Stroke paths with color

Last updated on Oct 9, 2026

Learn how to apply painting tool effects along path edges using current or custom brush settings in Adobe Photoshop.

Stroking a path applies a painted border along the path’s contours using the current painting or editing tool settings. Because the stroke uses your active brush settings, you can create effects ranging from precise lines to expressive, hand-painted details.

Use fill paths with color to fill the inside of a path. Unlike the stroke layer effect, Stroke Path follows the brush behavior and tool settings rather than applying a uniform border.

Note

When you stroke a path, the color is applied to the active layer. Before stroking, make sure a standard or background layer is selected. You cannot stroke a path when a mask, text, fill, adjustment, or Smart Object layer is active.

Apply a quick stroke

Select the path in the Window > Paths panel.

Select the Stroke Path icon at the bottom of the Paths panel.

The stroke uses the currently selected painting tool and its settings. Each additional click builds opacity and can increase the stroke’s visual thickness, depending on the active brush settings.

Stroke with custom tool settings

Select a painting or editing tool from the Tools panel.

Configure tool options and brush settings in the options bar.

Select the Paths panel menu, and then select Stroke Subpath.

Choose a tool in the Stroke Subpath dialog box if you did not select one in step 1.

Select the Simulate Pressure option to create hand-painted stroke variations, or deselect it for consistent, uniform strokes, and then select OK.

For detailed information about painting tool settings and brush options, see About painting tools, options, and panels. To learn about the Smudge tool for blending strokes, see Smudge image areas.

Painting tool setings and brush options options control how brush strokes are applied, while the Smudge tool blends colors and softens transitions by dragging existing pixels through the image.

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