Cartoon/Graphic Image

[T Paul]

Take a photo of a person or animal and turn them into a graphic or cartoon image.

When you're done, just reply to this thread. Attach your before and after images to your post (no URLs, please). Don't forget to include a description of your steps.

As always, this challenge doesn't expire, ever.

-T

[W. Rose]

Hi T. Paul,
I have been following your posting for awhile now and would like to join in on one of your threads, but i don't think i'm ready. Maybe soon. But i do follow what everyone is doing on them.
Wayne

[T Paul]

Wayne, glad that you are following the threads, but don't be afraid to get your feet wet and jump right in! These challenges are open to all levels of expertise. Don't worry if you are a beginner, this is a great way to get pointers and learn from others!

~T

[T Paul]

Okay I'll get this started.

1. Duplicated Image

2. Image>Adjust>Posterize to lower the number of colors
Try starting with a value of 3 with and keep increasing it until you like the results. A value of 4 or 5 typically works.

3. Simplified the image more Filter>Artistic>Cutout. To start with try 4 for the number of Levels, 4 for Edge Simplicity and 2 for Edge Fidelity. Again adjust the numbers to your tastes. Note, This is the layer I used as my tracing source.

4. Create a new layer. Use the lasso tool to select an area (for eaxmple the main skin color). Then with the selection still active and while on the new layer choose a color and fill your results. Do this will each band of color, creating a new layer each time until you have your graphic built.

Note you will have to turn these layers on and off in order to still see your tracing layer below.

For a smoother results and more control create clipping paths.

5. Once done. Turn off your tracing layer and create a new layer under all your traced layers and fill with a solid color to create a new background.

In short you use the filters to create a layer to trace and the final image is created by hand.

Photo by wag66 on stockxchng.com

[gina]

Wow T Paul, this is really good-i have to try it too!
Seems a rather simple pic is best to start hé!


gina

[T Paul]

Thanks Gina and a great rule of thumb is to keep it simple.

I am going to have to try a version using clipping paths. I haven't experimented with them yet, but I know they can give you a lot of editing control.

[sjm]

but i don't quite understand the lasso and clipping steps. this is just steps 1-2-3

[T Paul]

SJM nicely done!

As for your question, I basically used the first 3 steps to create a template that I could trace....

Once I simplified the colors through posterize and cutout, there were distinct sections of colors. However, these sections had rough edges and still perhaps too many colors. I wanted crisper lines so I used the lasso tool to outline the shapes of colors I wanted using the posterized/cutout layer as a template. Once I traced an area I placed it on a new layer and filled with a solid color. This way I could create crisp lines and fill with any color I chose. Also it gave me the artistic license to change the shapes as I saw fit. Basically the lasso/clipping path step is an extra step but it gives you a lot of creative control over your results.

I’ve included an animated gif showing how I made the image.


~T

[sjm]

i guess i'm pretty dense, but I still don't get it.

what do you suggest i do to make my portrait more 'cartoony'?

[T Paul]

First off you are not dense. It’s not always easy to communicate a technique. Also note that there are lots of different ways to accomplish the same thing. That's the purpose of this thread...to have people try to achieve the same effect and share how they did it. I think your cartoon image looks fine.

Applying the fourth step to your image…
All I did was take your finished image and use it as a template. I used the lasso tool to outline each color area. Once I had an area selected, I created a new layer and filled the selection. I did this for each color. So I had serveral layers for the hair, eyes, nose, mouth, skin and so on. You can fill the areas with whatever color you want...it's your graphic. I did add a few more color streaks to liven up the hair.

Note, for crisp edges make sure you have 0 px selected for the feather option when you use the lasso tool.

[Janet Petty]

OK, I realized AFTER I did this cartoon and began to post it that we were supposed to have a person or an animal. All I remembered was the word cartoon. So I apologize (with tongue in cheek since I'm posting this anyway).

