Have you ever viewed a RAW file, perhaps in your photo editor, and been less than thrilled with the results? If so, you’re not alone. It’s likely that every photographer or person taking a casual picture has discovered their RAW files appear grainy and wondered what caused this excess noise.

In this article, we will discuss the top three reasons why your RAW files may look grainy and how to solve the issue. As you read, you’ll learn what predominant camera settings and environmental factors contribute to this issue, so you can ensure your future RAW files appear with ideal clarity.

1. ISO Setting is Too High

While there are several reasons why your RAW files might appear grainy, the predominant one that is almost always responsible for this issue is shooting a photo when your ISO is set too high.

ISO stands for International Organization for Standardization and is a measure of your camera’s sensitivity to light. The lower the ISO number, the less sensitive it is to light and, consequentially, the less grain you’ll see in your RAW files.

Typically, your ISO is the last setting you choose before taking a photo because its overall purpose is to help you balance your exposure after selecting the ideal shutter speed and aperture. When doing so, you’ll likely want to choose an ISO between 100-500 to limit graininess as much as possible.

Once you enter the realm of ISO 3200 or above, the presence of grain in your RAW files will likely increase exponentially, especially if you’re shooting in a low-lighting setting. Additionally, as you lower your ISO setting, it would also be beneficial to lower your shutter speed to further reduce noise.

Another way to troubleshoot this issue in low-light settings would be to introduce more light into your environment, either using a flash or other light sources, so you don’t feel like you need to increase your ISO setting.

2. Camera Quality

Getting your ISO setting exactly right can be tricky and is a skill you need to practice considerably before you really master the combination of ISO, shutter speed, and aperture for the clearest RAW files possible.

However, sometimes you’ll see graininess in your RAW files despite the proper settings because your equipment isn’t up to the task.

It’s no secret that in the world of photography, cameras and their accessories vary significantly in their costs and quality. Unfortunately, if you’re using a cheap, low-quality camera, you’ll likely notice a more persistent presence of grain in your RAW files.

The reason for this is that high-quality cameras are usually made with larger image sensors that allow them to receive more light and effectively reduce grain.

Even if a high-quality camera’s sensor is the same size as a cheaper alternative, the former tends to have superior materials and design that allows it to perform better with less grain at relative ISO settings than the latter.

This is most noticeable when comparing a 6.17 x 4.55mm sensor size found on a Smartphone, for example, versus a 23.6 x 15.60 mm sensor you might find on a beginner photographer’s camera, and a 53.0 x 42.20 sensor you’d find on a professional photographer’s camera.

3. Excess Camera Movement

Another common cause of grain in RAW files that beginners, in particular, tend to struggle with is excess camera movement when the image is being taken.

By this, we mean that your camera is unsteady when the shutter is open, resulting in a blurry image that often looks quite grainy.

Typically, this is caused by photographers who prefer to hold their cameras and, therefore, introduce movement through the shakiness of their hands or the jarring motion of pressing the shutter button. However, there could be external elements at play, such as wind or fault equipment.

The best way to solve this problem would be to find a way to keep your camera as stable and static as possible. You can either do this by placing it on a flat, supported surface or using tools like tripods.

Final Thoughts

Creating a RAW file that has absolutely no grain is difficult but seeing excessive levels of noise in file after file can be quite frustrating.

The best way to minimize this noise issue is to understand and practice altering your ISO setting while limiting your camera’s movement and introducing as much light as possible. Eliminating grain from RAW files through editing is a challenge in itself, so you’re better off doing everything you can to prevent it in the first place.  

Few things are more frustrating than thinking you’ve captured the perfect shot, only to find out later that your RAW files appear hazy or blurry when uploaded to your computer. This happens more often than you might think, but you might be wondering why.

Getting sharp, clear images is a must for both professional and amateur photographers. Read on to learn about 8 possible reasons why your RAW files keep coming out blurry.

Why Do RAW Files Look Hazy?

Shooting in RAW is a great way to retain as much information as possible when taking a photo. But this file type can also have its downsides. Whether you’re new to working with RAW files or have been at it for a while, chances are you run into a situation when the picture you took didn’t come out as clear as you would like.

Unfortunately, narrowing down the reason for those hazy photos isn’t alway cut and dry. However, because RAW files hold so much data, it’s quite a forgiving file type. You just have to know why the blur happened in the first place.

1. The Focus Was Off When the Picture Was Taken

One of the most common reasons for a blurry photo is missed focus. This generally happens when the camera attempts to focus on a subject and fails to hit the mark, just as a moving object or a landscape with too many focus points. Sometimes, the blur is so mild that it isn’t even noticeable until you reach the editing stage.

Luckily, if the blurring isn’t too bad, this can be fixed with a bit of sharpening in post-production.

