Here’s a few simple steps to generate variations of line art from your digital photos.

The source image used in this tutorial is from absolutvision.com. Register today for a great high resolution image of the week or for a cost effective monthly or yearly memebrship.

Creating LineArt from Photos

To begin, have the target image layer selected, as I have captured above.

Next, go ‘Filter>Blur>Smart Bur’ as I have captured below.

Creating LineArt from Photos

From the ‘Smart Bur’ dialog, make sure the ‘Edge Only’ Mode is selected and toy with the ‘Radius’/’Threshold’ sliders. The objective is to ensure that an edge line covers the entire image with some overspill into the interior of the image as well.

Creating LineArt from Photos

This will produce a similar result as below.

Creating LineArt from Photos

Next, with the same image layer active, go ‘Image>Adjustments>Invert’, as I have captured below.

Creating LineArt from Photos

Inverting produces the below resulting image.

Creating LineArt from Photos

The above result is quite satisfactory, but to add to the edge effects of the line art, go ‘Filter>Artistic>Cutout’ as I have captured below.

Creating LineArt from Photos

Depending on how thick you want the lines, adjust the Cutout sliders for the desired effect.

Creating LineArt from Photos

Here is the final result.

Creating LineArt from Photos

Other samples below:

Creating LineArt from Photos
Creating LineArt from Photos

Summary:

1. Smart Blur with Edges Only Mode
2. ‘Ctrl/Command + I’ to invert the result of the Smart Blur.
3. ‘Filter>Artistic>Cutout’ for smooth line definitions.