How to Turn a Photo into a Cartoon

You need image manipulation program or online photo editor to turn your photo into a cartoon. There are many image manipulation programs and websites to help you to turn a photo into a cartoon, drawing and pop art. Adobe Photoshop is a wonderful photo manipulation program that allows you to do many things including turning photo into a cartoon. Another photo manipulation program that I find very useful is Photo to Cartoon, which is entirely built for turning photos into cartoons.

If you are using image manipulation program like Photoshop, you need photo editing skills. However, online photo editors are easy to use. Even a novice can produce a photo with wonderful effects. Upload your photo, wait for less than one minute, and you will have amazing results. BeFunky is one of the best free online photo editor.

Even though you can convert your photo into a cartoon in just few clicks with online photo editor, manually working on photos in photo manipulation software like Photoshop is an amazing experience. There are many ways to turn a photo into a cartoon in Photoshop. I am sharing some simple methods in this photo to cartoon tutorial.

Turn a Photo into a Cartoon in Online Photo Editor

There are many websites, which allow you to turn a photo into a cartoon. Here are some online photo editor and cartoonizer websites. I have tried these online photo manipulation sites, and they work well.

BeFunky is a wonderful online photo editor. You can add effects, frames, adjust light and color, apply filters and turn a photo into a cartoon. All you have to do is just upload your photo, select the effects and wait for result. You can either save your photo on your computer or share on social media.

Picture to people is amazing free website for adding professional graphic effects to your photo. You can not only convert your photos to cartoon, but also create amazing graphic art in less than one minute. However, it accepts 200 KB maximum size and no more than 500 by 500 pixels.

Cartoonize is a nice website to turn a photo into a cartoon. While converting, you have multiple options for cartoon effects.

Dumpr : This site allows you to convert your photo to pencil sketch. Just upload your picture and wait for few seconds, your photo will be converted into a pencil sketch.

Kuso Cartoon is another website to turn your photo into cartoon. You can share your cartoon to social media but not save in your computer. The site also stores your cartoons.

Turn a Photo into a Cartoon in Photoshop

Open a photo in Photoshop.

Duplicate the layer.

Create a new layer. Set black as foreground color and white as background color.

Go to Filter→Sketch→Stamp. Drag the slider left and right in Light/Dark Balance and Smoothness until you get a perfect balance. Hit OK.

Create a new layer. Set Multiply as Blending option.

Go to Photo layer and Zoom in.

Select Eyedropper tool and choose the color of any part of the photo.

Go to New layer. Select Brush tool and paint over the part.

If coloring confuses you, you can hide the Stamp layer. Show the Stamp layer to see if you are coloring rightly.

Hide the Stamp layer and go to Photo layer. Select Eyedropper tool and choose the color of another part of the photo.

Go to New layer. Select Brush tool and paint over the part.

You can show the Stamp layer to see if you are coloring rightly.

Repeat the process to fill every pixel of Stamp layer with color. If you over do color, you can erase it.

Remember to pick color from Photo layer and paint over the New layer. You can hide or show Stamp layer to see the work in progress.

After you are done with coloring, use Dodge and Burn tool to give highlight and shadow effect to the cartoon.

Go to Stamp layer and use Patch tool to remove unnecessary lines in the cartoon.

Merge down the layers, your cartoon is ready.

Pop art in Photoshop

Applying filter effects to a cartoon created from a photo in Photoshop

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How to Turn a Photo into a Cartoon in Photoshop

Open a photo.

Duplicate the layer.

Choose Color Dodge as Blending Options.

Hit Ctrl I to invert the image.

Go to Filter→Blur→Gaussian Blur. Set Radius around 7 pixels.

Go to Layer→New Adjustment Layer→Threshold. Hit ok.

Set Threshold level around 225.

Create a new layer.

Change Blending Options to Multiply.

Choose a color and color your picture. Remember to use different color for different parts of the photo.

You can experiment with different presets in the Filter Gallery to give amazing effects to your cartoon. Apply different Filters to create pop art and drawings.

Turn a Photo into a Cartoon in Photo to Cartoon Software

Photo to Cartoon is a wonderful image manipulation program, which automatically turns photos into cartoons. It is published by Caricature Software Inc.

Photo to Cartoon Features:

You don’t need photo editing skills to turn a photo into a cartoon.

Photo to Cartoon automatically turns a photo into a cartoon.

If you are not satisfied with automatic conversion, you can edit your cartoon.

You can also take snapshot from webcam and directly turn it into a cartoon.

You can save your work in progress and later go back to edit.

Video tutorial is available with the program.

Photo to Cartoon works with Windows Operating System.

