[Swampy]

This video tutorial demonstrates my favorite method of converting a photograph into line art. It uses the MINIMUM filter in Photoshop CS2, but should also work in earlier versions of Photoshop. [details]

**Edited 12/24/06: I've found an anomaly in Photoshop CS2 that may prevent getting the desired results. If you have run the Smart Blur filter at any time using either of the "Edge" options, and in doing that have reset the Radium/Threshold sliders, these settings "stick" or are retained and effect the control of the Other->Minimum blur. You will need to rerun the Smart Sharpen filter Edge effects (do this on a BACKUP FILE or Dupe layer which you can then remove!!) and set Radius to 0.1, Threshold to 0.1, Quality to any preference and Mode to Normal. This problem may also occur in other versions of Photoshop. For some reason the Smart Blur settings persist even if you have quit photoshop. They will default back to your last Smart Blur setting when you relaunch Photoshop.


Below are before and after images.

Enjoy!

[patriciakay]

Swampy...this is brilliant...so easy to understand you and lovely to hear your voice...

Thank you so much for taking the time to share this....

Patricia...

[skydog]

Swampy,

I must say you are on a ROLL....keep ROLLING!

I didn't know that particular trick...don't know where or how you picked it up, but thanks for passing it on...I'm sure it will be of some use.

[DannyRaphael]

Hey, that tutorial turned out great. Well done.

As noted elsewhere I *REALLY* like this method. Even wrote a Photoshop action to automate the process. Named it "ART Sketch-Swampy" in your honor!

[skydog]

Swampy,

You got me carried away...thanks again...and your next tutorial will be.....

[aussie]

swampy,

great tutorial. what program did you use to record it?

[Cassidy]

Brilliant easy to follow tutorials Swampy, keep them coming

[photokeld]

Super Tutorial.
Happy Holliday.

[Alcar]

This tute is very helpful. Many thanks for your effort. I too would like to see more of these.
Alan

[Swampy]

Skydog... Great artwork! You're a Master Line Artist! I just edited my tutorial on "Fixing a Blownout Sky" and added a video to it. :-)

Danny.. >>Named it "ART Sketch-Swampy"... Oh, Danny, I AM honored! :-)

Aussie.. I use SnapZ X 2.0 (Macintosh OSX) with movie capture from Ambrosia Software. It's shareware, about $70, but good stuff. Easy, flexible, and fun.

Cass, Photokeld, & Alcar. Thank you for the kind remarks. Ya made my day.

[skydog]

Trust me...I have a lot to learn...but thankfully...I'm better than I was a year ago!! Thanks for those like you who help...at the moment I have been a taken...hopefully in time I will be a giver as well....

[Britsdad]

Swampy...You've got a great voice for these tutes. I take video's in a lot better than writen ones. Keep 'em comeing.
John

[Janet Petty]

This is a very well done tutorial. Thank you so much for taking the time to make and share it. I'm very impressed.

I'm a slow learner, however, and had to write down the steps because I can't remember the video and need more hands on after I've seen something done.

Thanks again. It was wonderful.

Janet

[Swampy]

Janet, Thank you, You can always come back and watch it again and again. Feel free to download the before image and work along with the tutorial. Pause it or scrub backwards to rewatch a portion. :-)

[JimJam]

Great tutorial Swampy, used your line drawing effect on one of Pavel's tree farm photos and added Impressionist Watercolor to the color layer.