how to make a picture look like a drawing in photoshop

Learn how to hands turn any photo into a black and white pencil sketch with Photoshop, so learn three groovy means to colorize the sketch!

Version note: This tutorial is for Photoshop CC 2022 and before. An updated version is available for Photoshop 2022 and 2022.

In this tutorial, nosotros'll learn how to easily create a classic Photoshop event, turning a photo into a pencil sketch! In fact, nosotros'll actually acquire how to create iv variations of the sketch event, starting with a unproblematic black and white version. We'll then take our black and white sketch and learn a few different ways to colorize it, first using the photo'south original colors, then with a single color, and so with a gradient!

We'll also larn how to keep our pencil sketch flexible and editable, letting us go back and fine-tune things as needed, by taking reward of Photoshop's Smart Filters, fill and aligning layers, and layer blend modes.

This version of the tutorial is compatible with Photoshop CC 2022 and before, including Photoshop CS6. Simply Photoshop 2022 or 2022 users will want to bank check out my updated version which includes recent changes to Photoshop's gradients.

Here'south the paradigm I'll be using (stylish dazzler portrait photo from Shutterstock):

The original prototype.

Here's how it will look as the initial blackness and white sketch:

The blackness and white version of the sketch.

Here's the same sketch colorized with the photo's original colors:

The first colorized version of the sketch.

Here's the same sketch again, this time colorized with a single color (you lot can cull any color you lot like):

The second colorized version of the sketch.

And finally, here'southward how the sketch will await afterward colorizing it with a gradient. At the end of the tutorial, we'll come across how to easily switch between all four versions so you tin choose the 1 yous like best:

The tertiary colorized version of the sketch.

Permit'due south get started!

How To Turn A Photo Into A Pencil Sketch With Photoshop

Step 1: Duplicate The Background Layer

With your image newly opened in Photoshop, if you expect in your Layers panel, you lot'll encounter the image sitting on the Background layer, currently the only layer in the certificate:

The Layers panel showing the photograph on the Background layer.

We're going to need this original image over again subsequently when we become to colorize the sketch, which means nosotros'll demand to brand sure we don't make whatsoever changes to information technology. To keep it condom, the showtime thing we'll do is make a copy of the epitome past duplicating the Background layer.

To practice that, click on the Groundwork layer and drag it down onto the New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers panel (2d icon from the right):

Dragging the Background layer onto the New Layer icon.

Release your mouse push button when your hand cursor is straight over the New Layer icon. Photoshop makes a re-create of the Background layer, names information technology "Background re-create" and places information technology higher up the original:

The Layers console showing the new "Background copy" layer.

Footstep 2: Desaturate The Layer

Next, we demand to remove all of the color from our "Background copy" layer, and we can do that apace using Photoshop's Desaturate control. Go upwardly to the Image menu in the Menu Bar along the top of the screen, choose Adjustments, so cull Desaturate. You can likewise use the keyboard shortcut Shift+Ctrl+U (Win) / Shift+Command+U (Mac):

Going to Paradigm > Adjustments > Desaturate.

Either fashion desaturates the epitome, leaving us with a black and white version of our photograph:

The epitome subsequently desaturating the color.

Step three: Duplicate The Desaturated Layer

Next, nosotros need to make a re-create of our desaturated layer. Click on the Background copy layer in the Layers panel and, just as we did with the original Background layer, drag it downwardly onto the New Layer icon:

Dragging the "Background re-create" layer onto the New Layer icon.

When you release your mouse push button, Photoshop makes a copy of the layer, names information technology "Background copy 2" and places it in a higher place the other layers:

The new "Background copy two" layer appears at the top of the layer stack.

Footstep 4: Invert The Layer

We need to invert the brightness levels in this layer, making light areas dark and night areas light, and we tin do that using Photoshop'due south Invert command. Get up to the Image carte du jour at the summit of the screen, choose Adjustments, so cull Capsize (keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+I (Win) / Control+I (Mac)):

Going to Image > Adjustments > Invert.

