DannyRaphael
07-01-2003, 01:40 PM
Photoshop 7.01, but this applies to any version.
Since I have no traditional drawing skills, I've always liked the Filter > Stylize > Find Edges filter when it comes to converting portraits to photo-art.
This method works better on close-ups than "far away shots."
1. Duplicate the Background
2. Filter > Stylize > Find Edges
3. Image > Adustments > Desaturate. This isn't a "have to" step, but I think it looks better when you do.
Some people like to stop at this point. I usually go on to fine tune the results.
4. Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels.
In this case it doesn't matter since this is a simple image, but normally I would choose the "Group with previous layer" option. Doing so confines the effect of the layer to the one (below) with which it is grouped.
I messed with the sliders until I got the results I wanted, in this case, 154, 1.13 and 191. There's nothing magic about these settings. Use the ones that work for you.
Alternative: Set the blend mode in the Levels adjustment layer to Darken for a little more oomph.
5. Click the Background.
6. Layer > New Layer (name it something like "White Background"
7. Edit > Fill (white)
8. Click the Find Edges layer to make it active
9. Layer > Add Layer Mask > Reveal All
10. Press the D key to set the foreground and background colors to their default (black, white).
11. Select the brush tool. From the brushes palette choose a small, soft-edged brush.
12. Paint anywhere you want to suppress any of the lines in the Find Edges layer. If you goof and "over erase," switch the color swatches (press X) and paint white to undo.
13. As a last (optional) step add a Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer to the top of the layer stack. In this case I lowered the Brightness value to -45 to render a black lines on gray background look.
- - - - - -
Q: In steps 4 and 13, why adjustment layers vs. chosing the comparable commands from the Image > Adjustments menu?
A: Functionally the menu commands work exactly the same as their Adjustment Layer counterparts with one major exception. Adjustment Layers let you tweak and "adjust" after the fact. The menu command versions do not.
Personally, I like to try this setting and that setting, this blend mode, and that blend mode -- all easy to do with an adjustment layer, but impossible one an Image > Adjustment command is applied, unless you back up and start over.
- - - - - -
Attached in this post: Original image
Next post: Find Edges only
3rd post: Final image with the adjustment layers applied and Find Edges layer mask active.
- - - - - -
Okay. I'm about to violate a guideline already, which I will change as follows: "To help illustrate a concept, it's okay to post intermediate images."
Cheers...
Danny
Since I have no traditional drawing skills, I've always liked the Filter > Stylize > Find Edges filter when it comes to converting portraits to photo-art.
This method works better on close-ups than "far away shots."
1. Duplicate the Background
2. Filter > Stylize > Find Edges
3. Image > Adustments > Desaturate. This isn't a "have to" step, but I think it looks better when you do.
Some people like to stop at this point. I usually go on to fine tune the results.
4. Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels.
In this case it doesn't matter since this is a simple image, but normally I would choose the "Group with previous layer" option. Doing so confines the effect of the layer to the one (below) with which it is grouped.
I messed with the sliders until I got the results I wanted, in this case, 154, 1.13 and 191. There's nothing magic about these settings. Use the ones that work for you.
Alternative: Set the blend mode in the Levels adjustment layer to Darken for a little more oomph.
5. Click the Background.
6. Layer > New Layer (name it something like "White Background"
7. Edit > Fill (white)
8. Click the Find Edges layer to make it active
9. Layer > Add Layer Mask > Reveal All
10. Press the D key to set the foreground and background colors to their default (black, white).
11. Select the brush tool. From the brushes palette choose a small, soft-edged brush.
12. Paint anywhere you want to suppress any of the lines in the Find Edges layer. If you goof and "over erase," switch the color swatches (press X) and paint white to undo.
13. As a last (optional) step add a Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer to the top of the layer stack. In this case I lowered the Brightness value to -45 to render a black lines on gray background look.
- - - - - -
Q: In steps 4 and 13, why adjustment layers vs. chosing the comparable commands from the Image > Adjustments menu?
A: Functionally the menu commands work exactly the same as their Adjustment Layer counterparts with one major exception. Adjustment Layers let you tweak and "adjust" after the fact. The menu command versions do not.
Personally, I like to try this setting and that setting, this blend mode, and that blend mode -- all easy to do with an adjustment layer, but impossible one an Image > Adjustment command is applied, unless you back up and start over.
- - - - - -
Attached in this post: Original image
Next post: Find Edges only
3rd post: Final image with the adjustment layers applied and Find Edges layer mask active.
- - - - - -
Okay. I'm about to violate a guideline already, which I will change as follows: "To help illustrate a concept, it's okay to post intermediate images."
Cheers...
Danny