From the Downloads page you can download many automated tasks called Palettes. These Palettes perform a series of tasks at the click of a button. This particular Palette Button creates an outline around a selected motif within seconds. 

Without using this button, the process of creating key lines can be time consuming. If the thickness of the key line created is not appropriate for your design, you can edit to better suit your needs.

Prior to running a Palette in AVA

Before your start, it is advisable to lock the current history item in your History Window prior to running any Palette Button. This is because Palettes run a series of tasks, and each is logged in your History. Therefore, if you wish to undo the effects applied by the Palette, you will have several steps to undo.  In some cases (when using your more complex Palettes) these steps may exceed the maximum number of steps the History Window is set up to record (Window Menu > History > Set Maximum). To lock a History Item:

1. Go to Window Menu > History.
2. Click on the icon which looks like an outline of a padlock. The icon will changes once it is clicked on:
   
   

Locking the most recent history item means will will not get overwritten, even if you exceed the maximum number of history items you have set up. The lock will remain in place until you unlock it (by clicking the lock icon again), or until you close the file.

How to use the Outline Palette Button

1. Open the design you wish to apply an outline to.
2. Download the Effects Palette from the Downloads Page.
3. Activate the layer you wish to outline.
4. Press the Outline button in the Palette.
5. Watch the outline be automatically applied to your layer.

How to edit the results of the Outline Palette Button

If you want to change the thickness of the resulting outline, it is very easy to change. Simply use your History Window to go back:

1. Hold down ⌥ (option key) and click on the title of the button to open the editor.
2. Click the icon to the right of the 'Grow Selection' option.
3. Change the units to suit your requirements. 

How to edit the results of the Outline Palette Button in 5.9+

If you want to change the thickness of the resulting outline, it is very easy to change. Simply use your History Window to go back:

1. Open the palette and show the group list 
   
2. Click the settings icon to the right of the 'Grow Selection' option to open the item editor.
   
3. Change the units to suit your requirements.