Converting a Photo to a Pencil Drawing in PhotoShop

This tutorial will guide you through the steps to convert a photo to a pencil drawing in five easy steps.

First open the image you would like to convert into a pencil sketch and erase the background:

Next press CTRL+J to make a duplicate the layer. Then press CTRL+U and lower the saturation to reduce the complexity of the image:

Press CTRL+J again and make the image a negative by pressing CTRL+I:

Then make the blending mode of the new layer to Color Dodge:

You won't be able to see anything, so to view the lines or strokes apply a Gaussian Blur at the top layer as according to your needs:

Your final result will look something like this:

If you really want to beat out Leonardo, try tricks like painting only some parts of the top layer with a new color. Or, color just the lips or eyes of a portrait by selecting the area and applying some hue with CTRL+U.

Discuss Converting a Photo to a Pencil Drawing in PhotoShop in the forums.

 
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Converting a Photo to a Pencil Drawing in PhotoShop
Mar 06 2010 16:03:55
The best way to convert photo into pencil drawing is to use a tablet and draw over the photo on a new layer. The result is fantastic.
Alex
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Tips for noob photographers
#1348
Re:Converting a Photo to a Pencil Drawing in PhotoShop
Mar 09 2010 07:12:58
The major trouble with that approach is that very few people have tablets!
#1379
Re:Converting a Photo to a Pencil Drawing in PhotoShop
Mar 09 2010 18:56:42
Tom wrote:
The major trouble with that approach is that very few people have tablets!

That number looks poised to increase over the coming years if this year's emergence of tablet and touch computing is any indication.
#1387

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