank you so much!

    ShiveringCactus
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    May 13, 2024

    I know @Mylenium has solved this for you, but there's another option - especially useful if you have a closed shape rather than a line and that's to apply a Layer Style.  You can have multiple strokes and set whether they are to appear inside, or outside and can have different widths, colours etc...

    Mylenium
    Legend
    May 13, 2024

    Duplicate the layer/ shape group, increase the stroke width, put it underneath. Scale is useless here.

     

    Mylenium

    Participant
    May 13, 2024

    omg i have no idea why i did not think of that thanks

    Community Expert
    May 12, 2024

    Honestly this is much easier in Premiere if you have access to Premiere. Premiere graphics can be sent into AE.

    Participant
    May 13, 2024

    is there a way to do it in after effects

    jane-e
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    May 12, 2024

    @Victoria3692916851z5 

     

    I've moved your post from Using the Community (for forum questions) to After Effects.

     

    Jane