2. Your Shutter Speed Is too Slow

Slow shutter speed is another common culprit for hazy photos. This can create somewhat of a motion blur, especially if there are moving elements in the scene.

Always make sure to check your shutter speed when taking a shot. Remember that the longer the lens, the more camera shake you will experience. So, if you are working with a lens such as a telephoto lens, you may need to set the shutter speeds to a bit higher than you’re used to.

3. The Sharpening Needs to Be Adjusted

If you’re working with RAW files, your photos are generally going to come out looking duller and less sharper than if you were shooting in JPEG. This is because the camera’s processing system automatically sharpens and brightens JPEG photos, while RAW files are left untouched so that they can be edited later.

Once your RAW files are uploaded to your computer, you should always expect to add some sharpening to the photos. Brightness may need to be adjusted as well.

4. Poor Lense Quality

This is probably something that no photographer likes to hear, but a low quality lens can lead to hazy photos. Because all lenses are made differently, some shoot with a lower softness than others. This may create a hazy appearance, especially if the softening extends beyond the edges.

Upgrading your camera lens may help fix the problem. For the most part, fixed focal length lenses are considered to snap the sharpest images.

5. The Picture Is too Dark

Haziness in a photo can also be caused by a lack of light. Whether you were shooting in poor lighting or the RAW file is just appearing dark, brightening up the photo a bit in an edit software may do the trick.

6. Your Aperture Is Set Too Wide

Depth of field is the distance between the closest subjects and the furthest that are in focus within the camera’s lens. Essentially, this determines how much of the photo will be in focus.

If you use a shallow depth of field (a.k.a. a wide aperture setting), the sharpness of the overall photo will decrease because more objects are required to be in focus.

7. Your Camera’s Lense Is Dirty

Wiping off your lens is the “turn it off and turn it back on” troubleshooting rule of the photography world. More often than not, a blurry photo is caused by something dirusting the camera’s ability to focus. This could be as simple as a smudge on the lens.

8. Poor Light Quality

Poor light quality will almost always result in a hazy photo. While good lighting is essential, if you’re trying to take dramatic, low light photos, make sure to check your camera’s meter and shutter speed before taking the shot.

Long exposures also increase the chance for motion blur, so it’s always a good idea to use a tripod in low light settings.

Final Thoughts

Shooting in RAW can be equally fun and frustrating. Keep these 8 reasons in mind next time you pick up your camera so that you can capture your perfect photo without worrying about ending up with a blurry image.

A Graphic Interchange Format, or ‘GIF,’ is one of the most widely used file formats. GIFs are great for saving smaller clips of videos, sharing funny reactions to your group chat, and more. However, GIFs are not always of the highest quality. The moving pictures are often quite blurrier than other file formats. Why is your GIF low-quality?

GIFs have a color capacity, and when that capacity is reached through excess downloads and uploads, a GIF will lose quality. Additionally, GIFs can be low-quality if the file size is too big. Luckily, there are simple fixes to low-quality GIFs.

Continue reading to learn about why your GIF is low-quality as well as information regarding how to fix low-quality GIFs. You do not need overly advanced software to ensure that your GIFs appear clear and effective. GIFs are useful file formats for many purposes, and you should not have to worry about a GIF having poor quality.

Why Is Your GIF Low-Quality?

GIFs can hold 256 colors. If you fill these colors with many different tones, it can lower the quality of the GIF. Because GIFs are such short video files, it can be difficult for a GIF to gauge the colors within and present a clear, moving image. GIFs work better when the frames of the moving image are nearly the same, so when a GIF utilizes different frames, the images can become distorted. 

The purpose of a GIF is to support small files as moving pictures. When these capacities are exceeded, individual pixels are more noticeable. GIFs can appear low-quality if the frames are too different, the colors do not mix well, or the file size is too large.

Below, you will see more specific reasons that may explain why your GIF is low-quality. After learning why your GIF is low-quality, you will be better able to understand the possible fixes to sharpen your moving image format.

Causes Of A Low-Quality GIF

As mentioned above, your GIF could be low-quality for numerous reasons:

1. Frame differences
2. Colors
3. File size
4. Downloads and uploads
5. Damaged or corrupted file

If the frames you use to create a moving image in your GIF are not alike, your GIF will not appear fluid and will instead be low-quality. GIFs are best made from still images of a clip that are less than seconds apart. As mentioned, one of the most common reasons your GIF is low-quality is because your still frames contain too many colors that simply do not mesh well together. This can dramatically alter the quality of your GIF.

The file size of your GIF is also quite determinant of whether your GIF is high-quality. GIFs are typically in the 100×100 range, and anything over that can distort the appearance of your GIF. As you stretch the pixels, the colors become less sharp, and the GIF loses quality – just as stretching any file type too much.

