5 gradient mapping modes
Get completely different looks from the same gradient with Across Stroke, Along Stroke, Layer Center, Radial, and Angular.
EssentialAlso in ProGPU
TMCStroke
Strokes along a layer's outline
Creates a clean line (border) that follows the edge of a layer's alpha. You can apply a separate color or gradient to the line, and a Halftone feature is included too.
Key features
Wobbly lines with Turbulent Noise
5 Turbulent Noise types (Fractal, Soft, Worley, Ripple, Angular) distort the distance field itself, so the line wobbles naturally.
Halftone borders
Turn the border into halftone dots with 5 Halftone types (Circle, Square, Star, Diamond, Line).
Per-group Enable checkboxes
Each group, such as Offset, Gradient, Texture, Turbulent Noise, and Halftone, has its own Enable checkbox, so you can turn on only what you need and combine them.
Quick start
Follow these steps in order the first time.
- Apply Effect › TMC › TMC Stroke to a text layer or a character art layer.
- Set up the basic border with Color, Size, and Opacity, and choose Outside, Inside, or Center for Position.
- For richer color, turn on Enable in the Gradient group and choose a mode in Mapping.
- To hide the original and use only the border, turn on the Alpha checkbox.
Parameter guide
Listed in the same order as the Effect Controls panel.
Effect Controls · TMC StrokeClick a group to expand it
Stroke5
Color
Size
Opacity
Position
OutsideInsideCenter
Alpha
When on, hides the original layer and outputs only the stroke.
Offset4
Enable
Turns this group on or off.
Distance
Direction
Mode
UniformDirectional
Gradient8
Enable
Turns this group on or off.
Use Preset Palette
Loads one of 12 ready-made palettes into the gradient. None leaves the current gradient as it is.
12 palettes
Gradient Editor
An editor for building a gradient by adding, moving, and deleting color stops
Selected Stop Color
Sets the color of the color stop selected in the gradient editor.
Cycle Repetitions
Sets how many times the gradient repeats.
Phase
Shifts the repeating gradient; 360° moves it by one full cycle.
Interpolate Palette
Mapping
Chooses which way the gradient runs on the stroke.
Across StrokeAlong StrokeLayer CenterRadialAngular
Texture8
Enable
Turns this group on or off.
Source Layer
Position Offset
Scale X
Scale Y
Rotation
Loop Mode
Chooses how the area beyond the texture is filled: Tile repeats it, Mirror repeats it flipped, and Clamp stretches the edge pixels.
TileMirrorClamp
Blend Mode
How the effect is blended with the original
ReplaceMultiplyScreenOverlay
Turbulent Noise9
Enable
Turns this group on or off.
Noise Type
Chooses the type of noise pattern.
FractalSoftWorleyRippleAngular
Amount
Scale
Octaves
The number of detail layers stacked in the noise
Complexity
The number of detail layers stacked in the noise. Higher values give finer, more complex detail.
Evolution
The evolution stage of the noise pattern. Keyframe it to bring the pattern to life.
Noise Offset
Moves the noise pattern. Keyframe it to make the pattern flow.
Random Seed
Changes the random pattern. The same value always gives the same result.
Halftone11
Enable
Turns this group on or off.
Halftone Type
CircleSquareStarDiamondLine
Cell Size
Angle
Offset X
Offset Y
Feather
The width over which edges are softened
Flicker
How much the brightness flickers irregularly
Flicker Evolution
Flicker Random Seed
Cell Spacing
Practical tips
- To offset the border from the original, use Distance and Direction in Offset. Directional mode creates a border pushed to one side only.
- For multiple borders, apply Stroke several times and stack them with different Size and color settings.
Where to use it
- Thick outlines on MV lyric text
- White borders that give a character a sticker look
- Wobbly lines that look hand-drawn
Pairs well with
Technical notes
- GPU-accelerated with OpenCL-based Jump Flooding on Windows and Metal on macOS, with a CPU fallback.
- Supports 8 · 16 · 32 bpc and Multi-Frame Rendering, and applies motion blur to animated Size and Opacity.
Included in both Essential and Pro
Start with Essential for $99, or get all 25 with Pro for $199.