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In retrospect this probably should have been the FIRST of the basic skills series because it is such a frequently used photo-art technique. In addition it is among the few that can be converted to a Photoshop action that doesn't render the original image into something that looks like a three-year-old would draw.
Trivia tidbit:
It was discussion of this very technique, initiated by RetouchPRO member OhThatGirl2001 (aka: Lisa) that led to the creation of the RetouchPRO Photo-based Art forum in May, 2001. So thanks, Lisa (and to all who participated in that thread) for getting the photo-art ball rolling here at RetouchPRO.
History:
I honestly don't know the origin of this method. I've seen it and variations of it written up as tutorials (none quite as good as this one will eventually be
), described in numerous Internet forums and translated many, many times into Photoshop actions.
Some will argue (and I would have to agree) that the result of this method doesn't look much like a true pencil sketch, but since "pencil sketch" is how this method is most often referred, we'll stay with that.
In all cases the methods are rooted in duplicating and inverting a desaturated layer, setting the blend mode to Color Dodge and applying some sort of filter (usually Gaussian Blur) to the Color Dodge layer.
Flexibility:
In addition to the basic steps, there are several variations of this method that will be described (in the future) or which will be referenced (in the future) by links to corresponding tutorials.
Assumptions:
Those attempting this tutorial have mastered basic Photoshop skills such as being able to create new layers, duplicate existing layers, rename layers, run filters, create adjustment layers, etc.
Layer names:
As you move through the tutorial there will be steps where the instruction will be something like, "A: Duplicate layer (New name 'C = B(copy), Inverted')" The reason for identifying layers with a preceding letter is that it makes it easier for me to specify a layer by its letter ID in subsequent instructions where reference is made to it.
B: IMAGE > Adjustments > Invert
Translation: To layer B, from the IMAGE menu, choose Adjustments and from that menu choose Invert.
I need your help:
By all means add questions, comments, suggestions to this thread, especially if you are new to photo-art. This will help me craft better tutorials in the future.
Also... Vote the poll to indicate the degree of usefulness of this tutorial. Voting does not reveal your identity and will help me tremendously. Thanks in advance.
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PENCIL SKETCH - BASIC TECHNIQUE
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1. Preprocessing: Duplicate the Background (LAYER > Duplicate). DO NOT apply much (if any) sharpening. In fact in some cases application of the BLUR > SMART BLUR (normal) filter to smooth out bumps while retaining edges yields better results than sharpening. If necessary adjust image contrast with a Levels or Curves adjustment layer.
2. IMAGE > Duplicate. It's a good idea NOT to mess with the original.
3. If the duplicate image contains multiple layers, IMAGE > Flatten leaving a the Background.
4. Background: LAYER > Duplicate (New name: “A=BG Desaturated”)
5. To layer A: IMAGE > ADJUSTMENTS > Desaturate – or – convert the A layer to grayscale using your favorite method. (See THIS THREAD for various methods.)
6. A: Layer > Duplicate (New name: “B = A(copy)+Inverted”)
7. B: IMAGE > Adjustments > Invert
8. B: Layers palette blend mode menu: Change the blend mode from Normal to Color Dodge. (The layer will go nearly or completely white. Don’t Panic!)
9. Optional step. B: Try lowering the layer opacity until some of the underlying image starts to show through. It will take a little experimenting to get a feel for what works and what doesn’t here. (Note: For the image used in this tutoiral, opacity was not changed.)
10. B: FILTERS > BLUR > Gaussian Blur. The radius chosen for the Gaussian Blur filter depends on what you’re looking for. Try to get the maximum amount of detail and don’t worry if the image looks “too light.” The image can be darkened up in a subsequent step. (A radius of 8.0 was used for the example image.)
11. C: Optional layer. LAYER > New Adjustment Layer > Levels (or Curves if you prefer). Adjust for contrast. If you use the Levels adjustment layer, move the RIGHT slider towards the middle slightly. This will clean up some of the 'noise,' especially in portrait images. Move the RIGHT (and MIDDLE) sliders toward the center. How you make these adjustments is completely subjective. (See below for Levels settings used.)
12. D: Optional layer. LAYER > New Adjustment Layer > Brightness / Contrast. Lower Brightness and Contrast to suit. Doing so reduces the tonal range of the image.