A reason for low-quality GIFs that many people are not aware of is that every time a GIF is downloaded or uploaded, it can lose even the slightest bit of quality. A GIF that is shared across different platforms will look less and less clear each time it is downloaded or uploaded. Additionally, as with any file type, your GIF file may be damaged or corrupted. Improper uploading and related instances can cause a GIF file to be damaged and low-quality.

Fixes For Low-Quality GIFs

While there are several causes for low-quality GIFs, there are also many ways to improve the quality of your poor-looking GIF. Fixes for low-quality GIFs include:

1. Color changes
2. GIF Resizing
3. GIF compression
4. Frame optimization
5. Reduce animations

A GIF that contains too many colors or has colors that clash is going to be low-quality. Consider taking colors out of your GIF to both improve the quality and draw attention to the more important aspects of the GIF. Along with removing colors, ensure that the colors you use are complimentary and do not clash with each other on the color wheel.

You may also need to resize your GIF. If it is low-quality because the file is too large, making your GIF file smaller is an easy way to get back the high-quality version you may have seen first. You can also use online GIF compressors to aid in this aspect. 

In terms of frame optimization, a GIF may be low-quality if it contains too many frames that overcrowd the file. Optimize your GIF by removing unnecessary frames. In doing this, you must be careful, because you do not want to remove certain frames or so many frames that the GIF appears to skip through images instead of flowing smoothly.

Especially if you are creating your GIF from scratch, it is easy to get carried away with the animations. Some aspects of your GIF do not need to be animated, and animating too many parts makes the GIF lose quality. Consider removing unnecessary animations to make the important animations clearer.

Using Placeit For High-Quality GIFs

When optimizing your GIF creation, look to Placeit as your hub for improvement. Placeit allows you to edit your GIFs for high-quality results as well as offers thousands of free templates, logos, designs, and mockups for all of your graphic design endeavors.

Takeaway

It is easy for GIFs to appear low-quality if they are not properly optimized. Low-quality GIFs are a result of one or many problems with the file, but the fixes to a low-quality GIF are simple and effective.

Have you ever looked at a drawing that was so realistic you had to take a second glance to see if it was a photograph? Drawings such as this are created mostly by utilizing tonal shading. You may be wondering what tonal shading is and how it is essential to creating a realistic-looking piece of artwork.

Tonal shading is a technique that artists use to create depth and dimension when they are drawing an object. It gives an image perspective by showing how the light or lack of light affects the appearance of an object. The direction in which the light is coming will affect how objects are shaded. 

For more detailed information about tonal shading and how it is used, continue reading.

What is Tonal Shading and Why is it Necessary?

There may be 50 shades to Christian Grey but in real life, the average human eye can only detect around 30 shades of grey and those shades are what give a drawing depth and perspective. Without tonal shading, a drawing is simply flat and dimensionless.

For any drawing or painting, regardless of the subject matter or medium tonal shading is a must to create a recgonizable or realistic image.

Whether you are producing fine art, sketching for fun, or creating an image for informative purposes tonal shading is necessary to accurately get your message across.

Tonal shading needs to be done correctly to properly represent the image you are drawing. The direction in which light comes from and the shadows it creates are extremely important to study and practice drawing

The section below talks more about how tonal shading works and how you can become a better artist with some time and practice.

The Difference Between Dark and Light

The first thing you must do is define the light areas from the shadow areas. The best example is to set a ball in the center of a table, shine a light on the ball, and study where the light is and where the shadows lie.

Notice the different tones in the shadows depending upon the intensity of the light. Start to look at the toned areas as individual shapes with each tone being its own shape as a way to help you visualize.

Create a Gradient Reference

Utilizing a value scale can be a very helpful visual aid when first beginning to master the art of tonal shading.

A value scale can easily be created with a sheet of paper and a pencil. Your scale can include as many tones as you like however, a nine-value scale is the best way to get a good gradient so you can see the differences between tones.

To create your own value scale begin by drawing a long rectangle on your paper. Next, draw dividers until you have nine equal sections. Label the sections one thru nine.

Then begin by shading box number one until it is completely black. It is recommended that you then go to the middle of the scale to shade and shade the box using medium pressure to create a lighter shade than the first box.

Next move to the very last section of the box and lightly fill in the box using very little pressure when applying the pencil to the paper. Once those three boxes have been filled in you can then go back to box number two and begin filling in your gradient.

Be sure to apply the appropriate pressure as you are filling in the spaces. Each box will require less pressure as you fill in your value scale.

One Object Affects Another

This means that you need to study how the tone of other nearby objects can affect the way your focal point looks. For example, if you put a grey square on a black background it will not stand out as much as if you place it on a white background.

Reflected light is the light that bounces (is reflected) of other lighter objects in the area. It is important to study how light reflects from one object to another and can change its appearance when moved in different directions.

