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DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> How to convert photographs to pencil sketches?
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04/05/2011 01:17:03 AM · #1
Is it possible to convert photos to realistic looking pencil sketches? Any tutorial or software available for that.

Has anyone tried? Any examples??
04/05/2011 01:49:26 AM · #2
I think Topaz Adjust 4 has a pencil sketch filter.
04/05/2011 02:16:38 AM · #3
I just trace and embellish.

eta: let me know if you want a tutorial. ;-)

Message edited by author 2011-04-05 02:17:19.
04/05/2011 02:25:43 AM · #4
Sometimes one thing that I do to accomplish a certain effect in some of my pictures includes a step that converts the picture to pencil like sketches. I then go on and use the results for a different purpose. Try the following and see if you like the results:

I am on mac, so if you are on a PC, replace anywhere you see "cmnd" with "ctrl"

Duplicate layer (cmnd + j)
Desaturate the new layer (shift + cmnd + u)
Duplicate the desaturated layer (cmnd + j)
Invert the new layer (cmnd + i)
Change the blending mode to Color Dodge (You should see nothing but plain whites here)
Apply Gaussian Blur until you are happy with the results

That should do it unless you are looking for a different kind of a look.

I hope this helps.

Message edited by author 2011-04-05 02:28:27.
04/05/2011 08:17:11 AM · #5
Topaz Simplify
04/05/2011 08:51:59 AM · #6
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

I just trace and embellish.


I see what you mean...your forefinger is huge!

Message edited by author 2011-04-05 08:52:19.
04/05/2011 10:55:49 AM · #7
Easy.

Stack:
A print of the photo on regular printer paper.
A piece of carbon paper.
A piece of drawing paper.

Trace the photo.

Remove the top two from the stack and finish the sketch.
04/05/2011 11:30:17 AM · #8
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Easy.

Stack:
A print of the photo on regular printer paper.
A piece of carbon paper.
A piece of drawing paper.

Trace the photo.

Remove the top two from the stack and finish the sketch.


haha I am guessing the OP does not want to do that much work
04/05/2011 11:31:40 AM · #9
If you have PS there are a number of Sketch Filters you can use
04/05/2011 11:49:34 AM · #10
I can turn this:

Into this:

And thence to this:

with a quick and easy trip down Topaz Simplify Lane in the village of Tonemapping here on Cape Cod, with a quick stop in the Parish of HiContrast over by the lakeshore...

Message edited by author 2011-04-05 11:52:16.
04/05/2011 12:45:17 PM · #11
Get a pencil and paper.

Draw.
04/05/2011 06:38:10 PM · #12
smart sharpen(I think?), edge only, decide how much detail you want, invert, voila.
04/06/2011 03:29:47 AM · #13
Originally posted by tanguera:

I think Topaz Adjust 4 has a pencil sketch filter.


First, I want to thank everybody for all the helpful replies.

I have just downloaded Topaz Adjust, and will give it a try.
04/06/2011 03:39:20 AM · #14
Originally posted by nightpixels:

Sometimes one thing that I do to accomplish a certain effect in some of my pictures includes a step that converts the picture to pencil like sketches. I then go on and use the results for a different purpose. Try the following and see if you like the results:

I am on mac, so if you are on a PC, replace anywhere you see "cmnd" with "ctrl"

Duplicate layer (cmnd + j)
Desaturate the new layer (shift + cmnd + u)
Duplicate the desaturated layer (cmnd + j)
Invert the new layer (cmnd + i)
Change the blending mode to Color Dodge (You should see nothing but plain whites here)
Apply Gaussian Blur until you are happy with the results

That should do it unless you are looking for a different kind of a look.

I hope this helps.


This was helpful, but I am looking for really realistic looks, like the hand drawn ones.

Like This!

Message edited by author 2011-04-06 03:41:41.
04/06/2011 03:53:04 AM · #15
Originally posted by Bear_Music:

I can turn this:

Into this:

And thence to this:

with a quick and easy trip down Topaz Simplify Lane in the village of Tonemapping here on Cape Cod, with a quick stop in the Parish of HiContrast over by the lakeshore...


I like the effect, although it is not exactly what I originally asked.

Can you please simplify?

