How to Make Your Captured Image Turn into a Pencil Sketch in Photoshop CS3

Have you tried converting your actual captured image into a sketchy one? In just three working layers, I will show you step by step on how to make your captured image turn into a pencil sketch.

1. Select and open your photo in Photoshop CS3.  Just right click on your image, and from the Open With option choose Adobe Photoshop CS3. If Photoshop CS3 is not in the default displayed choices, browse it by clicking the Choose Program and from the Recommended Programs, choose Photoshop CS3 and click OK.
2. Duplicate Background layer. When you open the image in Photoshop, it is automatically the Background layer. So the next step is to duplicate this layer by pressing CTRL+J in your keyboard. It is much better to rename each layer according to its particular action for your convenience especially when you are working with multi-layer effects.
3. Desaturate image. Go to Image>Adjustment>Desaturate or press CTRL+Shift+U in your keyboard. There are several ways on how to desaturate your image. You can also use the Black and White, the Channel Mixer, or the Hue/Saturation from the Adjustments.
4. Duplicate your desaturated image.  Press CTRL+J as the shortcut key.
5. Color Dodge Blending Mode. Change the Blending Mode of the duplicated layer from Normal to Color Dodge.
6. Invert the selection. In the menu tab select Image>Adjustments>Invert or just press CTRL+I as the shortcut key. Your image becomes totally white and blank but it’s ok.
7. Apply some blur. From the menu, go to Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur.  Move the Radius slider to adjust blur radius to fit for your image. Click OK.
8. Apply a little bit of noise. From the menu again, go to Filter>Noise>Add Noise. Move the Amount slider for adjustment. I recommend selecting Uniform Distribution with the Monochromatic box checked. Click OK.
9. Apply motion blur. From the menu, go to Filter>Blur>Motion Blur. And from the Motion Blur window, move the Distance slider for adjustment.  For the angle, 45° is perfect.
10. Save your work. Its totally done. You can now save your work.
11. Here is another tip, if you want to have a colored pencil sketch just lower the opacity of the desaturated image layer to about 80%.

    

So, why don’t you give it a try and enjoy it. You don’t have to be a pro to make your own pencil sketch effect.  Just be experimental with the settings and adjustments depending on the image size and resolution you are using. Have fun.