Study How Light Levels

Every place the light touches has a different effect. It is important to study the different levels of light and how they affect an object. For example, if you are looking at a smooth round object such as an egg, you will notice that there will be different intensities of light.

Keep Your Light Shining In The Right Direction

If composing a drawing with multiple subjects or objects it can be very easy to get off track with your lighting.

To avoid improper shading of the wrong areas it can be helpful to create a light guide as a tool to remind you of the angle and direction the light is shining on the scene. This will help you to keep all tones and shadows consistent and realistic throughout the entire composition.

A light guide can easily be made by using a blank piece of paper. Begin by drawing a small sphere indicating the direction of the light.

Next draw lines indicating how bright the shadows are and where the light is reflecting as a guide. This can be done individually for each figure or object in the scene or as a whole. The more complicated the scene the more helpful a light guide will be.

Life Would Be Flat And Boring Without Tonal Shading

When it comes to tonal shading practice makes perfect. The more you study light and how it reflects and causes shadows the better understanding you will have and the easier it will be to create drawings that are recognizable and realistic looking.

Whether you are creating an academic, professional, or just-for-fun project it is likely that you have used a program made by Adobe at one point or another. Adobe provides many programs that work in different ways depending upon your needs. If you have ever had to purchase an Adobe program you are probably wondering why they are so expensive.

Multiple reasons contribute to the high cost of Adobe programs; one of the main is that it’s been the leading software company of its type for over thirty years. Others include:

• Tech support and updates
• Users are making money off of the software
• Losses from illegally pirated software

For a more expanded explanation of why Adobe software programs are so expensive continue reading.

Why Are Adobe Programs So Expensive – Here’s Why

Nowadays it is important to save money in any way you can, so you are wondering if you should invest in the paid Adobe subscriptions or opt for a less expensive option.

When it comes to software you will find that it depends greatly upon how you plan to use it and what you want to get out of it.

The following list gives the common reasons why Adobe programs are so expensive and why they are worth it, especially if you are a professional.

Unparalleled Competition

Adobe has been the leading brand of software for its type for over thirty years which means it is difficult for other smaller companies to compete even if their technology is comparable.

Adobe has monopolized the market when it comes to designing and editing software for so long that they have built an army of over 20k employees.

This team works diligently around the clock to develop, maintain, and update the software while providing top-notch customer support to their subscribers.

Users Benefit Financially From Software

Another reason that can be attributed to the high cost of Adobe programs is that many of the people using the software are doing so to make money.

Adobe figures that if people are making money from the software they have created they should get a chunk of that change.

The people who are making money with the software that Adobe has created generally will pay the asking price even if it is high because they know the value of what they are getting out of it and it is reliable and compatible with so many other programs.

Making Up For Unscrupulous Behavior

It is not uncommon for people to try and succeed at pirating Adobe software programs which is another reason Adobe has to charge so much for their programs.

The high price covers the cost of developers maintaining the necessary security measures to stay a step ahead of the unscrupulous hackers trying to save a buck while others are paying for their subscriptions.

How Its Used Matters

As mentioned previously, many people use Adobe programs for professional reasons and benefit financially from the software. Other people may be using the software for academic reasons or creative projects that are just for fun.

This can affect the price of the program depending on how you plan on using the software. If you opt for the professional version you can be confident that you fully own anything you create while using the software and receive all the support and updates necessary to finish your work.

Choosing the academic version is great for students and/or teachers who are not using the software with the intent to make money. With this subscription option, certain usage restrictions will apply as to how you can use the work you have created with the software.

If it is found that your creations are being used to make logos and other money-producing images/documents while using an academic version you can be subject to legal action and fines.

Help and Maintenance Included In Price

A large reason paid subscriptions are so high for some users is that the subscription plan comes with 24/7 technical support as well as the most current updates available.

This ensures that the user can work any time day or night and be confident that things will go smoothly and in the event that it doesn’t someone will be there to assist.

Unmatched Versatility and Compatibility

Adobe programs are compatible with virtually any other software on the market which means that it takes a lot of time and development on Adobe’s part to ensure they are compatible with other software brands and types.

Adobe is Expensive for Good Reason

Now that you have the facts you can see why Adobe programs can be so expensive; you get what you pay for. A worldwide reputation as a leader in software development for over three decades coupled with the reasons listed above makes Adobe a clear choice even if you are concerned about price.

How a book cover looks to both authors and readers is important. Many book covers do not seem to display the book as effectively as others. Additionally, some book covers look repetitively similar to others. From the overall template to the font, some books simply do not look very good. Why do a lot of book covers look so bad?

A lot of book covers look so bad for several reasons. The cover may be bland or does not fit the genre of the book. Authors and readers are often disappointed in the turnout of a book cover, and oftentimes, not even authors have the power to do anything about it.

