Photoshop tutorial
How to Make This Outline Effect in Photoshop
Turn any photo into a clean line drawing using only native Photoshop filters. You desaturate the image, run Trace Contour twice at different levels, drop the white values out with Blend If, and add a Stroke to control line weight. Everything stays as smart filters, so you can adjust the look at any point.
Setup
Document
Document: 16 in x 20 in, 300dpi, 8-bit.
Settings
- Size 16 in x 20 in
- Resolution 300 dpi
- Bit depth 8-bit
Step 1
Hue/Saturation
Apply Hue/Saturation, turn Saturation down to -100.
Hue/Saturation
- Saturation -100
Step 2
Trace Contour
Apply the Trace Contour effect. Filter>Stylize>Trace Contour
Trace Contour
- Level 46
- Edge Lower
- Preview On
- Preview zoom 100%
Step 3
Blend If
Remove the white values of the smart object using the Blend If sliders in the Layer Styles.
Blend If
- Blend If Gray
- Current Layer 0 — 248
- Underlying Layer 0 — 255
Step 4
Duplicate and Retrace
Duplicate the Smart Object, double click on the Trace Contour effect and adjust the settings.
Trace Contour
- Level 146
- Edge Lower
- Preview On
- Preview zoom 100%
Step 5
Group and Stroke
Group the two smart objects and apply the Stroke effect to the group.
Stroke
- Size 4 px
- Position Center
- Blend Mode Normal
- Opacity 100%
- Overprint Off
- Fill Type Color
- Color Black
Finish
Result
Done! If you want to automate this, download my free Outline action pack in my bio!
Tips: Adjust the Stroke to change the thickness of the outline. Adjust the Trace Contour effect for different outline looks.
Get the plugin used in this tutorial
-
Outlines Effect
Get Outlines EffectRegular price $0.00 USDRegular price
