The thread Lisa Peters (aka: OhThatGirl2001) started way back in about March 2002 describing a pencil sketch method she discovered at About.com was probably the one that resulted in the creation of the Photo-based Art forum, something for which many (including myself) will always be grateful. :)

This is a summary of the steps Lisa shared:

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1. Background: Duplicate image ("A. Desaturated")
2. "A": Desaturate
3. "A": Duplicate image ("B. Color Dodge")
4. "B": Set blend mode to Color Dodge and Invert (CTRL + I). Don't panic. Screen will go almost (or completely) white.
4a. Optional step: Some methods suggest setting the opacity to 95%. Your call.
5. "B": Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur - blur to taste.
6. Create a new Levels adjustment layer ("C. Levels")
7. "C": Adjust the contrast by moving the Left slider toward the right. Might have to move the R slider towards the left a bit. Experiment. (Note: Some people prefer to use a Brightness / Contrast adjustment layer here instead.)

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Optonal steps to add kind of a pastel-like look:

8. If/when you like what you see, create a new layer "D. Base".

9. Cool Trick. "D.": ALT + CTRL + SHIFT + E (this merges all visible layers into layer D without collapsing the individual layers in case you need them again later.

10. Create a Brightness / Contrast adjustment layer above layer D. Make no adjustments at this time. Name it "E. B/C"

11. Click the Background layer and duplicate it.

12. ALT +CTRL + SHIFT + ] (Right bracket) - to move the duplicated Background layer to the top of the layer stack.

13. New layer name: "F. Color"

14. "F": Set blend mode to Color.

15. "E": Open the Brightness / Contrast adjustment layer; start by moving the Contrast slider to the left. See the soft color appear? Tweak the Brightness / Contrast sliders to suit.

VARIATIONS
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* Adjust opacity of layer F
* Turn off layer E

Layers A, B, C, D...

The pastel look...

Granted this look may not be optimal for "people," but try it on flowers or scenery.

Base image

Steps 1-7...

The remaining steps... plus I added a Hue/Saturation adjustment later at the top of the layer stack and boosted the saturation to + 65.

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Have fun!

~DannyR~

Using the technique described above, I found that setting the gaussian blur all the way to the right, usually makes a more detailed, pencil like sketch.

Janet

Hi, Ms. Janet. It's getting cooler here in the hills, isn't it? :)
Very interesting results, and I'm glad you bumped this thread back up. I had never seen it, and thanks, Danny for sharing this technique. I tried it on a lotus blossom. Looks sorta like a chalk drawing.

Hey, Ms. Cat. Not only cooler, but we FINALLY got some of that rain we need so badly.

I can see you added back some of the color. I really like the soft, almost romantic feel in the way it turned out. GGoing.

Janet

eScrappers Pencil Sketch (http://www.escrappers.com/pencilsketch.htm). I did sharpen the eyes a bit.

For the colored version, I placed the sketch above as the base layer with duplicate copies of the original color photo. Set the Top layer to Hue and the Middle layer to Saturation. I did whiten certain areas (i.e., teeth and eye whites) a bit. :)

Here's one of Kate using my old pencil portrait method.
Alan

Had to give this a try. This is "Lisa's pencil sketch", basically, but with angled strokes run on the desaturated layer and 2 duplicates of the original on top, one in color mode, one in linear burn. I think.

dc