Photoshop can turn a photo into an image that resembles a sketch.
There are many ways to turn a photograph into a sketch using Photoshop. Some methods require you to create several duplicate layers and to use functions such as desaturate and color dodge. Those instructions can be complicated to some and are easy to mess up. Sometimes the results are poor, especially if the photograph has many dark tones or many light tones. The great thing about Photoshop is that other procedures are available.
Instructions
Photos with Many Dark Tones
1. Run Photoshop 7 and open a color photograph.
2. Click on "Image" in the main menu, select "Adjustments" and click on "Desaturate." This function will turn you color photograph into a black and white version. Do not use this function if your photo is already black and white.
3. Click on "Filter" in the main menu, select "Artistic" and click on "Colored Pencil." In the Colored Pencil window, move the Pencil Width slider to the left to make the strokes look very thin or fine. Move the Stroke Pressure and Paper Brightness to the right to add contrast.
4. Click on "Image" in the main menu, select "Adjustments" and click on "Brightness/Contrast." Shift both sliders to the right to make the light and dark tones contrast even more than in the previous step.
5. Click on "Filter," select "Sketch" and click on "Graphic Pen." Click "OK." If the results need adjustment, repeat this step and move the Stroke Length and Light/Dark Sliders in the Graphic Pen window.
6. When you are happy with the results, save the Photoshop project, then save it again as an image file in a format such as JPG or GIF.
Photos with Many Light Tones
7. Run Photoshop 7 and open a color photograph.
8. Click on "Filter" in the main menu, select "Sketch" and click on "Photocopy." Put both sliders in the middle and click "OK."
9. Pick "Image" in the main menu, choose "Adjustments" and click on "Brightness/Contrast." Shift both contrast and brightness sliders to make the light areas lighter and dark lines darker.
10. Select "Filter," click on "Sketch," choose "Graphic Pen" and hit "OK" to see the results. If the results need adjustment, repeat this step and move the Stroke Length and Light/Dark Sliders in the Graphic Pen window. You can save the Photoshop project document and image file or go on to the next step for further image enhancements.
11. Click on "Filter," pick "Sketch" and select "Charcoal" for additional artistic effects.
Convert the Photo to a Sketch with Few Steps
12. Run Photoshop 7 and open a color photograph.
13. Pick "Filter" in the main menu, click on "Sketch" and select "Charcoal," "Graphic Pen" or "Photocopy." Choose the selection that appeals to your taste.
14. Move the sliders in the "Charcoal," "Graphic Pen" or "Photocopy" windows you selected. If you cannot tell which direction to move the sliders, keep them in the middle and click "OK."
15. Re-adjust the sliders for "Charcoal," "Graphic Pen" or "Photocopy" by going to Step 2 above.
16. Save the Photoshop project document and image file.
