Portrait Photo To Pencil Sketch With Photoshop CS6

Portrait Photo To Pencil Sketch With Photoshop CS6

Learn how to turn any portrait image into a black and white or color pencil sketch using Photoshop CS6.

Written by Steve Patterson.

In this tutorial, we'll learn how to easily turn a portrait photo into a pencil sketch, both in black and white and in color, using Photoshop CS6. If you're using Photoshop CC, check out the updated Photoshop CC version.

This version of the tutorial, fully updated from the original version, features a more flexible, non-destructive way to create the sketch effect by taking advantage of Photoshop's Smart Filters and adjustment layers, along with some handy layer blend modes.

We'll start by learning how to convert the photo into a black and white sketch (and how to keep the effect fully editable with Smart Filters), then we'll finish things off by learning how to colorize our sketch using colors from the original image.

Download this tutorial as a print-ready PDF!

Here's the photo I'll be using (teen portrait photo from Shutterstock):

Image 102010201 licensed
The original image.

Here's what it will look like as a black and white pencil sketch:

The effect after lowering the layer opacity.
The sketch in black and white.

And here's the same effect after adding back the colors from the original photo:

A photo to color sketch effect created in Photoshop CS6.
The sketch in color.

This tutorial is from our Photo Effects series. Let's get started!

How To Turn A Photo Into A Sketch With Photoshop

Download this tutorial as a print-ready PDF!

Step 1: Add A Hue/Saturation Adjustment Layer

With my image newly opened in Photoshop, we see in my Layers panel that the photo is sitting all by itself on the Background layer, currently the only layer in my document:

The original photo sitting on the Background layer in Photoshop CS6.
The Layers panel showing the image on the Background layer.

To create our sketch effect, the first thing we need to do is remove all the color from our image, and we can do that non-destructively using a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer. In the Adjustments panel, click on the Hue/Saturation icon (first icon on the left, middle row):

The original photo sitting on the Background layer in Photoshop CS6.
Clicking the Hue/Saturation icon.

Photoshop adds a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer named Hue/Saturation 1 above the Background layer:

The Layers panel showing the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer above the Background layer.
The adjustment layer sitting above the Background layer.

Step 2: Drag The Saturation Slider To -100

The controls and options for the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer appear in the Properties panel. To remove the color from the image, simply drag the Saturation slider all the way to the left to a value of -100:

Dragging the Saturation slider to the left in the Properties panel.
Dragging the Saturation slider to the far left.

This removes all color from the photo, leaving it in black and white:

The image after removing the color.
The image after removing the color.

Step 3: Select The Background Layer

Click on the Background layer in the Layers panel to select it:

Selecting the Background layer.
Selecting the Background layer.

Step 4: Duplicate The Background Layer

We need to make a copy of the Background layer. To do that, go up to the Layer menu in the Menu Bar along the top of the screen, choose New, then choose Layer via Copy. Or, for a faster way to duplicate a layer, simply press Ctrl+J (Win) / Command+J (Mac) on your keyboard:

Selecting the New Layer via Copy command from the Layers menu in Photoshop.
Going to Layer > New > Layer via Copy.

Nothing will seem to have happened with the image, but if we look in the Layers panel, we see that a copy of the Background layer has appeared between the original and the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer:

The Layers panel showing the Background copy layer.
The Layers panel showing the new Background copy layer.

Step 5: Invert The Image

Next, we need to invert the layer. Go up to the Image menu at the top of the screen, choose Adjustments, then choose Invert. Or, press Ctrl+I (Win) / Command+I (Mac) on your keyboard for the shortcut:

Selecting the Invert command from under the Image menu in Photoshop.
Going to Image > Adjustments > Invert.

This inverts the image, giving it a film negative appearance:

The image now appears inverted.
The image is now inverted.

