In this case, we will start on the Pencil Outline layer. Turn off all the layers bar the layer you are working on using the Eye icon next to the name of each layer in the Layers palette. Turn off all the layers above the one you are working on at the time. Create multiple Smart Object layers Once you create the first Smart Object layer, you can create all the additional layers we will need. Smart objects will make the files larger, but will make all the changes non-destructive and editable. Naming layers makes adjustments easier to keep track of.
Title the layer above the original “Base.” We can call the layer above Base, “Pencil Outline.” The layer above that, call “Shading” and the Layer above that, call “Lines” or “Edges.”
We will leave that one alone and only work on the layers above it. The original layer should be called Original (it will change from “Background” when you convert it into a Smart Object). There will be four layers above the original layer. Convert the base image into a Smart Object You can convert the image into a Smart Object by right-clicking on the layer or going to the edit menuĭuplicate the layers and rename the new layers.īecause the layer was already a smart image, all the duplicates will also be smart images and will be tied to the original layer (more about that later). We will proceed to convert the layer into a Smart Object by clicking on the layer. Press Delete and the background will disappear. Once you are happy with the mask, we need to invert the selection, so press Ctrl I or Command I (Windows/Mac) and select the background. Remember when working on the mask, white reveals and black conceals. Fundamentally, the mask doesn’t need to be perfect, just smooth. The Select and Mask tool is similar to the prior versions Refine Mask function, but works much better now. Alternatively, select the little layer mask icon in the Layer palette.Ĭlean up the mask by either using a black brush on the layer mask or use the Select and Mask tool. To do this, with your selection still made, go to Layer > Layer Mask > Reveal Selection. Mask out the subject Create a layer mask so you are only working on the portraitĬreate a layer mask so that you are only working on the portrait. This uses Adobe’s Sensei AI technology and selects the subject for you. With that highlighted, you can look across the top of the bar (on Adobe Photoshop CC) and use the Select Subject. Converting them into a smart object will allow you to make modifications to each layer.īefore you do this, use the Quick Select tool on the left side. We will be converting the layers into Smart Objects. Start with the image you want to convert into a pencil sketch Make sure you are working with an 8-bit image, or some of the filters will not be visible within Photoshop.
My version of Photoshop is windows-based, but the commands apply to Mac too. I photographed this during a recent portrait session. To convert a photo to a drawing in Photoshop, I will start with a portrait of a writer I know, Jane Marshall. Different versions of Photoshop may require slightly different approaches, particularly as it applies to smart objects. You will need to use Adobe Photoshop for this particular technique and I will be using the current 2020 CC version of Photoshop. If you are not familiar with these, check out the related links to learn more about them.
The steps aren’t complicated, but we will use smart objects, filters and blend modes.
So, this technique will show you how to convert a photo to a drawing in Photoshop. I can, however, take pretty good photographs. If you are anything like me, your artistic skills with a pencil are not great.