Continue reading to learn more about why a lot of book covers look so bad, including factors that may make a book cover look bad and other questions you may have about the book cover design process. If you are publishing a book or designing a cover for another author, you want to make sure the cover – as the first thing readers see – stands out.

Why Do a Lot of Book Covers Look So Bad?

A lot of book covers look so bad for numerous reasons.

Some of the main factors that may affect a book cover’s lack of character include:

• Blandness
• Inconsistency
• Irrelevancy

Let’s take a look at some of these points further below.

Lacks Depth

Not every book cover is perfect, but some book covers certainly get the job done better than others. One of the main reasons book covers look bad is because they lack depth. A one-colored page with a few words on it can work in some scenarios, but many readers simply prefer more detailed, eye-catching covers.

Too Over-the-Top

On the other hand, it is just as easy to put way too much into a book cover. Some designers tend to add much more content onto the cover page than is necessary. If it is difficult to focus on each aspect of a book cover, readers may think the cover is too over-the-top, thus making the contents inside less enticing.

Tacky Design

Many book covers are bad because of design inconsistencies. Particularly concerning the font, a cover with four different pieces of writing – each of which is a different font style – looks incredibly tacky.

It can appear that the book is trying too hard to be original. Too many words, in general, are not great for a book cover, but when those words are in unnecessary fonts, it looks even worse.

Other book covers are poorly designed with inconsistencies. Of course, using several fonts is in this category, but more than that, book covers with a design that does not seem to fit with the book’s genre or theme can throw readers off or prevent them from understanding what they are getting themselves into.

What Makes a Book Cover Bad?

It is worth noting that not all book covers are bad just because they do not appeal to a certain demographic.

Book covers categorized as “bad” are bad because the designs are poor. Much of designing a book cover involves enticing readers, and poor designs simply do not accomplish that.

Some bad book covers come from less experienced graphic designers who may not have access to higher-quality design software. While novice designers may not be able to control and afford this problem, it is a large piece of evidence for bad book covers.

Below, you will learn about affordable, high-quality software, but for now, know that bad book covers lack good design.

Why Do All Book Covers Look the Same?

Along with book covers looking so bad due to poor designs, you might notice that many book covers look the same as a different book sitting on the shelf right next to them. While too much detail is not great on a book cover, you want notable differences from other books.

Although not mentioned in the bulleted list, sales strategy is another reason many book covers may look the same to some people. Marketing agencies and publishers know that certain books that look enticing to readers sell better.

In their attempts to have a cover design for better sales, they may botch the ideas you have for your cover. As you will learn shortly, authors typically do not have the final decision on a book cover.

Do Book Covers Matter?

Yes, book covers matter.

The cover is the first thing a reader sees when browsing new books to buy. Not to mention, an author wants their book cover to look great. Book covers matter to those writing the book, those designing the book, and those reading the book.

Although most bad book covers may be at the fault of the designer, that is not to suggest that designers do not care. If they do not have sufficient design software at their disposal, they may simply not be able to produce covers with the quality of other designers.

Book covers matter because they are the face of an author’s work, and although the phrase argues against it, countless readers judge a book by its cover. You want a cover to look good both so that the author is satisfied and people will buy the book.

Do Authors Get to Choose Their Book Covers?

Most of the time, authors do not have the final say on their book cover.

Publishers, designers, and marketing agencies typically work together to design the cover of a book, and while they may value your input and allow you to say your piece, they may not be as accepting of your preferences as you might hope.

Placeit For Book Cover Designs

As mentioned, a bad book cover is the result of a poor design. Fonts may not fit with the background, pictures may make words difficult to read, or words and colors may simply not fit together as a whole.

If you are designing a book cover – be it for yourself or a client – consider Placeit as your hub for good book cover templates. Just search for “book cover” in the design category, and start customizing professionally made templates.

With thousands of templates, designs, logos, and more, Placeit will allow you to utilize anything you need to develop clean designs, clarify noticeable features, and make your book cover stand out from the rest.

One of the biggest problems designers face when creating book covers is a lack of suitable software to get the job done. Placeit’s free, online software is simple to use and as effective as any other software you have seen.

Takeaway

A lot of book covers look so bad because the designs on the covers do not mix well with other designs, fonts, and collective templates. Authors only have so much power in the appearance of their book covers, so it is essential to make sure the designers have the proper outlet to create what is needed.

Photoshop is a great tool for creating all sorts of graphic art such as logos, t-shirt designs, and more. One of the basic and most popular aspects of the program is the ability to create custom shapes with various fill and border colors. But what if you want to create a shape with no fill at all?

Transparent rectangles can be drawn in Photoshop with the use of the Rectangle tool. Simply select the tool and draw the shape onto the canvas. Fill and border colors of the shape can be adjusted from the options toolbar to create a no-fill or transparent look.