Message edited by author 2011-04-06 03:53:33.
04/06/2011 04:53:54 AM · #16
Originally posted by kbhatia1967:

I like the effect, although it is not exactly what I originally asked.

Can you please simplify?


The program you need is Topaz Simplify. Not Topaz Adjust. I used Topaz Simplify, preset "Sketch LightPencil" with some tweaking on the sliders. Then I made a high-contrast curves adjustment layer in photoshop to clean up the grays.

R.
04/06/2011 01:18:08 PM · #17
I only got to play around for a few minutes last evening, but I got a result that amazingly was quite similar to Robert's using the built-in Ps filters. It involved a curves adjustment, and running the "find edges" filter, found under Filter>Stylize>Find Edges.
There are a ton of possible workflows. It would be cool to see more example starting images and results with workflows. Robert's image is a nice example, IMO. Copying it is a bugger because of the lousy GIF overlay. Robert, I wonder if putting it in your workshop would get 'round that issue?

ETA: I'll post my results for Robert's image this evening, along with the workflow.

Message edited by author 2011-04-06 13:18:54.
04/06/2011 01:31:28 PM · #18
Originally posted by kirbic:

I only got to play around for a few minutes last evening, but I got a result that amazingly was quite similar to Robert's using the built-in Ps filters. It involved a curves adjustment, and running the "find edges" filter, found under Filter>Stylize>Find Edges.

I've used Find Edges before ... I'm assuming you are using the Curves to heighten edge-contrast before using the Find Edges filter.

It occurs to me that a couple of other methods which might help accentuate the edges before running the filter would be to use the Unsharp Mask filter at a fairly "aggressive" setting first, or maybe to posterize it into 3-8 colors (Image > Adjust > Posterize ...) and create areas of solid color with sharply-defined edges.
04/06/2011 02:10:54 PM · #19
Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by kirbic:

I only got to play around for a few minutes last evening, but I got a result that amazingly was quite similar to Robert's using the built-in Ps filters. It involved a curves adjustment, and running the "find edges" filter, found under Filter>Stylize>Find Edges.

I've used Find Edges before ... I'm assuming you are using the Curves to heighten edge-contrast before using the Find Edges filter.

It occurs to me that a couple of other methods which might help accentuate the edges before running the filter would be to use the Unsharp Mask filter at a fairly "aggressive" setting first, or maybe to posterize it into 3-8 colors (Image > Adjust > Posterize ...) and create areas of solid color with sharply-defined edges.


Yep, lots of pre-processing opportunities. There are also some possibilities for modifying the result of the find edges filter after application. Recent versions of Ps now have "Smart Objects" so you can go back and change the parameters for adjustments after the fact. This really opens up options for experimenting.
04/06/2011 02:13:19 PM · #20
Originally posted by kirbic:

Recent versions of Ps now have "Smart Objects" so you can go back and change the parameters for adjustments after the fact. This really opens up options for experimenting.

I just make a duplicate layer and experiment with that ... of course, PS 5.0 isn't exactly a "recent" version ...
04/06/2011 02:15:02 PM · #21
Alien Skins SnapArt does some pretty decent renditions.
04/06/2011 03:26:20 PM · #22
Okay, per Kirbic's request, here's the full size, topazed-but-not-sketched JPG of the house; click on "view full-sized image" to download the whole magilla.



R.
04/06/2011 04:41:24 PM · #23
LOL - kbhatia1967, I can not resist these 'make-over' threads.
Probably the technique you are looking for is in Paint Shop Pro, but you can get some
nice results - as you have seen - in Ps.

Here's my take on Bear's House.



from Bear’s original:
Apply Ink Outlines from filter Gallery (Ps3)
Make Duplicate Copy
Apply Edges ONLY from Topaz Simplify 2 with a VERY light application
(just enough to strengthen structural details)
In PS apply Blending Mode – darken
Flatten image
Make new layer
Apply a brownish tint (I used: 223/190/169) at 50% opacity
Apply, lightly, canvas texturizer from filter Gallery
Apply Blending Mode – Multiply
Flatten, save, etc.
04/06/2011 11:41:05 PM · #24
Here's my take on Robert's image:


Details are on the image.

ETA: This was done from the original-sized image posted late today.

Message edited by author 2011-04-06 23:46:30.
04/07/2011 12:18:53 AM · #25

D7000, resized directly from the camera.
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