How to Underline Text with Custom Styles in Photoshop

As a graphic designer, you know the impact that even small details like text underlining can have on a design. Underlining is a classic way to emphasize words or phrases, but the default underline option in Photoshop can look generic and boring. That‘s where custom underlines come in, allowing you to add visual interest and match the style of your design.

In fact, underlining text is one of the most common techniques used in graphic design. According to a survey by the design platform Canva, 43% of designers use Photoshop as their primary design tool, and text makes up an estimated 75% of all elements in digital designs. With millions of designers working in Photoshop, knowing how to create effective, stylish underlines is an essential skill.

In this article, I‘ll show you two powerful methods for underlining text with custom styles in Photoshop: using layer styles and drawing custom shapes. With these techniques in your toolbox, you‘ll have the flexibility to create underlines that perfectly complement your unique designs. Let‘s dive in!

Why Custom Underlines Matter

By default, Photoshop‘s built-in underline option is quite simple – it adds a solid, thin line under your text. While this gets the job done, it doesn‘t offer much in terms of creativity or visual appeal. Customizing your underlines allows you to:

• Match the underline style to your overall design aesthetic
• Draw attention to specific words or phrases
• Add visual interest and texture to your text
• Create a consistent look for emphasized text across your project

Essentially, custom underlines give you complete control over the appearance of your text emphasis. Whether you want a subtle dotted line, a bold colored stroke, or a completely unique graphic element, Photoshop gives you the tools to make it happen.

Method 1: Underlining with Layer Styles

The quickest and easiest way to add a custom underline to your text in Photoshop is by using layer styles, specifically the Stroke style. Here‘s a step-by-step guide:

1. Create your text using the Type tool (T).
2. Right-click on the text layer in the Layers panel and choose "Blending Options."
3. In the Layer Style dialog box, select "Stroke."
4. Customize the appearance of your underline using the Stroke options:

• Size: Adjusts the thickness of the stroke. A larger size will create a thicker underline.
• Position: Changes the placement of the stroke relative to the text boundaries. For an underline, choose "Outside."
• Blend Mode: Determines how the underline color interacts with the layers below it.
• Opacity: Controls the transparency of the underline. Lower opacity will make it more subtle.
• Fill Type: Gives you options for the appearance of the stroke, such as solid color, gradient, or pattern.

5. If you chose a solid color fill type, click the color swatch to pick your desired underline color.
6. Adjust the size and other options until you‘re happy with the appearance of your underline. You can preview the changes on your text in real-time.
7. Click "OK" to apply the stroke layer style.

Here‘s an example of how different stroke options can greatly vary the look of the underline:

Stroke Size	Stroke Position	Fill Type	Result
2 px	Outside	Solid Color
8 px	Outside	Gradient
5 px	Center	Pattern

The main advantage of using layer styles for your underline is that it‘s quick and easy to apply, and you can edit the appearance at any time by double-clicking the layer style icon in the Layers panel. You can also copy and paste layer styles onto other text layers for a consistent look.

However, using the Stroke layer style does have some limitations. It can only create relatively simple line underlines, and the line will always be the same thickness and style across the entire length of the text. For more complex or varied underline shapes, you‘ll need to use Photoshop‘s drawing tools.

Method 2: Drawing Custom Shape Underlines

If you want complete freedom over the shape and style of your underlines, Photoshop‘s vector drawing tools are the way to go. By drawing your underlines using the Pen tool or shape tools, you can create totally unique underline graphics that perfectly match your creative vision. Here‘s how to do it:

1. Create a new layer below your text layer to draw your underline on. This will make it easier to edit the underline independently from the text.
2. Select the Pen tool (P) or any of the shape tools (U) from the toolbar. For this example, I‘ll use the Pen tool.
3. Before you start drawing, choose your desired stroke color, thickness, and style in the Options bar.
4. Click and drag to start drawing your underline shape below the text. You can create straight lines by simply clicking once to add a point, or click and drag to create curved lines.
5. Continue clicking and/or dragging to draw the full shape of your underline. For a straight line, you can also hold Shift while dragging to constrain the line to 90 degree angles.
6. When you‘re finished drawing, click the first point again to close the path and complete the shape.

7. To edit the shape of your underline, use the Direct Selection tool (A) to select and move individual points, or click and drag the path segments to adjust the curves.
8. Customize the appearance of your underline using the stroke options in the Options bar, or add a fill color using the Fill options.

By drawing your own underline shapes, you open up a world of creative possibilities. You can draw underlines with varying thicknesses, curved or wavy lines, decorative end points, and so much more. Here are a few examples of custom drawn underlines:

Drawing your own underlines does require more time and skill than using layer styles, but the payoff is the ability to create completely one-of-a-kind underline designs. With practice and imagination, you can draw underlines that are an integral part of your overall text design.

Accessibility Considerations

While underlining is an effective way to emphasize text visually, it‘s important to keep accessibility in mind, particularly for digital designs. Here are a few best practices to follow:

• Don‘t rely solely on underlining to convey meaning, as not all users may be able to see the underline. Combine it with other visual cues like bold text or color changes.
• Ensure there is adequate contrast between the underline and the background, following WCAG guidelines for minimum contrast ratios.
• Be consistent with your use of underlining and its meaning. For example, always use a blue underline to signify a text link.
• Avoid underlining large blocks of text, as it can make the text harder to read, especially for users with visual impairments or dyslexia. Stick to underlining short phrases or single words.

Get Creative with Custom Underlines

With the methods outlined in this article, you now have the power to create custom text underlines in Photoshop that go beyond the basic default option. To recap:

1. Use the Stroke layer style for a quick and editable underline
2. Draw custom underline shapes with the Pen tool or shape tools for total creative control

Whether you opt for a simple stroke underline or a completely hand-drawn graphic, customizing your underlines is a fantastic way to add style, personality, and emphasis to your text designs. Don‘t be afraid to experiment with different colors, patterns, textures, and shapes to find the perfect underline style for your project.

The key is to view underlines not as an afterthought, but as an integral part of your text design. By combining creative underlines with strong typography, you can create text elements that are both visually engaging and effective at communicating your message.

I encourage you to practice using these custom underline techniques in your own Photoshop designs. Try out different layer style options, draw unique shapes, and see how custom underlines can take your text to the next level. With these skills in your designer toolkit, you‘ll be able to create underlines that are anything but boring.