Create a Line Art Illustration from photo

In this tutorial we will create a line art illustration using different densities of crosshatching to simulate lighter and darker shades of gray.

The concept of line art uses different densities of crosshatching to simulate lighter and darker shades of gray.

Watching again the end titles of Sherlock Holmes I wanted to write a tutorial to recreate the effect of the line art.

There are different ways to achieve this but doesn’t look real, like someone actually draw it.

This technique mix crosshatches textures to obtain that look and the result is great, so let’s get started!

What we need

Main Image:

John by: float

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/468792

Texture:

http://www.sxc.hu/browse.phtml?f=download&id=1110555

Brushes:

http://inobscuro.com/brushes/view/35/

Step 1 Creating Edges

a) Duplicate the layer.

b) Apply Smart Blur: Filter > Blur > Smart Blur. In the pop-up mode set to Edge Only. This will produce an inverted line art

c) Invert; Image > Adjustments > Invert

d) Hide this layer, we will use it later

e) Create a white layer above the original background (face)

Step 2 Create the crosshatch Patterns

Lets create 2 different patterns.

a)    Create a new document with a with background

b)   Draw a 45 line on a new layer

c)    Use: Alt-Shift-Command+the right cursor to create a copy of the line to 10 pixels to the right. Continue until you get a set of strips.

d)   Merge the layers

e)    Select a square area

f)     Create the pattern: Edit > Define Pattern

g)    Name the pattern stripes 1

Now lets create a second pattern

a)    Reflect the strips horizontally

b)   Repeat the process from letter e

c)    Name the pattern stripes 2

Step 3 Create the first layer of shadows line art

a)    Duplicate another layer of the background

b)   Apply Threshold: Image > Adjustments > Threshold

c)    Move the threshold level so you get the layer areas of shadows

d)   Open the Layer Style and apply Pattern Overlay

e)    Select the first pattern we created

f)     In the blend mode of the dialog box select Lighten

g)    Scale the pattern till you like it.

h)   Convert this layer to a Smart Object: in the layers dialog box select Convert to smart Object

i)     Set the blending mode to multiply (remember to create the white layer of the letter e from the step 1)

 

Step 4 Create the second layer of shadows line art

a)    Duplicate another layer of the original background

b)   Repeat step b

c)    Now move the threshold level so you get a smaller area of shadows, for instance the eyes or the lips

d)   Open the Layer Style and apply Pattern Overlay

e)    Select the SECOND pattern we created

f)     In the blend mode of the dialog box select Lighten

g)    Scale the pattern till you like it.

h)   Convert this layer to a Smart Object: in the layers dialog box select Convert to smart Object

i)     Set the blending mode to multiply

Step 5 Bring back the edges

a)    Move to the top of the layer stack the Edge layer we created in step 1

b)   Set the blending mode to multiply

Step 6 Darkest Shadows

a)    Create another copy of the original layer

b)   Apply threshold

c)    Set the level so we only got the darkest shadows, the inner part of the lips for example.

d)   Be sure that this layer is on top of the layer stack, set the blending mode to multiply

Step 7 Background Paper

a)    Open the texture file

b)   Drag and drop it to our main file

c)    Place the layer above the white and below the shadows line art

d)   Select the eraser tool, select a small brush with a 30 % opacity

e)    Erase some areas inside the face like the cheeks, it doesn’t has to be perfect we are emulating ink coloring

f)     Now increase the opacity to 50% and erase the external part.

Step 8 Ink splatters

a)    Download and install the ink brushes

b)   Create a new layer

c)    Select a brown color that matches the original paper color

d)   Paint with different brushes from this set spots around the image, and in the corners.

e)    Set the blending mode to multiply at 80% transparency

We are ready, if you want you can add some text that matches the image mood.

 

Tags: line art, photoshop tutorial

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12 Comments to Create a Line Art Illustration from photo

1. 

   Nice tut
Tony on August 2nd, 2010
2. 

   Thanks for this creative tutorial. The overlaying of patterns really creates a nice light effect on the face, I would love to see what this would like like when mixing up the patterns to something other than just lines. It also reminds me of the cell shading effect but mixed with hand rendered illustration. I would also love to see this effect applied to landscapes, I think the effect would work really well.
rob Creare on August 4th, 2010
3. 

   Amazing, have used this word after a ling time.
joddy street on August 4th, 2010
4. 

   What a great resource!
Swiss Ball Exercises on August 4th, 2010
5. 

   Hey nice one.. Thanksseee… your post is awesome mann..!!
Sampath Kumar on August 9th, 2010
6. 

   Good post and this fill someone in on helped me alot in my college assignement. Thank you as your information.
Wordpress Themes on August 9th, 2010
7. 

   Great compilation. Thanks for inspiring. Keep it going
Photoshop Clipping Path on August 10th, 2010

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11. 

    For how many years that I wanted to learn creating a line art illustration from photos. Finally, I got an idea here. Great job! Keep on posting because I like this article.
Examples of Illustration Art on September 7th, 2010
12. 

    good effect
peter on November 12th, 2010