(See below for Levels settings used.)
This step, by the way, was suggested by RetouchPRO member CollinF.
Try the image with layers C and D both on, both off. or one or the other on. Use the combination that works best for you.
13. Create a new layer (E: Merge A, B).
14. ALT + CTRL + SHIFT + E: will merge the visible layers into layer E without collapsing them like a Merge Visible command does. Leaving the layers in tact offers flexibility later if you get to a point where you'd like to backtrack and start over.
An alternative to the keyboard shortcut above is to hold down the ALT key and choose LAYER > Merge Visible. Both work the same way.
ONWARD AND UPWARD
Once the base image (Layer E) has been created, all sorts of additional modifications are possible. For example:
* Duplicate the original color Background layer and drag it to the top of the layer stack.
* Change the blend mode to Color.
Caution: On the example image, this will look AWFUL. On flowers or scenery images, it can give kind of a pastel effect. To vary the color effect adjust the Opacity of layer E and/or tweak the Contrast/Brightness settings in the D layer.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
FINAL LAYERS PALETTE WITH SETTINGS
USED IN THE EXAMPLE IMAGE (attached below)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
D=Brightness/Contrast (-6,-20)
C=Levels (85, 0.65, 248)
B=A(copy), Inverted + Gaussian Blur (8.0),
blend=Color Dodge, opacity = 100%
A=BG Desaturated
Background (original color image)
KEY POINTS
- - - - - - - - -
* This is a fundamental technique with many, many variations – some of which will follow as this tutorial is fleshed out.
* Results will vary depending on the characteristics of the base image, Gaussian Blur radius chosen and whether or not layer opacity is lowered before applying the Gaussian Blur.
* WARNING: The settings used in this tutoral were selected to suite this particular image. These are provided to enable you to recreate this effect on this image -- to get a feel for the process.
When it comes to YOUR image, you'll need to make decisions on what settings look best. That's where where judgment and experimentation on your part come in.
Try different settings; decide what looks good on your image.
= = = = = = = = = = = =
OK. Another one to try.
Let’s see what you can do with this tutorial. By all means post before / after images in this thread.
Ask questions… Make suggestions…Have fun.
~DannyR~
Trivia tidbit:
It was discussion of this very technique, initiated by RetouchPRO member OhThatGirl2001 (aka: Lisa) that led to the creation of the RetouchPRO Photo-based Art forum in May, 2001. So thanks, Lisa (and to all who participated in that thread) for getting the photo-art ball rolling here at RetouchPRO.
History:
I honestly don't know the origin of this method. I've seen it and variations of it written up as tutorials (none quite as good as this one will eventually be
), described in numerous Internet forums and translated many, many times into Photoshop actions. Some will argue (and I would have to agree) that the result of this method doesn't look much like a true pencil sketch, but since "pencil sketch" is how this method is most often referred, we'll stay with that.
In all cases the methods are rooted in duplicating and inverting a desaturated layer, setting the blend mode to Color Dodge and applying some sort of filter (usually Gaussian Blur) to the Color Dodge layer.
Flexibility:
In addition to the basic steps, there are several variations of this method that will be described (in the future) or which will be referenced (in the future) by links to corresponding tutorials.
Assumptions:
Those attempting this tutorial have mastered basic Photoshop skills such as being able to create new layers, duplicate existing layers, rename layers, run filters, create adjustment layers, etc.
Layer names:
As you move through the tutorial there will be steps where the instruction will be something like, "A: Duplicate layer (New name 'C = B(copy), Inverted')" The reason for identifying layers with a preceding letter is that it makes it easier for me to specify a layer by its letter ID in subsequent instructions where reference is made to it.
B: IMAGE > Adjustments > Invert
Translation: To layer B, from the IMAGE menu, choose Adjustments and from that menu choose Invert.
I need your help:
By all means add questions, comments, suggestions to this thread, especially if you are new to photo-art. This will help me craft better tutorials in the future.