This inverts the image, creating a picture negative effect:

The prototype afterward inverting the brightness.

Step 5: Alter The Blend Fashion To Color Contrivance

Next, we demand to change the blend way of the layer. You'll find the Blend Way option in the upper left of the Layers panel. Past default, the blend style is set to Normal. Click on the word "Normal" to bring upwards a menu of other blend modes and choose Color Dodge from the list:

Changing the blend mode of the layer from Normal to Color Dodge.

This will turn the document completely white, or at to the lowest degree mostly white (you lot may encounter a few scattered areas of black depending on your prototype):

Changing the blend mode to Colour Dodge turns the document temporarily white.

Step 6: Catechumen The Layer Into A Smart Object

In a moment, we're going to create the master part of our sketch effect past blurring the layer using Photoshop's Gaussian Blur filter. Just rather than applying information technology every bit a normal filter, let's apply Gaussian Blur every bit a Smart Filter.

What'southward a Smart Filter, and how is it different from a normal filter? Well, Smart Filters are just like normal filters in Photoshop, only smarter! What makes them "smarter" is that while normal filters produce static results (that is, they brand permanent changes to the pixels on a layer), Smart Filters are not-subversive and remain fully editable. They allow u.s. to easily go back at any time and make changes to the filter's settings without whatsoever loss of image quality. By applying Gaussian Blur as a Smart Filter, we're giving ourselves the option to go dorsum and fine-tune our sketch effect later on rather than locking ourselves in with our initial filter settings.

So how practice we utilize Gaussian Blur as a Smart Filter? For that, we commencement demand to catechumen the layer to a Smart Object. Why practice we need to convert it into a Smart Object? It'due south considering, when a filter is practical to a normal layer, information technology remains a normal, static filter. Just when the verbal same filter is applied to a Smart Object, it automatically becomes a Smart Filter!

To convert the layer into a Smart Object, click on the small menu icon in the upper right corner of the Layers panel:

Clicking the Layers panel menu icon.

Then choose Convert to Smart Object from the carte that appears:

Choosing the "Convert to Smart Object" control.

It may not seem like anything has happened, but if we look again in the Layers panel, we now meet a modest Smart Object icon in the lower correct corner of the layer'south preview thumbnail. This tells us that the layer is now a Smart Object:

The Smart Object icon in the layer's preview thumbnail.

Step 7: Apply The Gaussian Blur Filter

Now that nosotros've converted the layer into a Smart Object, let's apply the Gaussian Blur filter. Become up to the Filter menu in the Bill of fare Bar along the top of the screen, choose Blur, and and then choose Gaussian Blur:

Going to Filter > Mistiness > Gaussian Blur.

This opens the Gaussian Blur dialog box. To create our master sketch upshot, all we demand to do is employ some blurring to the layer (the Smart Object). We control the amount of blurring using the Radius slider along the bottom of the dialog box. The further we drag the slider towards the right, the more we increment the radius value and the stronger the blurring will announced.

The result you lot accomplish will depend on how much blurring you've applied. Lower radius values will create a sketch with fine, thin lines, while larger values volition requite you a more photograph-realistic issue. For example, if I choose a fairly depression radius value of around 10 pixels:

Starting with a lower radius value.

I end up with this consequence here with very fine lines:

The sketch effect using a lower radius value.

If I increase the radius value to something much higher, maybe somewhere around 45 pixels:

Increasing the radius value for a stronger blur event.

I cease up with an effect that looks more than like the original photo. The exact radius value you choose will depend both on your image and the type of upshot yous're going for, so the all-time thing to practice is continue an eye on your image as yous drag the Radius slider and judge the results. In my case, even though I similar both versions, I think I like this 2nd, more photo-realistic version a bit improve, then I'll become with this one. Click OK when y'all're done to shut out of the Gaussian Mistiness dialog box:

The sketch effect with a larger radius value.

