Scalloped borders are everywhere right now, and they’re such an easy way to give simple text, shapes, and clipart a cute hand drawn finish.
In this week’s tutorial, I’m showing you how to create scalloped borders in Affinity using two completely different methods.
The first method is perfect when you’re working with text or vector shapes directly inside Affinity. The second lets you add a custom scalloped border around an existing image or piece of clipart.
I’ll also show you how a simple change from a solid circle to a stroked circle can completely change the finished look of your scallops.
Method 1: Create Scallops Using a Dashed Stroke
For our first method, we’re starting with something really simple.
Instead of manually drawing dozens of circles around the outside, we can actually use Affinity’s stroke settings to do most of the work for us.
Start by Adding a Stroke
First, add a stroke around your text or shape.
Then, inside the Stroke panel, change your regular solid stroke to a dashed stroke.
At first, it’s going to look like exactly what it sounds…like a dashed line.
But this is where we can start manipulating the settings!
Turn Your Dashes Into Circles
By adjusting the dash, gap, stroke width, and cap settings, you can transform those little dashes into rounded circles.
Continue adjusting the settings until the circles:
- Are the size you want
- Sit closely together
- Follow the entire outside edge
- Create the appearance of a continuous scalloped border
You’re technically still working with a stroke, but visually, those rounded dashes look like individual scallops surrounding your design.
This makes it incredibly easy to experiment with the size and spacing until you get the look you want.
Method 2: Add Scallops Around Existing Clipart
But what if you aren’t working with editable text or a vector shape?
Maybe you already have a PNG or piece of clipart and want to give that a scalloped border.
That’s where the second method comes in.
For this technique, I upload my finished image into Affinity and create one circle using the Ellipse Tool.
I position that circle along the outside edge of the artwork and then duplicate it.
And duplicate it again.
And again.
I continue duplicating and positioning those circles until they completely surround the outside of the image.
Move the Circles Behind Your Artwork
Once your circles are in place, move them behind the original image in the Layers panel.
Now only the outer portions of those circles are visible.
And suddenly…
You have a scalloped border!
Because you’re placing the circles yourself, this method also gives you a lot of control over exactly where the scallops appear around irregularly shaped clipart.
Solid Scallops vs. Hand Drawn Scallops
I also show you two different ways to style the circles because they create very different finished looks.
Option 1: Solid Fill
Leave the circles with a solid fill and place them behind your artwork.
This gives you a bold, clean scalloped edge.
Option 2: Stroke Only
For a completely different look, turn the circle’s fill off and use only the stroke.
Once those outlined circles are layered behind your artwork, you get a much lighter scalloped effect that can work beautifully with doodle, sketchy, or hand drawn designs.
This is the style I demonstrate with the clipart in the tutorial, and I love how it complements artwork that already has that imperfect illustrated feel.
Which Scallop Method Should You Use?
It really depends on what you’re starting with.
If you’re creating text or vector shapes inside Affinity, the dashed stroke method is fast, adjustable, and incredibly easy to customize.
If you’re working with an existing PNG or piece of clipart, manually placing circles gives you much more control over how the border follows the artwork.
And once you understand both techniques, you can choose whichever one makes the most sense for each design.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes a small detail is all it takes to make a design feel completely different.
Scalloped borders are simple, but they add just enough extra personality to make text and clipart feel more playful and finished.
And now you have two different ways to create them in Affinity, whether you’re building your artwork from scratch or adding the effect to an image you’ve already created.
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