line art

well im looking for a program (preferably cheap to free..aint we all?) that can convert a photo into a black and white line art, the idea is that the wife has just taken up painting(god help me) , and would like to paint some of the photos from a line art of the pic.

Do you have photoshop as it can be done very easy in that .

STEP 1 - Duplicate The Background Layer
First duplicate the background layer. Go Layer> New> Layer via Copy. Now we have 2 layers, the Background Layer, and Layer 1.

STEP 2 - Desaturate The Photo
With Layer 1 selected, choose Image> Adjustments> Desaturate. This gives us a grayscale version of the photo.

STEP 3 - Duplicate Layer 1
At this point you must duplicate Layer 1. With Layer 1 selected, go Layer> New> Layer via Copy. Now we have 3 layers, the Background Layer, Layer 1 and Layer 2.

STEP 4 - Invert Layer 2
With Layer 2 selected, go Image> Adjustments> Invert. This will make your photo look like a negative.

STEP 5 - Change The Layers Blend Mode To Color Dodge
In the Layers Palette change the Layers Blend Mode for this layer (Layer 2) to Color Dodge. This will make your photo almost completely white, but don't panic! Everything is going to work out just fine.

STEP 6 - Apply The Gaussian Blur Filter
Go Filter> Blur> Gaussian Blur. When the dialog box appears start by moving the Radius Slider all the way to the left. Once you've done that you can start to slowly move it to the right.

Now here comes some real Photoshop magic — because as you move the slider your sketch will start to appear.

Bigger numbers create a more pronounced effect, but at some point this will turn your sketch back into a photo, which you don't want, so when you reach that point simply nudge the slider to the left just a little and that should do it!

Rod

I'll have to try that Rod, I would have said use glowing edges and then negative it.

Here is another tutorial for line art that is more complex but more accurate also .

http://www.melissaclif​ton.com/tutorial-comicbook.html

Rod.

Wow, cool link.. That sure is a lot of work. I'd have to price that option very high, because I don't think I'd like to do that often.

If seems I am starting to hate photo programs. I tried to follow that in photo shop. But I could not find enough widows, I was stopped at turning them off and on. I could not find the brush window he showed. It is frustrating to say the least.
rw

Brush window ,, top most tool bar , Window > Brushes ,,, then click on the word itself Shape Dynamics , to open its options

Rod