We accept our main sketch effect, and we created information technology using a Gaussian Blur Smart Filter. As I mentioned earlier, Smart Filters remain fully editable, allowing us to easily go dorsum and change the filter'due south settings later if needed. How do nosotros exercise that? Well, if we look once again in the Layers panel, we at present see the Gaussian Blur filter listed equally a Smart Filter beneath the Smart Object nosotros applied it to. If, at any point, yous starting time thinking that your sketch could use a bit more fine-tuning, simply double-click direct on the words "Gaussian Blur" to re-open the Gaussian Blur dialog box and drag the Radius slider equally needed:

Double-clicking the Gaussian Blur Smart Filter will re-open its dialog box.

Stride eight: Add A Levels Adjustment Layer

Nosotros've created our main sketch issue, simply depending on how much blurring y'all practical, you may exist finding that your sketch is looking too lite. If that'southward the case, we can easily darken information technology using a Levels adjustment layer. To add a Levels adjustment layer, click on the New Fill or Adjustment Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers console:

Clicking the New Fill or Adjustment Layer icon.

Choose Levels from the list that appears:

Choosing a Levels adjustment layer.

Photoshop adds a Levels aligning layer, names it "Levels 1", and places information technology in a higher place the other layers in the Layers panel:

The Layers panel showing the new Levels adjustment layer.

Step ix: Change The Layer Blend Mode To Multiply

The options and controls for the Levels aligning layer announced in Photoshop's Properties panel, merely there'southward nix here that we need to do with them. Instead, to darken the sketch, all we demand to do is alter the blend style for the Levels adjustment layer from Normal to Multiply:

Changing the blend manner of the adjustment layer to Multiply.

The Multiply blend mode is ane of a group of blend modes in Photoshop that darken the epitome, and right away, we see that my sketch now appears much darker:

The consequence afterwards changing the Levels blend mode to Multiply.

If you observe, as I do, that your sketch now appears also night, you lot tin fine-tune the corporeality of darkening by adjusting the opacity of the Levels adjustment layer. You'll find the Opacity option straight across from the blend fashion choice at the tiptop of the Layers panel.

The more you lower the opacity value below its default 100%, the more the layers below the Levels adjustment layer will show through, brightening the sketch dorsum upwardly. I'll lower mine down to around xl%, but continue an eye on your image as yous conform the opacity to discover the value that works best:

Lowering the opacity of the Levels adjustment layer.

After lowering the opacity, the overall brightness is now looking better:

Lowering the opacity brought back some of the brightness.

Step 10: Duplicate The Background Layer Again

At this point, we have our master sketch result, but currently it'southward in black and white. Allow'southward look at a few dissimilar ways to colorize it. Nosotros'll start by using the photo's own original colors. For that, we need to make another re-create of the Groundwork layer, so click on the Background layer (the original Background layer that'due south sitting beneath the other layers) and, just equally we've done a couple of times already, drag it down onto the New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers panel:

Making another copy of the Background layer.

Photoshop makes a copy of the layer, names information technology "Background re-create three" and places it straight above the original Background layer:

The "Background copy iii" layer appears above the original Groundwork layer.

Step 11: Rename The New Layer

We've created then many copies of our Background layer at this betoken that our Layers console is becoming cluttered with them, and they all have names ("Groundwork copy", "Groundwork copy 2", "Background re-create 3") that don't tell us anything well-nigh what the layer is existence used for. Let'south break the cycle and rename the layer we but created.

We're going to exist using the "Background copy 3" layer to colorize our sketch, so let's give it more descriptive name. To rename a layer, double-click directly on its name to highlight it:

Highlighting the current name by double-clicking on it.

With the name highlighted, type in the new proper noun. Let's proper noun it "Color". Press Enter (Win) / Return (Mac) on your keyboard when you're done to accept the name alter:

Changing the layer's proper name to "Color".

