How to use the sticker outline maker
- Choose or drop PNG or WebP images that have transparent areas. You can add several at once.
- Set the outline width and color and the preview updates at once. Turn on a second outline and a shadow if you like.
- When you are happy, save this image as PNG, or save all images with the same settings as a ZIP.
How the outline is made
Simply stamping the image in several directions gives bumpy corners and leaves gaps as the width grows. This tool finds every non-transparent pixel and calculates the exact distance from each transparent pixel to the nearest pixel of the picture. Wherever that distance is within the chosen width, the outline is painted, so corners stay smooth and the shape holds even when the outline is thick.
Edges are softened by the distance value so that no stair steps appear. Choosing square corners measures distance with a square instead of a circle and gives a sharp sticker edge. Fill inner gaps starts from outside the image, treats transparent areas it cannot reach as holes, and fills them with the outline color.
The shadow follows the outline silhouette, and you can adjust blur, distance and opacity. Turning on the second outline adds another color outside the first, which gives the double outline style often used on video thumbnails.
Using the sticker effect well
On images that are viewed small, such as thumbnails, make the outline a little thicker and pick a color that contrasts with the background, such as white or yellow, so the subject stands out. For social stickers, one outline with a soft shadow gives a paper cut-out feel. Use a white outline on dark backgrounds and a dark one on light backgrounds.
When you process many images, the width is a percentage, so images of different sizes get a similar look. The empty margin of the result is trimmed automatically so files do not become larger than needed. You can turn trimming off to keep extra space around the sticker.
A common thumbnail style is a thick white outline with a thin dark outline outside it. It makes the outline of the subject stand out on both light and dark backgrounds. A faint shadow below the outline makes the sticker look as if it floats slightly above the screen.
How you save depends on where the result is used. For design work that needs a transparent background, use the PNG as it is, and in a video editor you can place this PNG over another background. If you shrink an image too much, thin outlines can blur, so start from an image close to the size you need.
When you have many files, settle the settings on one image first and then save all as a ZIP. Because each image has a different outline, a few may look better with Fill inner gaps or the threshold changed and saved separately.
Tips
- A PNG with a cleanly removed background gives the best result.
- Start at 2 to 3 percent and adjust to the image size.
- Lowering the threshold includes faint edges in the outline.
- For letters and donut shapes, toggle Fill inner gaps and compare.
- A faint shadow looks more natural.
FAQ
Which images work best for sticker outlines?
A PNG or WebP with the background removed, so that it has transparent areas, works best. Cut-out people, characters and product photos are typical examples. A JPG with a background has no transparent area, so the outline forms around the whole rectangle. Remove the background first.
Why is the width a percentage and not pixels?
Images differ in size, so one fixed pixel width would look too thin on some and too thick on others. A ratio of the long side gives a similar impression across a batch. Start around 2 to 3 percent.
What does Fill inner gaps do?
It decides whether transparent holes inside the image, such as the middle of a donut or the inside of a letter, are filled with the outline color. On gives a clean sticker shape around the outer silhouette only, and off adds an outline around the inner holes too.
Can I save many images at once?
Yes. Add several images and save them all as a ZIP with the same settings. Up to 60 images can be added at a time, and sticker is added to each file name. Large images may take a while.
Can I use the result commercially?
This tool only adds an outline to the image you provide, so the rights to the result follow the rights to the original. Make sure you made the image yourself or have permission to use it.
Notes & limitations
This tool only adds an outline and shadow to the image you provide; it does not remove backgrounds. Images are processed only in the browser and are not sent to a server. Check the terms of use of any copyrighted image.