From Photo to Pencil Sketch

Today, I'm going to show you this technique using a photo of a mother and daughter with less than optimal lighting. Yes we could fix it in Photoshop, but let's say we're going for a more nostalgic look and feel. Something a little different; something special.

Make it grayscale
The first step is to zap all color from the image. Though this can be done in several ways (see Goin' Grayscale), I'll use my own personal favorite method.

Step 2: Choose Image > Adjustments > Channel Mixer. In the resulting dialog box, click the Monochrome button at the bottom, then tweak the various sliders until you get a nice black and white image with a fair amount of contrast. To brighten up this image, I boosted the red, green, and blue channels, and decreased the Constant (rather, overall brightness). Click OK when finished.

Create the sketch
Step 3: Choose Filter > Stylize > Find Edges. Don't panic when your image immediately turns into something rather freakish, we'll fix it in the next step.

Step 4: Choose Edit > Fade Find Edges. This will allow us to back off the effects of the Find Edges filter. Beware: This command is only available *immediately* after running the filter, else it'll be grayed out.

Step 5: In the resulting dialog box, lower the Opacity to about 50% (this will vary by image), and change the Blend Mode to Linear Dodge. This gives us a nice soft sketch feel. TIP: Try Hard Mix for a darker sketch.

Give it a soft edge
Step 6: Press M to select the rectangular marquee selection tool and draw a selection around the image about 1/4 way in, as shown below. Control click (PC: Right click) within the selected area (inside the marching ants) to bring up the shortcut menu and choose Feather. Enter 10 pixels and press OK.

Step 7: Instead of deleting the edges of the image, we'll hide them with a layer mask by clicking the half black/half white circle at the bottom of the layers palette

Step 8: Command click (PC: Ctrl click) the new layer icon at the bottom of the layers palette to add a blank layer beneath the one currently selected.

Step 9: Press D to set your color chips to the default of black and white, then press X until white is perched on top. Fill the layer with white by pressing Option + Delete (PC: Alt + Delete).

Step 10: Lighten the sketch slightly by reducing the Opacity of the sketch layer in the Layers Palette.

Sit back and gaze with awe upon our new creation:

As you can see, this technique can evoke a completely different feel and do wonders to rescue a sub-par image. Until next time, may the Photoshop force be with you!