Photo to Sketch

Turn A Photo Into A Sketch, then turn them into paintings or make coloring books, your limit is your imagination

We will need a photograph to start with. We will turn it into a sketch and proceed to make a painting or a coloring book.

Start with your selected photo. Prepare it so it's exactly the dimensions and resolution you want your final document to be. 300dpi is what you want if you will print it, 72 dpi if its only for web

STEP 1 - Duplicate The Background Layer

First duplicate the background layer. Go Layer> New> Layer via Copy. Now we have 2 layers, the Background Layer, and Layer 1.

STEP 2 - Desaturate The Photo

With Layer 1 selected, choose Image> Adjustments> Desaturate. This gives us a grayscale version of the photo.

STEP 3 - Duplicate Layer 1

At this point you must duplicate Layer 1. With Layer 1 selected, go Layer> New> Layer via Copy. Now we have 3 layers, the Background Layer, Layer 1 and Layer 2.

Next we'll be working with Layer 2.

STEP 4 - Invert Layer 2

With Layer 2 selected, go Image> Adjustments> Invert. This will make your photo look like a negative.

STEP 5 - Change The Layers Blend Mode To Color Dodge

In the Layers Palette change the Layers Blend Mode for this layer (Layer 2) to Color Dodge. This will make your photo almost completely white, but don't panic! Everything is going to work out just fine.

STEP 6 - Apply The Gaussian Blur Filter

Go Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur. When the dialog box appears start by moving the Radius Slider all the way to the left. Once you've done that you can start to slowly move it to the right.

Now here's how make your own style — because as you move the slider your sketch will start to appear. At this point take time to experiment and make sure you are getting the desired effect. People have different tastes , so your choice will be your own style. Experiment, have fun

Bigger numbers create a more pronounced effect, but at some point this will turn your sketch back into a photo, which you don't want, so when you reach that point simply nudge the slider to the left just a little and that should do it!

Experiment With Settings

This technique will also work with the Motion Blur Filter and the Radial Blur Filter. Because sometimes an image will not work as expected, and so you have to try different methods.