Step 6: Change The Layer Blend Mode To Color Dodge

In the upper left of the Layers panel, change the blend mode of the Background copy layer from Normal (the default blend mode) to Color Dodge:

Changing the blend mode of the layer to Color Dodge.
Changing the blend mode of the layer to Color Dodge.

This will turn the image white. As with my image, you may still see a few small areas of black remaining, but for the most part, it should now appear white (don't worry about the dark border around my image in the screenshot. It's just Photoshop's gray pasteboard area and not part of the effect):

The image after changing the blend mode to Color Dodge.
The image after changing the blend mode to Color Dodge.

Step 7: Convert The Layer Into A Smart Object

One thing I like to do whenever possible is take advantage of Photoshop's Smart Filters, which keep the filters we apply to an image fully editable in case we want to go back later and change some of the settings. In a moment, we're going to apply the Gaussian Blur filter, but before we do, let's make sure we'll be applying it as a Smart Filter.

For that, we first need to convert the layer to a Smart Object. With the Background copy layer still selected, click on the small menu icon in the upper right corner of the Layers panel:

Clicking the Layers panel menu icon.
Clicking the Layers panel menu icon.

Choose Convert to Smart Object from the list that appears:

Choosing the Convert to Smart Object command from the Layers panel menu.
Choosing "Convert to Smart Object"

Once again, nothing will seem to have happened, but a small Smart Object icon appears in the lower right corner of the layer's preview thumbnail letting us know it's been converted into a Smart Object:

The Smart Object icon in the layer's preview thumbnail.
The new Smart Object icon in the preview thumbnail.

Step 8: Apply The Gaussian Blur Filter

Go up to the Filter menu at the top of the screen, choose Blur, then choose Gaussian Blur:

Selecting the Gaussian Blur filter.
Going to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.

This opens the Gaussian Blur dialog box. To create our main sketch effect, all we need to do is apply some blurring to this layer. To do that, click on the Radius slider at the bottom of the dialog box and begin slowly dragging it towards the right to apply a slight amount of blur. Keep an eye on the image as you drag and you'll see it beginning to look more and more like a sketch. Don't drag too far, though, as too much blurring will make it look like a photo again. A little blurring is all we need.

There's no specific Radius value to choose here since it will depend both on the size of your image and on what you think looks best. For me, I'll set my Radius value to around 12 pixels:

Dragging the Radius slider in the Gaussian Blur dialog box.
Dragging the Radius slider to apply a small amount of blurring.

Click OK when you're done to accept your setting and close out of the Gaussian Blur dialog box. Here's my result:

The sketch effect after applying the Gaussian Blur filter.
The sketch effect after applying the Gaussian Blur filter.

As I mentioned a moment ago, one of the great benefits of applying a filter as a Smart Filter is that we can easily go back and edit its settings later if needed. If we look again in the Layers panel, we see the Gaussian Blur filter listed as a Smart Filter below its Smart Object. If at any point you feel your sketch effect could use a bit more fine-tuning, simply double-click directly on the words Gaussian Blur to re-open its dialog box and re-adjust the Radius value:

The Layers panel showing the Gaussian Blur Smart Filter below the Smart Object.
Double-clicking on the Gaussian Blur Smart Filter will re-open it for further editing.

Step 9: Add A Levels Adjustment Layer

We've created our main sketch effect, but it's a bit too light. Let's darken it, and we can do that using a Levels adjustment layer. In the Adjustments panel again, click on the Levels icon (second icon from the left, top row):

Clicking the Levels icon in the Adjustments panel.
Clicking the Levels icon in the Adjustments panel.

Photoshop adds a Levels adjustment layer named Levels 1 directly above the Background copy Smart Object (and below the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer):

The Layers panel showing the new Levels 1 adjustment layer.
The Layers panel showing the new Levels 1 adjustment layer.

