| In this tutorial you will learn how to convert a photo into a sketch. This works best on photos of people, but can be used for anything you like. This is probably the quickest and easiest way to do the sketch technique that I have seen. I used to use the method that's available @ Spoono.com but after reading another method I found that I could make one that was quicker to do and easier to remember.
Step 1: Open the image you wish to apply this technique to, I'm going to be using this royalty-free stock image I found. 
Step 2: Duplicate the background layer 3 times, ending up with 4 layers the same. Name these 3 new layers 1, 2 & 3 as I have below. 
Step 3: For the moment 'hide' the layers '1' and '2'. Select the layer named '3', then go to FILTER>STYLIZE>EMBOSS and use the settings shown. 
With this layer still selected, go to IMAGE>ADJUSTMENTS>DESATURATE (Shift+Ctrl+U) to remove the colour. Now go to FILTER>STYLIZE>FIND EDGES. If you have layers '1' and '2' hidden, then your image should look alittle like this. 
Step 4: Now select layer '2', it should now be visible. Set this layers blending mode to 'Hard Light'. If layer '1' is still hidden then your image will look something like this. 
Step 5: Now select layer '1', it should become visible. Set this layers blending mode to 'Colour'. This softens and fleshes out the colour abit, your image should look abit like mine below. 
Step 6: OK, last step and your all done. Select layer '3', and choose the History Brush Tool. We're gonna use this tool to touch up the image abit. Choose a brush size that allows you to get into the small area's of the image, but not precisely, this is a sketch and colour outside the lines is ok. For this image I choose 21 as my brush size. Set the opacity of the brush to 25%, and leave the rest as default. Now go over the part of the image you want coloured, in this case I want the person coloured, so I have gone over the person only. Do not click, but instead hold the mouse button down and drage the brush around the image, this gives it a smoother look. Remember only go over it once. Here's mine. 
(OPTIONAL) Step 7: If you aren't happy with the result, then use the history brush again and go over the area's that need touching up. I wasn't happy with the some area's on the face so I've gone over them to add more colour, try and even it out abit. This is how mine turned out after that, a pretty good result I think. 
There we have it, your photo has now been turned into a sketch, hope it turned out for you as well as it did for me. |