Use Photoshop to Create a Line Drawing from a Digital Image

You can create a line drawing of your favorite digital image in under a minute using this simple technique.

We are using a stock image to show how easy this can be.

Mother And Daughter Line Drawing

Here is our original image

Original Stock Photo Used

We need to duplicate this layer to work with a copy

Duplicate Your Orginal Layer

Next, we need to set the layer properties to color dodge

Select Color Dodge

The modified settings will product a look similar to the image below:

Color Dodge Setting Results

We need to invert our selection using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+I to invert. Depending on your image, the screen may look washed out.

Our next step is to add a blur filter. We are going to use the Gaussian Blur in our filter menu

Filter Selection

For our image, the settings are 2.3 but your image will provide different results so work with your settings to achieve the best results.

Gaussian Blur effect

And provides the following look:

Gaussian Blur effect

Next, we need to remove the color out from our image by adding an adjustment layer. Select the Hue/Saturation in the drop-down menu

Adjustment Layer

And then we turn the Saturation off -100 to remove all color

Reduce the Saturation

And our final results:

Mother And Daughter

Let us know if you would like to see a tutorial or would like to submit one of your own.

Enjoy!

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clientexperience@todaysgrowthconsultant.com' About Virtual Photography

We're the co-founders of VirtualPhotographyStudio.com and have been writing on this blog since 2004. We started Virtual as a way to help photographers stretch beyond a part time income, and develop strategies to become a Five Figure Photographer or a Six Figure Photographer. Ultimately its all about lifestyle, and if your goal is to live as a photographer 24/7, we think you should have the knowledge and the tools to do so. Welcome!

  • Bonnie

    Can I also do this using Adobe Elements 5?

  • Virtual Photography

    I have never worked with Adobe Elements. To obtain the desired results, you could look into the filters and see if Elements provides the needed tools.

  • Regina

    Neat tutorial! Thanks!

    Hey Bonnie, It’ll work with elements too. 😉

    ~Regina

  • Hope

    This is exactly what I was looking for! THANKS! THANKS! THANKS! I have Photoshop Elements 5 and while it took a little bit to find where the tools were they are all there and this worked PERFECTLY!

  • http://www.quali-x.de Wiyono

    Really nice…
    Thank you so much for Great tutorial….

  • Brenda

    That is amazing – thanks so much. Have looked at two other methods on the web tonight and nothing came close to this effect. It’s so quick and easy too. THANK YOU!

  • Vinay

    Really nice…
    I learn one more methods.
    Thank you so much for Great tutorial.