While color can be fun to play with, sometimes, we need elements in a design that have no color at all. Keep reading for a quick guide on drawing rectangles in Photoshop without fill.

Drawing a Rectangle In Photoshop

The Rectangle tool is the easiest way to draw a rectangle in Photoshop. This is a type of shape tool that allows you to quickly draw and edit vector shapes on your canvas. Once drawn, the rectangle can also be converted into a raster shape.

To get started:

1. Grab the Rectangle tool from the toolbar. This is the icon that looks like a gray rectangle with a white outline
2. Click on your canvas and drag your mouse to create a shape
3. Once you have it at the size you want, release the click. You should see a new layer appear in your Layers panel named Rectangle

If you would like to make the shape proportional, make sure to hold the shift key as you draw the shape. You can also move the shape around after it is drawn by using the Move tool.

Drawing a Shape Without Fill

Generally, the Fill and Stroke options will be set at what they were when they were last used. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to check your Fill settings before creating your shape.

If you would like to create a rectangle without fill:

1. Select the Rectangle tool
2. Navigate to the shape tool options bar at the top of the screen
3. Click on the box that says “Fill.” A new dialogue box should pop up with a selection of colors

If your Fill box is white with a red line stretched across it diagonally, then your shape is already set to have no fill. However, if your Fill box is colored, that means that any shape you draw will be filled with that color. To make sure your rectangle has no fill, select the white box with the red line and click Apply.

Removing Fill From Your Shape

If you have already drawn your rectangle and would like it to have no fill, there is no reason to delete the layer and start again. Fill and Stroke can be adjusted at any time from the shape tool options bar.

To change the fill:

1. Click on the layer with the shape you want to change
2. Select the Shape Tool
3. The shape tool options bar should appear
4. Just as you would when drawing a new shape, click on the Fill box and select the white box with the red line.

Now, let’s check how to change the border color of a rectangle in PhotoShop.

Changing the Border Color Of a Rectangle

If you have a rectangle without fill, you’re going to need to make sure that you have a noticeable border, or else your shape is going to disappear on your canvas.

To change the border color:

1. Click on the layer with the shape
2. Select the Shape Tool
3. In the tool options toolbar, click on the Stroke box
4. Just like with choosing your fill, a new dialogue box should appear with a selection of colors

You may also need to change the size of your stroke for it to stand out more. This is done from the dropdown box next to the stroke color.

How to Draw Other Shapes Without Fill

Now that you know how to draw a simple rectangle, you may want to try your hand at one of the other shape options. Luckily, the steps are pretty much the same.

To draw a shape, right-click or hover over the Shape tool until the dropdown menu appears. Some of the shapes that can be drawn with this tool include:

• Ellipse (ovals and circles)
• Triangle
• Polygon
• Custom shapes

Once you’ve chosen your shape, simply draw it onto your canvas as you would a rectangle.

Final Thoughts

Using the Rectangle tool in Photoshop is a quick and easy way to draw text boxes or outline elements in a design. Hopefully, this guide helped you learn how to draw a rectangle without fill so you can keep on creating.

Perspective is an important part of any design. But what if your lines are appearing crooked or slightly off? Is there an easy way to make lines straighter in Photoshop, or does this take more advanced editing?

The are several different ways to make a line straighter in Photoshop, depending on the type of line you’re working with:

• Perspective Warp
• Measure Tool
• Line Tool
• Brush Tool
• Pen Tool

Whether you’re working with an architectural photo or a geometric design, making straight lines is often a key part of creating a finished product. Keep reading to learn how to make lines straighter in Photoshop, so that you can get it right every time.

How to Straighten a Line in Photoshop

While getting your lines straight is a key skill that every designer will have to work with at some point, how you do this often depends on the type of media you are working with.

For example, let’s say you have a beautiful skyline shot but the buildings seem like they are somewhat tipping to one side. The method you use to straighten these lines is not going to be the same as you would use if you were working on a graphic design such as a logo.

However, both methods are important to know, and they start with the same basic steps.

Analyze Straight Lines Using Guides

Before you get started on straightening your lines, you’ll want to see exactly how straight they are. One way to do this is by using guides.

A guide, or guideline, is a vertical or horizontal line that spans the entire canvas. It is not a permanent part of your board and can be added or removed without impacting the overall look of your design. Essentially, these guidelines can act as a mathematical gridline, helping you to align layers and elements within the design. These are also helpful for creating straight lines.

To create a guideline:

1. Make sure your rulers are showing at the top and left of your canvas.
2. Rulers can be quickly turned off or on by pressing Command/CTRL + R. This can also be done from the view dropdown menu at the top of the screen.
3. Click and hold anywhere on the ruler and drag your mouse towards the center of the screen.
4. You should see a thin blue line appear. This is the guideline.
5. Position the line wherever you would like it, then release your mouse.