Step 12: Move The "Colour" Layer To The Top Of The Layer Stack

To apply this layer to colorize the sketch, nosotros demand to move it upwardly to the top of the layer stack; in other words, movement it above all the other layers. 1 way to practise that would be to click on information technology and merely drag information technology upwardly above the other layers, simply there's a faster way. To leap a layer straight to the acme of the layer stack, first make sure it's selected in the Layers panel. Then, press and hold Shift+Ctrl (Win) / Shift+Command (Mac) on your keyboard and press your right bracket key ( ] ). This will instantly jump the selected layer straight to the top:

The "Color" layer now sits at the top of the layer stack.

Step thirteen: Change The Alloy Way To "Color"

With the "Color" layer now the meridian-nearly layer in the document, your original prototype will re-appear, blocking the other layers below it from view, which is obviously non what we desire. We desire to blend the color from the original image in with our sketch. To practise that, simply alter the blend mode of the "Color" layer from Normal to Colour:

Changing the blend mode of the layer to Color.

The Colour blend manner tells Photoshop to blend only the color from this layer and ignore everything else, and just like that, the sketch is now colorized:

The sketch colorized with the photo'south original colors.

If the color appears too stiff, you lot can reduce it by lowering the opacity of the "Colour" layer. I'll lower mine down to l%:

Lowering the opacity of the "Color" layer.

And now, the color appears more subtle:

The effect after lowering the opacity of the "Color" layer.

Learn More: The Five Layer Blend Modes You Need To Know

Step fourteen: Turn Off The "Color" Layer

If you like the manner your sketch upshot looks using the photo'southward original colors, yous can end here. Otherwise, let's look at a second way to colorize it, this time using a single colour. Before we do, allow's turn off the "Colour" layer by clicking its visibility icon (the "eyeball" icon) in the Layers panel. This will bring back the blackness and white version of the sketch:

Turning off the "Color" layer by clicking its visibility icon.

Pace 15: Add together A Solid Color Fill Layer

To colorize the sketch with a single color, we'll utilize one of Photoshop'south Solid Color fill layers. Click once again on the New Fill or Aligning Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers panel:

Clicking the New Fill or Adjustment Layer icon.

Then choose Solid Color from the acme of the listing that appears:

Choosing a Solid Color fill layer.

As soon as you select the Solid Color fill layer, Photoshop will pop open the Color Picker, asking you to cull your color. Don't worry about choosing the wrong color here considering, as we'll see in a moment, we can easily come back and pick a different 1. I'll cull a shade of blue to see what that looks similar:

Choosing blue from the Color Picker.

Footstep xvi: Change The Alloy Mode To Color

Once you've chosen a colour, click OK to shut out of the Color Picker. Your document will temporarily exist filled with that color, and if y'all await in the Layers panel, you lot'll see the new fill layer, named "Color Make full 1", sitting at the top.

To blend the color in with the sketch, but alter the fill layer's alloy mode from Normal to Color:

Changing the fill layer's blend fashion to Color.

And now, the sketch appears colorized, in my case with blue:

The sketch colorized with blueish.

If you want to attempt a different color, double-click on the fill up layer's color swatch in the Layers panel:

Double-clicking the fill up layer's color swatch.

This re-opens the Color Picker, allowing you to cull something different. I'll endeavour a pinkish-majestic this fourth dimension:

Choosing a unlike colour from the Colour Picker.

I'll click OK to shut out of the Color Picker, and now my sketch appears with my new color. You tin become back and try equally many different colors as you like until yous notice the 1 that works best:

The sketch colorized with purple.

To reduce the intensity of the color, only lower the make full layer's opacity, keeping an eye on the results equally you drag the slider:

Lowering the opacity of the fill up layer.

