Transform Photos into Artistic Pencil Sketches

Step-by-Step Artistic Sketch Effect

Adjusting Saturation

Press Ctrl + U to increase the saturation if necessary, ensuring the image remains vibrant and colorful.

Creating the Border Layer

Duplicate the layer and rename it "Border". Navigate to Filter > Blur > Smart Blur and apply the following settings:

• Radius: 35
• Threshold: 80
• Quality: High
• Mode: Edge Only

Refining the Edges

Invert the layer (Ctrl + I) and go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur with a Radius of 1.1 pixels to smooth the black edges. Change the layer blending mode to "Multiply" (this setting is located next to the opacity). Once completed, hide the "Border" layer.

Applying the Pencil Edge Effect

Duplicate the "Border" layer again and rename the new layer "Pencil Edge". Apply the following filters:

Smudge Stick Filter

• Stroke Length: 0
• Highlight Area: 0
• Intensity: 0

Film Grain Filter

• Grain: 2
• Highlight Area: 0
• Intensity: 0

Apply Auto Levels (Ctrl + Shift + L) and ensure the layer mode is set to "Multiply" (it may already be set). Hide the "Pencil Edge" layer.

Setting the Image Color

Once the edges are prepared, proceed to set the color of the image. Go to the original layer and duplicate it. Ensure you are duplicating the original background layer located beneath the two hidden layers. Apply the following filters:

Paint Daubs Filter

• Brush Size: 10
• Sharpness: 0
• Brush Type: Simple

Film Grain Filter

• Grain: 9
• Highlight Area: 3
• Intensity: 1

Smudge Stick Filter

• Stroke Length: 8
• Highlight Area: 0
• Intensity: 0

Film Grain (Second Pass)

• Grain: 2
• Highlight Area: 0
• Intensity: 0

Final Adjustments

Adjust the Lightness and Saturation (Ctrl + U) if necessary to make the image more flashy and vibrant. Finally, reveal the two hidden layers (Border and Pencil Edge), making sure they are positioned above the color layers. Your image should now resemble the artistic style of the example car.