Now, let’s see how to make straighter lines using perspective warp.

Make Lines Straighter In Photos With Perspective Warp

If you have a photo with a lot of straight lines, it’s important to make sure all of those lines are equally straight or it could throw off the perspective of the photo. This is generally seen in photos with many buildings or flat surfaces. One simple way to achieve this is to use perspective warp.

Follow these steps:

1. Hit the Command/CTRL + T
2. Right-click anywhere on the photo.
3. Once the dialogue box appears, select Perspective from the menu.
4. You will see several pins appear around the edges of your image. As you move these, you should notice the perspective of the photo warping.
5. Simply adjust these moveable pins until the lines are where you want them without distorting the rest of the photo.

Now, let’s see how to straighten lines in PhotoShop using the measure tool.

Straighten Lines with the Measure Tool

Another option for straightening lines in architectural photos is to use the measure tool. This tool allows you to calculate the distance between two points in an image.

To do this:

1. Select the measure tool from the tool palette
2. Click and drag along the edge that should be straight
3. This will display measurements of the line you’ve just drawn. Look for the “A” measurement in the bar to find the angle of the line
4. Now you can rotate the canvas using this angle measurement.
5. Simply select Rotate Canvas from the Image menu
6. Click Arbitrary.

You may have to crop the image a bit afterward to remove any white canvas areas, but know your image should be straight in perspective.

Making Straight Lines With the Line Tool

If you’re working on graphic designs, creating straight lines is going to look a bit different, but it’s just as important. Let’s say you’re creating a design for a t-shirt. Before uploading your design in a mockup site like Placeit, you’ll want to make sure all the lines are as straight as possible.

The easiest way to make a straight line in Photoshop is with the line tool. Simply grab the line tool from the tool bar, hold shift, and click on the canva and drag to create your line. That’s it. This can also be done with other drawing tools such as the brush tool, pen tool, and pencil tool.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, you now have several methods for creating straighter lines in your tool box. Remember that a slightly crooked or slated line can alter the entire perspective of your design. Always check straight lines with a grid and make sure to straighten them out before finishing your design.

If you are a first-time streamer or businessperson, you may not know about twitch overlays. Twitch overlays are essential, simple concepts that can also be utilized in making a profit if you can create your own. However, you may want to sell them, but you are unsure how to do so.

To sell twitch overlays, you will need to create a website, price them, upload the overlays and write descriptions, promote and continue to make them, and ensure you stand out from the competition.

Let’s continue to read more to learn about what twitch overlays are, how to create them, and a complete guide on how to sell twitch overlays.

What are Twitch Overlays?

A twitch overlay, or overlays in general, can be used by twitch streamers to provide an aesthetic for their channel. Doing this makes the channel more aesthetically pleasing and eye-catching for viewers to see once they enter your twitch channel and have a sense of your overall brand.

Those who are new to streaming may be aware of whether having a twitch overlay would be helpful for them or not and if it is worth having because not a lot of you may know how to create a twitch overlay for your channel as we continue to read onward to learn whether twitch overlays are helpful and how to make a twitch overlay.

Are Twitch Overlays Helpful and How to Create Them?

Twitch overlays are helpful. They not only help to create engagement but also gives you a chance to know about you and your expectations when they are viewing your live streams to prevent any miscommunications. A part of determining whether twitch overlays are helpful for new streamers is not knowing how to create them.

So, how do you make a twitch overlay? While you can create a custom overlay, templates are available online for you to use. Websites like placeit.net offer a variety of twitch overlays at your leisure. You can customize it within the website, add your name and everything else, and change the colors and graphics.

Now, if you are someone who has, or knows, how to create twitch overlays, you can make money off of it. If you weren’t aware of this, you’ll likely not know how to sell your twitch overlays and generate income. We will continue to read on to learn a complete guide on how to sell twitch overlays.

How to Sell Twitch Overlays (The Complete Guide)

Naturally, while selling something like twitch overlays, you will need to know how to create overlays for platforms like twitch. Once you’ve gotten over that hump, other elements go along with working towards officially setting up your business and making sales. To sell twitch overlays, you would need to follow steps that include:

1. Create a website or set up a profile for services.
2. Come up with pricing.
3. Upload overlays and write descriptions.
4. Promote on platforms, including a link to the site.
5. Continue to create and continue to promote.
6. Offer discounts/stand out from the competition.

Let’s continue to read to learn more about how to sell twitch overlays.

How to Sell Twitch Overlays?

Twitch overlay sales are highly possible sources of income. For a first-timer, who has never tried to sell them before but wants to, we will continue to read further to learn how to sell twitch overlays.

Create a Website or Profile for Services

For any self-sufficient business, you will need an official website where customers can purchase your twitch overlays. If you do not want to have a specific website for yourself, then you can use various services where the only thing you will have to do is create a profile, including pricing, for your twitch overlays.

