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.