4.13. Border
| 4. The “Select” Menu |

### 4.13. Border

Figure 16.30. Example of creating a border from a selection

An image with a selection

After “Select Border”

The Select Border command creates a new selection along the edge of an existing selection in the current image. The edge of the current selection is used as a form and the new selection is then created around it. You enter the width of the border, in pixels or some other unit, in the dialog window. Half of the new border lies inside of the selected area and half outside of it.

#### 4.13.1. Activating the Command

You can access this command from the main menu through Select → Border….

If there is no selection, this menu entry is disabled.

Two conditions must be respected to use this command:

- The image must have an alpha channel.

- The original image must be created with the “Antialiasing” option checked in the selection tool that is used.

#### 4.13.2. Description of the “Border” dialog window

Figure 16.31. The “Border” dialog window

Border selection by

  Enter the width of the border selection in the box. The default units are pixels, but you can also choose the units with the drop-down menu.

Border Style

  - Hard: this option does not keep antialiasing. This can be useful in some cases.

  - Smooth: this option keeps antialiasing. Note that “Smooth” does not create any antialiasing. That's why antialiasing must be added when creating the original selection. This option is the best one.

  - Feathered: this option does the same things as “Hard”, but instead of the resulting border being fully selected, it fades outwards. The result is not very good; if you want a feathered border, better is use one of the other modes, and then feather the result. It's there for history reason.

  Figure 16.32. Border Style Comparison

  “Hard” option. Selection editor, zoom 800%

  “Smooth” option. Selection editor, zoom 800%

  “Feathered” option. Selection editor, zoom 800%

Selected areas continue outside the image

  With this option enabled, an edge of an (usually rectangle) selection remains unchanged if it is aligned with an edge of the image; no new selection will be created around it.

  Figure 16.33. Select border with and without “Selected areas continue outside the image”

  Select border without (middle) and with (right) locked selection.

  Same selections filled with red.

4.12. Grow |  | 4.14. Remove Holes

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