Pricing

How much are you wanting to sell for one twitch overlay at a time, and are you planning on pricing for a bundled amount? Think about these questions because you want the price to be reasonable. If you’re planning on offering services through a third-party website, they will take a cut of the profit due to you utilizing their website.

Upload Overlays and Write Descriptions

Upload your overlays and write descriptions for each one. This will give customers an idea of what they are looking for and what appeals to them the most. Ensure that the descriptions are accurate enough that describes the overlays and, if you can, make them sound interesting.

Promote on Social Platforms

Promote your business through social platforms. Gaining a following will gain traction for your business and generate more sales. On social media platforms, link your website through a pinned comment or in the description section. This way, you make it easier for potential customers to head to your website with no problem.

Continue to Create and Promote

Continue to create your overlays and continue to promote. People continue to become interested in one’s product if they are continuously innovative and interactive with their audience and spreading the word. If you do not promote your overlays and create more overlays often enough, people will likely become bored and find the next thing that interests them.

Stand Out From the Competition

Depending on the pricing, you can offer discounts around the holidays, or however often you feel it is necessary. Temporary discounts catch a customer’s attention and make you stand out from the competition. You can even offer a discount to first-time buyers. Most large and small businesses often use this tactic to make their products more appealing to consider purchasing.

Closing

Now that you know how to sell twitch overlays, you can follow this complete guide. You have also learned about twitch overlays, whether they are helpful to your twitch channel, and how you can create them yourselves.

Knowing how to manipulate text is essential when working on logos and graphic designs in Photoshop. More often them naught, the font you choose to use won’t perfectly match up with your design. So how do you stretch and warp letters to make them work?

Letters and fonts in Photoshop can be stretched in three different ways:

• Warp mode
• Covert text to shapes
• Warp Text

Whether you want to stretch a font to extend the length of a logo or elongate individual letters for a fun effect, it’s helpful to know the steps to take to get the job done. Below, you will find a simple guide on stretching letters and fonts in Photoshop in three different ways.

How To Stretch A Font In Photoshop Using Warp Mode

Photoshop’s warp mode is a fantastic tool for warping text, images, and shapes. If you would like to stretch an individual letter or font, this is definitely the place to start.

First, grab the Text tool and type out the letter you’d like to stretch. Then, right-click on the text layer in the Layers panel and select Rasterize Type.

Next, grab the move tool and click on one of the nodes that appear around your letter. A new options toolbar should appear at the top of your canvas. Click on the icon that looks like a curved grid sitting on top of a curved line. You should see more nodes and a grid appear on your letter.

Use these nodes to warp and stretch the letter to your liking by pulling them out in different directions. Once you are happy with how it looks, hit enter and repeat these steps for any other letters you’d like to transform.

Stretching Letters By Converting Them To Shapes

Another way to stretch your text is to convert the letters into shapes. As a shape, you will have more options to morph and transform the letters in the way that you would like.

To do this, right-click on your text layer in the Layers panel. This should bring up a menu of options to choose from. Select “Convert to shape” from the menu.

Next, grab the Direct Selection Tool from your toolbar and select the area of the letter that you would like to stretch. This is done by left-clicking near the area you would like to select and dragging to create a selection area. You will see anchor points appear around the entire letter, however, some will be clear and others will be colored in. These colored anchor points are your selection area.

To make the letter stretch, hold down the shift key and click on one of the colored anchor points. Next, drag your mouse in the direction you want the letter to stretch. That part of the letter will start to extend. This is a great way to create a stretch on individual letters in a word.

Using Photoshop’s Warp Text

If you’re looking for a quick and simple way to stretch your text, you’ll want to try out the warp text settings. This is probably one of the most well-known methods of manipulating text. While it doesn’t give you as much freedom to alter the letters as the other two methods, it’s still a great tool for simple edits.

The warp text settings are found in the options toolbar when the Text tool is selected. First, select the Text tool and select your font. Then type out the letters you’d wish to warp.

Next, select the icon of a T with a curved line under it from the options toolbar. This will bring up the warp text settings. From here, you can apply different settings that stretch the text vertically or horizontally, depending on your chosen style. Some of these styles include:

• Arc
• Bulge
• Rise
• Wave
• Inflate

You can also adjust how much percentage of warping you would like to see by sliding the bars in the dialogue box. Just remember to select OK when you’re finished.

Final Thoughts

Dealing with fonts and text can oftentimes be tricky, especially if you are working with a logo or design that has many unique and interesting shapes. While manipulating text isn’t also cut and dry, there is always a way to get the results you want when it comes to working with Photoshop.

Hopefully, this quick guide gave you a few ideas on how to stretch font in Photoshop. Remember that some methods work better with individual letters, while others can work with whole words or even sentences.