ArtBistro

How To >> Browse Articles >> Photoshop

Convert a Photo to"Outline Edges"

     A lot of Photoshop users probably know this proceedure, but I find it very helpfull when trying to have more control when reducing a photo to its "outline edges" or "Coloring  Book Outline", which is very useful when preparing a photo idea for a painting.  I learned this proceedure on line and utilized it numerous times since.  It sounds sort'a complicated, but it really is not...and the steps become second-nature with a bit of practice.

     1.  Open a photo in Photoshop...Go to "Image" ...under image select "Adjustments"...under adjustments click on"Desaturate".  You should now have a very nice looking B&W image on screen.

     2.  Move your mouse pointer down to the lower right part of the screen and select the "Layers" tab...right click on the "Background Layer"...choose "Duplicate layer"  from the open window...name it anyway you wish--I usually just click "OK".  Notice we are now working with a copy of your Background Layer.

     3.  Go to "Image"...select  "Adjustments"...under adjustments click on "Invert".  You should now have what appears to be a negative image...that's good!

     4.  Go to "Layer" (up at the top in the menu area)...select  "Layer Style"...click on "Blending Options".  A window opens and in the top center of this window,  under "General Blending", you will see "Blending Mode" which has a drop-down menu.  Open that menu and click on "Color Dodge"...do not choose anything else...just click "OK"...DON'T PANIC!!!  Yep! most all if not all of your image disappeared!  No Problem..this was expected!

     5. Go to "Filter"...select "Blur"...click on "Gaussian Blur"...a window opens which has a slider at the bottom.  Move the slider all the way to the Left and SLOWLY start moving the slider toward the right.  You will see an "Outline" of the edges within your photo start to appear...the further you move the slider to the right, the clearer and more complete the image becomes...this is the control that  "Find Edges"  does not give you.  You should practice this proceedure on a number of different photos just to get a feel for what is possible.  You can also use "Motion Blur" and other choices under "Blur" just for a comparison.

     That's it!  I find this very helpful when trying to set-up a painting...helps with proportion & position.  I usually print a transpareny (4"+/-) and shoot it up on a canvas or paper to get a better feel visually for the painting I am considering.  I save these "Outlines" in a folder called "Painting Ideas"...Main thing now is to simply...Have Fun with It!

---