Hello again, welcome to this new tutorial!
in this tutorial, you will learn how to convert photos to a colorful vector, using only Photoshop.
As you can see, our final result, will be completely a vector!
Let's Get Started!
Step 1. Prepare Your Image.
After opening your image, Go to Image.
and Choose Image Size.
Then, change Resolution to 300 Pixels/Inch.
Also, change the smallest value in Width or Height, to 2000 Pixels or more.
Don't do this with a very low quality images!
Now, Click OK.
Now, I want to Isolate the object from the background.
You can use the Pen Tool, or any other selection Tools, like Magic Wand Tool, or Quick Selection Tool.
I had made a selection before. To load it, I will hold the CTRL key, then click on this thumbnail.
Now, Select the Background layer, then Press CTRL+J, to take the object to a new layer.
Now, with your layer selected, go to Filter, then choose Oil Paint filter.
In some photoshop versions, you can find it here, in Stylize menu.
Click on it.
Now, Change Stylization to 5.
Cleanliness to 4.
Scale to 3.
Bristle Detail to 4.
Lightening Angle to 0. and finally shine to 0.2 .
as you can see, the shine value controls the oil details.
Now click OK.
If you don't have oil Paint Filter, Please do this step instead.
Just open the actions panel, to import an alternative oil action.
You can download this action from the description below.
Double-click to import it.
Now, Open the action and select "Run".
And make sure that, you layer is selected. then click this run icon.
Now, after applying the oil effect, with the oil paint filter, or with the action.
Go and select your layer, then go to Image, Adjustments, and choose Desaturate.
Now, create a Levels layer.
Clip mask it, to affect only "layer 1".
Add Posterize Layer, and Clip Mask it.
Posterize levels value, determine how many colors you want.
If you change it to 2, you will get a black and white only.
and If you change it to 3, you will get black, grey, and white.
Let's keep it 4.
Now, we will get a 4 colors. 2 grey colors and Black & white.
Now, double click Levels layer to open it.
This is to adjust each color density .
By dragging these sliders, you will see a significant change in all color distribution.
Every image varies. so stay flexible and keep testing.
In my case, I increased the white color and decreased black, to add more contrast, and show more details.
Now, select the top layer, then hold SHIFT, and select "layer 1" to select all 3 layers.
Right-click and choose, Merge Layers.
Now, with your layer selected, apply the oil paint filter again.
Change Stylization to 10, and, Cleanliness to 5.
and keep all other values as they are.
then click OK.
If you don't have the oil paint filter, Please apply the action instead.
Just select the layer, then click on "Run", and Run the action from here.
Now, Change layer name to "Base". and let's move to the next step.
Step 2. Vectorizing Everything.
Now, with a simple trick, we will create a shape layer for each color.
This process is kinda long, but it is very easy and repetitive.
Let's get started.
First, Double-click the "Base" layer, to open layer style.
Under Blending Options, go to Blend If.
In this particular case, I'm telling Photoshop to hide the colors, that smaller than the slider value.
As you can see, colors disappear and appear by sliding.
Now, let's isolate the white color first.
Just Drag the slider to hide all colors, except white.
Press CTRL+J to duplicate the "Base" layer.
Right-click that duplicated layer, and choose Convert to Smart Object.
Hold the CTRL key, then click on layer thumbnail, to load selection.
Now, go and pick any selection tool.
Right-click inside the selection, and choose Make work Path.
Change tolerance to 1.5, and click OK.
Now, this will make a Path, let's create a Vector layer from it.
Just simply, go and create a Solid Color layer. to fill the path, and a Vector Layer will be automatically created.
Change color to white, and click OK.
Rename it, "Highlights".
and delete the Duplicated Layer.
Now, as you can see, I have a vector layer for the white color.
If you select it with the Direct Selection Tool, you will see the vector anchor points.
Now, Hide the "Highlights" layer, and show "Base" Layer. and Let's continue.
Since all previous steps will be repeated with the next 3 other colors.
I made an action with the same steps, to make it easier for you.
Let's import it from the Actions Panel.
From this little icon, click on "Load Actions".
Double-click it to import. You can download this action, from the description below.
As you can see, this action will create 4 vector layers, from the 4 colors.
We made the first color, which is white, manually. The other 3 colors will be made automatically through the action.
Let's start by the next color, which is grey. I call it here, "Midtones 1".
Double-click the "Base" to open layer style.
Drag the slider, until you see this grey color.
Before running the action. make sure that the layer name is "Base", with capital B.
Now, select "Midtones 1", and run the action from this little icon.
Now, our second vector layer is created!
Again, Double-click the "Base" layer.
Move the slider, until you see the second grey color.
then Click Ok.
Select the second Midtones action. then click the run button.
Great! let's move to the final one.
Again, Double-click the base layer.
Move the slider to 0, then click OK.
Run the "Shadow" Action.
That's it, Now we have a complete vector drawing, from a 4 vector layers.
Unhide all of them, to see the final result.
Select the "Shadow" layer, then hold SHIFT and select the first layer, to select them all.
Drag and drop to group them.
Name it "Vector Group".
Delete the "Base" layer. and let's move to the final step.
Last step. Change Colors.
Now, to change colors, you need to double-click this small shape icon.
Then start picking your color.
I will keep shadows color black. then click OK.
Now, change the mid tones color, to any color you want.
Pick a dark color here.
Again, change the other Midtones color.
Pick a light color here.
Leave Highlights white.
Now, I wanna colorize these areas
You can simply do this by, creating a new layer above "midtones 2"
Right-click it and choose, Create a Clipping Mask.
Now, pick the brush tool. then, change the foreground color to dark brown.
Select the layer, then start painting.
as you can see, the paint is only limited to the "Midtones 2" layer.
Again, Select 'Midtones 1" layer, then create a new layer above it.
and Right-click it and choose, Create a Clipping Mask.
Change the foreground color, to a light brown color.
Then start painting.
That's it!
Also, as you can see, You can repeat the same process with any part like this.
Now, Double-click "Shadow" layer, to add stroke.
Change size to 8 pixels, with Outside Position, and black color.
Then click Ok.
Now, by transforming the vector group like this, you will never observe any pixelation at all!
and the final result, will be a very detailed vector drawing.
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Thanks For Watching!