Creating a 1px Dotted Border in Photoshop

So you want to learn how to create a 1 pixel dotted border in Adobe Photo shop CS2? No problem.

First open up your program. Once you have your program open you will need to go to File then New. After you click that a box will pop up (Picture 1). You will need to enter in a size that you would like to use. For the example I am using a 500 x 250 pixel document. Once you've entered in the size, Press the OK button. Your new document will pop up on the screen.

Next create your banner or design something to your taste. I created a simple design. (Picture 2) Once you are done creating what you want on your banner or icon, you will need to create a new layer on your Layers Palette. By doing that will need to click the paper tab that is located on the bottom of your Layer Palette. (Picture 3)

After you have selected the new layer tab. You will notice the new layer will appear on your Layer's Palette. For the border I am using a dotted pattern. If you don't have one, you will need to take the one that I have (Picture 4) and you will need to define it into a pattern. By defining it you will need to go to Edit then Define Pattern, then select OK. Now your pattern should be installed into the section where your patterns are kept in Photoshop.

Now on your new Layer that you had created on your Layer's Palette. This is the layer where you will fill the pattern in to it. By so this, you will go to Layer then New Fill Layer then select Pattern. (Picture 5) Once you have selected that a box will pop up select OK, then another box will pop up. On the second box you will need to click the arrow and search for your pattern that you just defined. Once you have found the pattern, select it then press OK.

You will now notice that you have a big checkered pattern over your original design. (Picture 6) I usually zoom in on my document, and then take the Rectangular Marquee Tool (Picture 7) and make a big box on my document with the Marquee Tool and push the delete button on your keyboard. Keep making boxes and pressing the delete key on your keyboard until you have erased the entire pattern from your design except 1 pixel. One pixel is just one border around the edge of your document. (Picture 8) After you are all done you can change your color of the border if you want it to match your design. By doing this you will just Right Click on the pattern layer on your Layers Palette and select Blending Options and once the box pops up, go to Color Overlay and select a color that matches your design and Press OK. TA-DA! You're all done! Pretty easy, huh?