Turn a photograph into a line drawing using Photoshop.
Photography allows you to capture images accurately and easily. Drawing requires skill to create a truly realistic line drawing. With a little help from Photoshop, you can transform a photograph into a line drawing. It may take some practice to get it right, but before you know it, you'll be creating line drawings with ease. From there, you can experiment with colors and shading to create your own unique art projects.
Instructions
1. Open the photograph in Photoshop. Rename the file "Original."
2. Make the image lighter so that lines are easier to see by choosing "Image," then "Adjustments" and selecting "Brightness/Control."
3. Duplicate the original image and name it "Top." Create two additional layers of the image under the top layer. Leave one layer transparent and rename it "Line Drawing." Fill the layer closest to the original white and rename it "Background."
4. Turn the "Visibility" off for the layer named "Background" and for the layer named "Top" and turn it on for the layers labeled "Line Drawing" and "Original," keeping the line drawing layer active.
5. Choose a thick and thin line weight from the "Brush Palette." Adjust the "Shape Dynamics" and set the "Control" to "Fade" so that the lines can taper. Adjust the "Fade" setting and "Minimum Diameter," and set the foreground color to black.
6. Find the center of focus and begin tracing the lines there using short lines, instead of trying to do one solid outline.
7. Right-click on the line and select "Stroke Path" from the menu. Turn on the background "Visibility" and, if you like the positioning of the lines, right-click again and select "Delete Path." To draw more lines, turn off the "Visibility" for the background and repeat Steps 6 and 7.
8. Redo any lines by going to the "History Palette" and adjusting the settings as desired. Erase lines in a diagonal motion to keep the taper of the lines.
9. Select "Brush Shape Dynamics Window" to create a line that tapers at both ends. Change control from "Fade" to "Pen Pressure" and "Minimum Diameter" to one percent. Select the "Stroke Path" and simulate pressure.
10. Check your work by turning on the background and turning the top layer on and off to see how the lines are matching up. Adjust your lines as necessary.
11. Utilize the shape tools for square, round and oval shapes.
