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How to Make a Color Image Look Like a Sketch in Photoshop

1. Open a color image in Photoshop. To get the best sketch image, high contrast images are preferable. If it’s needed, you can adjust the image’s contrast (Image>Adjust>Brightness/Contrast).

2. Desaturate the layer that contains the image. You can desaturate by clicking on Image>Adjust>Desaturate.

3. Duplicate the desaturated layer. On the layer palette, you can duplicate the layer by right clicking on the previous layer and selecting the option of duplicating that layer.

4. Note that there should now be at least two layers: two desaturated layers, and depending on which version of Photoshop you’re using, you may have a blank background layer.

5. Select and invert the duplicate desaturated layer. You can invert an image by clicking on Image>Adjust>Invert.

6. Notice that now, with the inverted layer selected, change the blending mode to “color dodge.” The image will turn all white with few black spots on it.

7. Set the Gaussian blur to this layer. You can do that by clicking on Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur. Then you can set the radius in between 3.0-10.0. Choose the one that creates a nice sketch effect.

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Thanks to wikiHow for this article, which is under a creative commons license.

One Response

  1. GarykPatton Says:

    Hi. I like the way you write. Will you post some more articles?

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