need help on face of sketch

[rosierosierosie]

HI I did a sketch of my nephew but his complexion does not look right He had a mid day beard and he was standing in the sun I put the picture on a canvas textured layer, hoping it would look like a piece of paper. I am trying to follow all the information I get from these boards and also tutorials from utube. any suggestions I hope to improve this photo I would love. thanks for all help

[chillin]

Originally Posted by rosierosierosie

HI I did a sketch of my nephew but his complexion does not look right He had a mid day beard ...

De saturate the original, place above layer, set the blend mode to overlay,
mask all except the beard.

[0lBaldy]

I guess I read it different.. I thought she wanted the beard gone..

I think I would start out by making a High Key copy and lightening the beard, darkening creases and things you want to keep

A simple way to do a 'High Key' effect that might work for your pic is explained here

[Peter S]

Well this is what I've done with your pic.

Maybe you could start with a shadow/highlight adjustment first, to get some more contrast in there, try and be a bit more bold with the brush strokes, don't be afraid of losing some detail,sometimes less is more.
Try a dodge and burn layer to enhance areas of the pic, (blank layer on top set to overlay and paint with white to lighten and black to darken set your brush opacity low to build up the effect.

Peter

[rosierosierosie]

Peter I followed this tutorial on you tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbMrhwKTpIY by Mama Shane (photoshop mama so are you saying that I should do everything first to the picture and then do a sketch on it, or make into a sketch then adjust it. I trying to learn photoshop by reading all I can so please be patience with me. thanks for all you time and help

[Peter S]

Originally Posted by rosierosierosie

Peter I followed this tutorial on you tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbMrhwKTpIY by Mama Shane (photoshop mama so are you saying that I should do everything first to the picture and then do a sketch on it, or make into a sketch then adjust it. I trying to learn photoshop by reading all I can so please be patience with me. thanks for all you time and help

If you did the same way as me, yes play with the picture first then do the sketching, you need to find the way that works for you.
The thing about this tutorial is that it's okay, but can look just like a picture turned to grayscale, and not really a sketch.
It can still look good don't get me wrong, it's just not the way I do it now.
As a start point I think your not doing badly, take another look at what you've done and it can be changed to look more like a sketch.
The methods I use involve using brushes not just on the masks but on the picture itself, though on a dupe layer of course.

Hope this helps

Peter

[0lBaldy]

Originally Posted by rosierosierosie

Peter I followed this tutorial on you tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbMrhwKTpIY by Mama Shane (photoshop mama so are you saying that I should do everything first to the picture and then do a sketch on it, or make into a sketch then adjust it. I trying to learn photoshop by reading all I can so please be patience with me. thanks for all you time and help

I followed the tutorial using PS7, while watching the video on half of my screen... putting it on pause.. working on the picture on the other half.. then going back and continuing the video... pause, work a bit then do it again till finished... but I did start with a high Key, cleaned copy and wound up with this result..

I agree with Peter... not quite a pencil sketch ... but... I think it would serve as a great starting point for a sketch like Peter does

With ANY art work always clean the original as much as possible before starting... remember the saying... crap in = crap out... so get rid of all the things you do not want in your final product first

Take your time and keep practicing... You are doing great!

[rosierosierosie]

Thank you for your help, I will do the photo over again and follow what you say, thanks again for your time and patience you given me alot of confidence. thanks again