Danny Raphael has this violin in an art forum; but it was too good to pass up for the cartoon.

I didn't do anything fancy. In fact, what I did was a happy accident while trying to do the art thing for the other forum.

The screen shot gives the steps in a much clearer fashion than I'm able to write them. I will say that I like using several threshold layers rather than posterize. I find they are much more forgiving when it comes to really manipulating shades in a photo.

Enjoy--Even though it is an inanimate object.

Janet

[T Paul]

Nicely done Janet! I will have to give thresholds a try. As for being illegal...nah, objects are welcomed too. Also thanks for including your layers, they explain your steps wonderfully.

Thanks for the new technique. Hopefully we will see other ways to make a cartoon image posted to this thread.


~T

[keepemcomin]

Here's my first attempt at any art challenge, so please be kind. I didn't divert from the original directions at all. I had a hard time with the nose and eyes; my husband actually helped me with the nose because I had it looking a little clownish.

ETA these links; I made the pictures too small in photoshop.

Original
Cartoon-ed

[T Paul]

keepemcomin,

Welcome to your first art challenge and what an excellent job! I can’t wait to see more entries form you. You should be thrilled with the results. You have created a lovely graphic! I especially like the eyes and kudos on your husband for helping you with the nose. The nose is usually the most difficult feature to make look natural. Excellent job!

[TwinbNJ]

Had to give this one a try. All the posts are great. I started off with the steps T gave, but my image was B&W so I painted in each color on a seprate layer, color mode. When I was done flattened the image and duplicated and added poster edges, brought down the opacity and fill.

I used a photo I took of my daughter.

[T Paul]

Jill,

Nicely done…I love the B&W too! The color adds a bit of vibrancy to the image and I really like the subtle soft blush on the cheeks. I’m glad you gave this challenge a try!

[Neve]

What a surprise, I got a result of sorts!

I duped the original/Mode-Screen to lighten.
Merged both layers.
Selected horse and repasted into a new blank image.
Spent ages smudging the horses hair and coat.
Smudge enlarged the ears and mouth.
Deformed and widened the whole horse.

Experimented with …..
Flaming Pear – Chroma Solarize
Photo Wizz – RGB TO YCC
Blend Mode – Soft Light.
This turned the horse shades of pink.
Merged all visible

I then had a look at your instructions T. Paul –
thank you and did posterize.
Then made selections and started filling in
with the main colour of the horse (i.e. pink).
I discovered something new with PSP8.01 –
that I then did NOT have to keep making selections
of other colours to fill …. that when I used the
Fill Tool and placed on top of the other colours
they filled automatically???

The first result was after I filled in the bg etc.
The second one was after applying Photo Wizz
Filter again – HSL 2 RGB which changed all
the colours.

Thank you – I learned quite a bit with this exercise.

p.s. Yes...I did add extra graphics (i.e. PSP tubes - diamond and used
a brush to add the boa)

[FrannyMae]

Thought I'd give this one a quick try using a tutorial from Photoshop User Magazine on a pic I took at the circus earlier this year:

1. Duplicate original, and get rid of distracting background elements
2. Make a copy of your "fixed" original and name it "dodge/burn"
3. Create a high contrast black and white using a channel mixer AL set to monotone (check channels for most contrasty and go from there)
4. Use a threshold AL to get just black and white tone, play around until you can see the major element but don't worry about the details yet
5. On the "dodge/burn" layer use a soft wide brush and the burn tool to bring out details. You can lower the opacity of the Threshold layer so you can see where details belong.
6. On the "dodge/burn" layer use a small hard brush and the dodge tool to bring back some white areas where you want to add color.
7. Create a new layer for each color you want to add, set blending mode to multiply, and just paint in the colors you want!

I was in a hurry so I didn't paint as carefully as I should have, but you get the idea. Plus, I figure if it was a cartoon it might be kind of, shall we say, freestyle? LOL!