Step 10: Change The Blend Mode To Multiply

The controls and options for the Levels adjustment layer appear in the Properties panel, but we don't actually need them. Instead, to darken our sketch effect, all we need to do is change the blend mode of the Levels adjustment layer from Normal to Multiply:

Changing the blend mode of the Levels adjustment layer to Multiply.
Changing the blend mode of the Levels adjustment layer to Multiply.

The Multiply blend mode is one of the five most commonly used blend modes in Photoshop, and simply by changing the Levels adjustment layer to Multiply, we've managed to darken the sketch effect quickly and easily:

The sketch effect is now darker.
The effect after changing the blend mode to Multiply.

Step 11: Lower The Opacity If Needed

If you find that your sketch is now too dark, you can brighten it back up by lowering the opacity of the Levels adjustment layer. You'll find the Opacity option directly across from the blend mode option at the top of the Layers panel. By default, opacity is set to 100%. I'll lower mine to around 60%:

Lowering the opacity of the Levels adjustment layer.
Lowering the opacity of the Levels adjustment layer.

And now my image is a little bit lighter:

The effect after lowering the layer opacity.
The effect after lowering the layer opacity.

Step 12: Select And Duplicate The Background Layer Again

At this point, the basic sketch effect is complete, but if you want to bring back some of the photo's original color, you'll want to continue on with these last few steps. First, click on the Background layer (the original one, not the copy) to select it and make it active once again:

The effect after lowering the layer opacity.
Clicking the Background layer to select it.

Then, just as we did back in Step 4, duplicate the Background layer by going up to the Layer menu at the top of the screen, choosing New, then choosing Layer via Copy, or by pressing Ctrl+J (Win) / Command+J (Mac) on your keyboard:

Again selecting the New Layer via Copy command from the Layers menu in Photoshop.
Once again going to Layer > New > Layer via Copy.

A second copy of the Background layer, this one cleverly named Background copy 2, will appear directly above the original:

The Layers panel showing the new Background copy 2 layer.
The Layers panel showing the new Background copy 2 layer.

Step 13: Rename The Layer "Color"

We're going to use this layer to colorize our sketch, so rather than putting up with Photoshop's generic layer names like "Background copy 2", let's name the layer something more descriptive. Double-click directly on the words Background copy 2, which will select and highlight the name, then rename it Color. Press Enter (Win) / Return (Mac) when you're done to accept the new layer name:

Renaming the layer to Color.
Renaming the Background copy 2 layer to Color.

Step 14: Drag The Layer Above The Others

We need to move our Color layer to the top of the layer stack. To do that, click on it and, with your mouse button held down, drag the layer upward until you see a white horizontal bar appear directly above the Hue/Saturation layer:

Dragging the Color layer above the other layers in the Layers panel.
Dragging the Color layer above the other layers.

When the white bar appears, release your mouse button to drop the Color layer into place:

The Color layer now sits at the top of the layer stack.
The Color layer now sits at the top of the layer stack.

Step 15: Change The Blend Mode Of The Layer To Color

To colorize the sketch with the colors from the original image, change the blend mode of the Color layer from Normal to Color:

Changing the layer blend mode to Color.
Changing the layer blend mode to Color.

The Color blend mode hides all the tonal information (the brightness values) on the layer and allows only the colors to show through, creating our colorizing effect:

The sketch is now colorized.
The result after changing the blend mode to Color.

Step 16: Lower The Color Layer's Opacity

Finally, if the color looks too intense, you can reduce it by lowering the Opacity value of the Color layer. I'll lower mine down to 65%:

Lowering the opacity of the Color layer.
Lowering the opacity of the Color layer to 65%.

And here, with more subtle colors, is my final “portrait to sketch” result:

A photo to color sketch effect created in Photoshop CS6.
The final effect.

Where to go next...

And there we have it! That's how to turn a portrait photo into either a black and white or color pencil sketch using Smart Filters, adjustments layers and blend modes in Photoshop CS6! Visit our Photo Effects section for more Photoshop effects tutorials!