Stride 17: Turn Off The Fill up Layer

Permit's look at one more than mode to colorize the sketch, this fourth dimension using a slope. Commencement, turn off the fill layer by clicking on its visibility icon in the Layers console. This will once again return you to the blackness and white version of the sketch:

Clicking the fill layer'due south visibility icon.

Footstep xviii: Add A Gradient Fill up Layer

To colorize the sketch with a gradient, nosotros'll employ a Gradient fill layer. Click once again on the New Fill or Aligning Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers panel:

Clicking the New Fill or Aligning Layer icon.

This fourth dimension, choose Gradient from the list:

Choosing a Gradient fill layer.

This opens the Gradient Fill dialog box. I covered everything y'all need to know about cartoon and editing gradients in Photoshop in our How To Describe Gradients With The Slope Tool and How To Utilise The Slope Editor tutorials so I won't go into detail here. Instead, let'due south wait at how to chop-chop select one of Photoshop's preset gradients and how to apply it to our sketch.

To choose a gradient, click on the small arrow to the right of the slope colour swatch at the pinnacle of the dialog box. Don't click on the colour swatch itself or you'll open the Slope Editor which is beyond the scope of this tutorial. Brand sure you click on the pointer to the right of the color swatch:

Clicking the arrow to the right of the gradient color swatch.

This opens the Gradient Picker, showing us thumbnails of preset gradients we can choose from. To select a gradient, double-click on its thumbnail. This volition both select the gradient and close the Gradient picker. For this tutorial, I'll choose the Spectrum slope (kickoff thumbnail on the left, bottom row):

Selecting the Spectrum slope.

Back in the Gradient Fill up dialog box, I'll alter the Angle of the gradient from its default 90° to 135°, which will cause it to run diagonally across the image, creating a bit more involvement:

Changing the angle of the gradient.

Click OK to close out of the dialog box when y'all're done. Your document will temporarily be filled with the slope:

The slope temporarily blocks the sketch from view.

Footstep 19: Change The Blend Fashion To Colour

If we look in the Layers panel, we see the Gradient fill layer ("Slope Fill ane") sitting at the acme. Simply equally nosotros've done a couple of times already, to alloy the gradient in with the sketch, simply change the blend mode of the Slope Fill up layer from Normal to Color:

Changing the blend mode of the Gradient Fill layer to Color.

Then, adjust the intensity of the colors if needed by lowering the layer'due south opacity:

Lowering the opacity of the Gradient Fill layer.

Here'due south what my sketch looks like colorized with the Spectrum gradient:

The final colorized sketch issue.

Choosing One Of The Previous Color Effects

Now that nosotros've colorized the sketch with a gradient, what if you like one of the previous colorized versions better (the ane using the photo's original colors or the one using the unmarried color)? Or, what if you don't like any of the colorized versions and want to get back to the black and white version? How do you switch back?

It'due south piece of cake. First, to hibernate the gradient, click on the Gradient Fill up layer's visibility icon in the Layers panel. With all 3 colorizing layers (the "Color" layer, the Solid Color fill up layer and the Gradient Fill layer) now turned off, y'all'll be back to your black and white version:

Clicking the Slope Fill up layer'south visibility icon.

Then, to bring back the single color version, click on the Solid Color fill layer's visibility icon (the empty square where the eyeball used to exist) to turn it back on. Or, to bring back the photograph's original colors, click the "Color" layer's visibility icon. I'll turn my "Colour" layer dorsum on:

Clicking the "Color" layer'southward visibility icon.

And now I'm back to my sketch being colorized with the photo'south original colors:

The original colors render.

And in that location nosotros accept it! That's how to easily plough a photo into a black and white pencil sketch, along with a few dissimilar ways to colorize it, in Photoshop! If you found this tutorial helpful, please consider supporting Photoshop Essentials by downloading the PDF version! Check out our Photograph Furnishings section for more than Photoshop effects tutorials!

Source: https://www.photoshopessentials.com/photo-effects/photo-to-color-pencil-sketch-with-photoshop-cc/

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