[Janet Petty]

Very, very nice. I shall be using this technique soon I'm sure. I have just the photo for it.

Not all of us take those magazines, yet there is a lot to be learned. Thanks for sharing.

Janet

[Neve]

Excellent Franny Mae, thank you for the details also which I'm keen to try out in the morning. You started with just the right image too. Well done.

[T Paul]

Originally Posted by Neve

Thank you – I learned quite a bit with this exercise.

Always love to hear it when people learn from an exercise!

Neve I like your results. By widening the image, you changed the look from a horse to a pony. In fact, the graphics remind me of the children’s toy “My Little Pony.” I’d have to say that the pink one is my favorite of the two. I also like the touch of the added sparkle to the eye. Nicely done!

[T Paul]

FrannyMae,

Thanks for sharing your technique! It's always fun to learn a new one.

Your image has a very nice arty look to it. In fact, it reminds me of one of those paint-by-numbers kit you get from a craft store. I especially like the bright colors! Nicely done!

~T

[FrannyMae]

Thanks for the nice feedback everyone! T Paul, I had to laugh when you said it looked like a paint-by-numbers kits! It reminds me a lot of the kits where the background is black velvet and you fill in the white spaces with markers-my son loves those things. I've never tried it on a picture with more subtle coloring, but would like to see the result. I love all the different approaches everyone has taken! Cheers!

[Neve]

Thank you for kind comments T Paul. I thought perhaps this was a bit childish for this particular thread with so many wonderful more adult results but with 5 granchildren...I just couldn't resist my wee ponies! Franny Mae, I'm still sitting here with your notes for your result and determined to find time tomorrow to try it out! Thanks again and to everyone else for sharing so much. Excellent thread and looking forward to seeing even more wonderful results.

[FrannyMae]

I thought I would post an image of my husband that I turned into a cartoon...after some alterations! He needed a new head, for one thing! LOL! I also ditched the Christmas tree. I love doing this kind of picture!

Franny

[thomasfoo]

It's raining, tv sucks, what better thing to do than messing with PS. My amateurish way:
1. duplicate layer
2. create new layer/lasso face/edit>fill color (red)
3. create new layer/lasso eyes/edit>fill color (black)
4. merged layers
5. edit>stroke>8 pix
6. create new layer for base>gradient
7. Got Pig1
8. Accidentally set face layer blend to "difference", got pig2. Like this one better for its haunting effect. It is coming back to get you!

Note: the original pig head foto was taken from a supermarket.

[akj]

Thanks for the technique TPaul. I had fun with this one. Will have to work some more with it. Decided to try it on my kitty Grizzle. I had trouble with the eyes though. Any ideas to improve the look? I used clipping paths to select the different colored areas. I used the freeform pen tool which was a bit difficult. I think next time I might try the lasso tool instead. I also think it's time to hook up my old tablet. This stuff sure is hard with a mouse!!

[malia01us]

This is a fun thread! I have a pic I've been wanting to do this kind of effect on, but wasn't sure of where to begin...and now thanks to all the tips & techniques shared here, I know!

I'm definitely going to have to install my tablet on my home computer, I'm far too shaky to do a good outline with a mouse!

I'll post results when I get to try it...

[T Paul]

Franny,
Excellent results and the dot fill further emphasized the cartoon appearance! Now you just need to print it on some transfer paper and apply it to a t-shirt!

Thomasfoo,
Rainy days are great for playing! Nice use of the gradient and stroke.

Amanda,
Nice results especially by using a mouse! The problem with the eyes is that you didn’t fully define them. Try completing the outline of the eye and don’t forget the pupil. Also try adding a line to help define the neck from the body. Then add a few whiskers for the finishing touch!

Malia01us,
Looking forward to seeing your results!

[T Paul]

Amanda,

Hear is an example of what I mean by outling the eyes more and defining the chin area....

This is a rough example done with the lasso tool and the mouse