Also... Vote the poll to indicate the degree of usefulness of this tutorial. Voting does not reveal your identity and will help me tremendously. Thanks in advance.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
PENCIL SKETCH - BASIC TECHNIQUE
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1. Preprocessing: Duplicate the Background (LAYER > Duplicate). DO NOT apply much (if any) sharpening. In fact in some cases application of the BLUR > SMART BLUR (normal) filter to smooth out bumps while retaining edges yields better results than sharpening. If necessary adjust image contrast with a Levels or Curves adjustment layer.
2. IMAGE > Duplicate. It's a good idea NOT to mess with the original.
3. If the duplicate image contains multiple layers, IMAGE > Flatten leaving a the Background.
4. Background: LAYER > Duplicate (New name: “A=BG Desaturated”)
5. To layer A: IMAGE > ADJUSTMENTS > Desaturate – or – convert the A layer to grayscale using your favorite method. (See THIS THREAD for various methods.)
6. A: Layer > Duplicate (New name: “B = A(copy)+Inverted”)
7. B: IMAGE > Adjustments > Invert
8. B: Layers palette blend mode menu: Change the blend mode from Normal to Color Dodge. (The layer will go nearly or completely white. Don’t Panic!)
9. Optional step. B: Try lowering the layer opacity until some of the underlying image starts to show through. It will take a little experimenting to get a feel for what works and what doesn’t here. (Note: For the image used in this tutoiral, opacity was not changed.)
10. B: FILTERS > BLUR > Gaussian Blur. The radius chosen for the Gaussian Blur filter depends on what you’re looking for. Try to get the maximum amount of detail and don’t worry if the image looks “too light.” The image can be darkened up in a subsequent step. (A radius of 8.0 was used for the example image.)
11. C: Optional layer. LAYER > New Adjustment Layer > Levels (or Curves if you prefer). Adjust for contrast. If you use the Levels adjustment layer, move the RIGHT slider towards the middle slightly. This will clean up some of the 'noise,' especially in portrait images. Move the RIGHT (and MIDDLE) sliders toward the center. How you make these adjustments is completely subjective. (See below for Levels settings used.)
12. D: Optional layer. LAYER > New Adjustment Layer > Brightness / Contrast. Lower Brightness and Contrast to suit. Doing so reduces the tonal range of the image.
(See below for Levels settings used.)
This step, by the way, was suggested by RetouchPRO member CollinF.
Try the image with layers C and D both on, both off. or one or the other on. Use the combination that works best for you.
13. Create a new layer (E: Merge A, B).
14. ALT + CTRL + SHIFT + E: will merge the visible layers into layer E without collapsing them like a Merge Visible command does. Leaving the layers in tact offers flexibility later if you get to a point where you'd like to backtrack and start over.
An alternative to the keyboard shortcut above is to hold down the ALT key and choose LAYER > Merge Visible. Both work the same way.
ONWARD AND UPWARD
Once the base image (Layer E) has been created, all sorts of additional modifications are possible. For example:
* Duplicate the original color Background layer and drag it to the top of the layer stack.
* Change the blend mode to Color.
Caution: On the example image, this will look AWFUL. On flowers or scenery images, it can give kind of a pastel effect. To vary the color effect adjust the Opacity of layer E and/or tweak the Contrast/Brightness settings in the D layer.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
FINAL LAYERS PALETTE WITH SETTINGS
USED IN THE EXAMPLE IMAGE (attached below)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
D=Brightness/Contrast (-6,-20)
C=Levels (85, 0.65, 248)
B=A(copy), Inverted + Gaussian Blur (8.0),
blend=Color Dodge, opacity = 100%
A=BG Desaturated
Background (original color image)
KEY POINTS
- - - - - - - - -
* This is a fundamental technique with many, many variations – some of which will follow as this tutorial is fleshed out.
* Results will vary depending on the characteristics of the base image, Gaussian Blur radius chosen and whether or not layer opacity is lowered before applying the Gaussian Blur.
* WARNING: The settings used in this tutoral were selected to suite this particular image. These are provided to enable you to recreate this effect on this image -- to get a feel for the process.
When it comes to YOUR image, you'll need to make decisions on what settings look best. That's where where judgment and experimentation on your part come in.
Try different settings; decide what looks good on your image.
= = = = = = = = = = = =
OK. Another one to try.
Let’s see what you can do with this tutorial. By all means post before / after images in this thread.
Ask questions… Make suggestions…Have fun.
~DannyR~
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