digital photo editing

Tutorial #34 - Creating A Sketch Look

1. The first thing to do is crop away any unwanted areas: Using the Crop Tool (c) drag around the area you want to keep. As this is a portrait sketch, we can remove most of the background.
   
   Rename the Background layer, then create a new layer and fill it with white.
   
   Drag the new white layer beneath the main portrait layer.
   
   
2. Now bring up the Channel Mixer via Image… Adjust… Channel Mixer.
   
   What the Channel Mixer Does
   This command makes it possible to mix the colour from multiple colour channels. It's particularly handy for rescuing images when they have been converted to CMYK from RGB or Lab colour.
   
   By clicking on the Monochrome option you can also use this command to monochrome (black and white) images from colour ones, whilst still being in RGB or CMYK mode.
   
   Output Channel: Lets you choose a colour channel into which colours from the other colour channels will be mixed.
   Colour Sliders: You control the amount of colour that will be infused from the existing channels.
   Constant: Adds an opacity channel to the output channel. Dragging to the left decreases the opacity, and dragging to the right increases the opacity.
   Monochrome: If checked, creates a monochrome image within the current colour space.
   Load: Lets you load a previously stored setting.
   Save: Lets you save the current setting allowing you to use again on other images.
   
   Ok, that's the theory side of it, but as always, we learn more by seeing it in action.
   
   
3. Adjust the settings as below:
   
   Monochrome: Checked
   Red Channel: +82%
   Green Channel +6%
   Blue Channel: +14%
   Constant: -2%
   
   If you have the Preview option checked, you will automatically see your image change from colour to monochrome.
   
   Click on the OK button to apply the new settings.
   
   
4. Now to get the Sketched look. For this we will use the Film Grain Filter.
   
   What the Film Grain Filter Does
   This filter is really more of a photo or darkroom effect, rather than an artistic one, although it is housed in the Artistic filters menu. It is one of the few filters that actually does what its name suggests - adds film grain to your image
   
   Grain: Drag the slider to determine the amount of grain that is to be added to the image - values range from 1 to 20.
   Highlight Area: Drag to spread or narrow highlight areas of the image - values range from 0 to 20.
   Intensity: Determines the amount of contrast that will be added to the image - values range from 0 to 10
   
   
5. With the monochrome layer active select Filters… Artistic… Film Grain. When the dialogue box appears enter the settings shown below:
   
   Grain: 6
   Highlight Area: 3
   Intensity: 7
   
   
6. What we need to do now is remove any of the unwanted areas around the portrait. This is going to be done using a Layer Mask and Airbrush tool.
   
   From the Layer menu select Add Layer Mask… Reveal All. You should see a white rectangle appear next to your portrait thumbnail in the Layer Palette.
   
   
7. From the Tool Box, choose the Airbrush tool or press the J key. Select a medium sized, soft edge brush. Set its opacity to about 67-70%.
   
   Paint away the background areas. If you make a mistake or paint out some of the portrait, press the X key to swap the colours around. Paint over the mistake and it will correct itself. Don't forget to press X again before continuing to remove unwanted areas.
   
   Use smaller brush sizes as and when needed.
   
   
8. Once you have removed most of the background, alter the opacity to around 30%, and soften the edges slightly.
   
   
9. Finally, we will darken the image using the Levels and Brightness & Contrast command. Before applying this command, first click on the portrait thumbnail in the Layer palette.
   
   Press CTRL+L to bring up the Levels box and adjust the far left and centre sliders slightly - just enough to enhance the image. Click OK to apply the settings.
   
   
10. Now bring up the Brightness & Contrast box (Image… Adjust… Brightness & Contracts. Add these settings:
    
    Brightness: 30
    Contrast: 21
    
    Click Ok.

The full image can be digital photo editing see in Gallery #3. Try it out on various portraits or still life shots, and most of all, experiment with the settings!