Add Image Border

An Image Border Tool is a styling utility used to add decorative frames or solid spacing around a digital image. This tool is essential for social media managers, print designers, and photographers creating polished visuals, separating images from white backgrounds, or adding brand colors to screenshots.

Implementation & Processing Pipeline

The processing engine handles framing through a canvas expansion pipeline:

1. Canvas Expansion: The tool calculates the new dimensions based on your selected border width.
2. Background Fill: It fills the entire new canvas with your chosen color or gradient.
3. Image Layering: It draws your original image on top, centered or positioned as requested.
4. Radius Clipping: If you choose "Rounded Corners", it applies a clipping mask to the image layer to soften the edges.
5. Reactive Real-time Rendering: The preview updates instantly as you adjust sliders or change colors.

How It's Tested

We test the framing engine to ensure precise dimensions and logical layering.

1. The "Border Width" Precision:
   • Action: Add 10px border to a 100x100px image.
   • Expected: The output must be exactly 120x120px (10px added to Left, Right, Top, Bottom).
2. The "Color Accuracy" Check:
   • Action: Select a specific Hex color (e.g., #FF0000 Red).
   • Expected: The border pixels must match that color value exactly.
3. The "Transparency" Handling:
   • Action: Add a border to a transparent PNG.
   • Expected: The transparency of the original image should be preserved if placed over a transparent background, or filled if over a solid one.
4. The "Radius" Logic:
   • Action: Apply a 50% border radius.
   • Expected: The image should appear as a circle or oval within the square frame.

The History of Framing

From physical gold-leaf frames in museums to the border: 1px solid black of the early web, framing has always been about separation and focus. It tells the viewer where the content ends and the context begins.