<p>Try using Layer--&gt; Auto-trace to trace around the alpha. It will generate a mask which you can then expand.</p>
<p>Or you could use a Layer Style to get a similar effect with a drop shadow or glow effect.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-24T16:32:52.500Z
2024-12-25T13:00:30.990Z
2024-12-25T13:00:30.990Z
tomh
<p>I was wondering if there is a way to expand a fill, outset a shadow or something, around a PNG with transparent background.</p>
<p>Right now I am using Fill + Simple Choker to expand the contour + CC Composite to bring it to the bottom, and sort of works, but I can expand the outline only a few pixels, like less than 100. Ideally, I'd like to animate it, so I can't just add the outline in Photoshop!</p>
<p>Is there an alternative way to do that? Thank you in advance.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/yTYme.gif" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/yTYme.gif" alt="outline around opaque pixels" /></a></p>

<after-effects>
Outline/stroke around transparent-background PNG in After Effects
Wes
# Outline/stroke around transparent-background PNG in After Effects

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-02-24)

I was wondering if there is a way to expand a fill, outset a shadow or something, around a PNG with transparent background.

Right now I am using Fill + Simple Choker to expand the contour + CC Composite to bring it to the bottom, and sort of works, but I can expand the outline only a few pixels, like less than 100. Ideally, I'd like to animate it, so I can't just add the outline in Photoshop!

Is there an alternative way to do that? Thank you in advance.

[![outline around opaque pixels](https://i.sstatic.net/yTYme.gif)](https://i.sstatic.net/yTYme.gif)

**Tags:** after-effects


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-02-24. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

Try using Layer--> Auto-trace to trace around the alpha. It will generate a mask which you can then expand.

Or you could use a Layer Style to get a similar effect with a drop shadow or glow effect.


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