There are multiple Style options such as Solid, Crayon, Canvas, Coloring Book, Outlines only and Sponge.

Comments

Rae Saylor from Australia on December 11, 2013:

Great hub! However, for the best results, I would still suggest that you do it in Illustrator ;-) It basically has all the tools/features for whipping up rad photos-turned-cartoons.

Avinesh Prahladi from Chandigarh on October 08, 2013:

You can have these effects using various android apps. I have personally used it and it is worth using and the best part is that it saves your valuable time as well.

Vinaya Ghimire (author) from Nepal on March 15, 2013:

Peggy,

Creating cartoon in Photoshop takes time but is fun. However, there are lots of free online photo editor where you can manipulate image with few clicks. Thanks for always reading my tutorials.

Cheers

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on March 11, 2013:

Hi Vinaya,

You are the expert when it comes to Photoshop. I keep telling myself that I need to take the time to learn all of these techniques such as this one in turning photos into a cartoon. There never seems to be enough time in the day to learn everything that I would like. Maybe someday! At least I know where to turn for great tutorials. Thanks! Up and useful votes.

Vinaya Ghimire (author) from Nepal on March 09, 2013:

Vellur

Livingsta

James

Thanks for stopping by. I'm glad that you liked my tutorial.

Cheers

Tijani Achamlal from Morocco on March 04, 2013:

Thanks so much for this hub,It helps a lot.I ll try it in my free time.

livingsta from United Kingdom on March 04, 2013:

Interesting! I have done a few before, but I have still not been confident with using brushes.

Voting up and sharing!

Nithya Venkat from Dubai on March 03, 2013:

This is something I would love to try!! Thank you for sharing and for the step by step guide.

Vinaya Ghimire (author) from Nepal on February 24, 2013:

Jamie

agusfanani

I did not notice your comments until now. I'm so sorry. Thank you very much for your encouraging comments.

Cheers

Vinaya Ghimire (author) from Nepal on February 22, 2013:

Hello Rosemay, yes, it a fun working on these programs.

Thanks for being here.

Have a great weekend.

Cheers

Rosemary Sadler from Hawkes Bay - NewZealand on February 21, 2013:

This is awesome Vinaya, lots of fun to be had here with these programs. Thank you for researching and sharing. The time you take is very much appreciated

agusfanani from Indonesia on February 18, 2013:

Yes you're right, I,ve tried that and the result is wonderful. I like to use it when I want to get unusual image.

Jamie Brock from Texas on February 18, 2013:

Vinaya.. This a very useful hub! I have always wanted to do this but never took the time to look it up... Your instructions are very easy to understand and I love that you have added links to different places to do it. I'm bookmarking this for future reference.. Thank you so much or sharing!

Vinaya Ghimire (author) from Nepal on February 17, 2013:

Hi Ruby,

turning a photo into a cartoon is fun.

Thanks for your comment.

Cheers

Ruby Jean Richert from Southern Illinois on February 17, 2013:

This is remarkable..Thank you so much. Maybe i'll try it...

Vinaya Ghimire (author) from Nepal on February 16, 2013:

Hello skye,

I'm glad that you find my hubs useful. Thanks for following my hubs.

Cartooning is fun,you should try it.

Cheers

skye2day from Rocky Mountains on February 16, 2013:

vinaya Cheers Back at you bro. Another very useful hub you have given your readers. What a nice gift. May God Bless you for it vinaya. Thank you so much. I am excited to try cartooning!! Love, Skye

bookmarked voted linked out

Vinaya Ghimire (author) from Nepal on February 16, 2013:

Faith

Mhatter

Prasetio

Mike

Midget

Frank

Angel

Thank you my dear writers and friends. I'm glad that you found this tutorial useful. I appreciate your appreciative comments.

Cheers

Angelme566 on February 16, 2013:

Another excellent hub ! I don't have that kind of talent , but i find it so beautiful..need more tutorials about it . Voted up !

Frank Atanacio from Shelton on February 16, 2013:

Vin this is so cool man thnks for the share :)

Michelle Liew from Singapore on February 16, 2013:

Vinaya, I have just renewed my interest in taking good pictures and am using adobe and Picture Monkey. These are all useful for turning our photos into cartoons! Thanks for sharing! Passing this around!

Mike Robbers from London on February 16, 2013:

Pretty cool and useful hub Vinaya. Voted up and shared.

prasetio30 from malang-indonesia on February 16, 2013:

Very informative hub. I can't imagine for me to be changed into cartoon. It sound great and funny as well. My friend, thanks for writing and share with us. Voted up!

Prasetio

Martin Kloess from San Francisco on February 16, 2013:

Thank you for this easy instruction.

Faith Reaper from southern USA on February 15, 2013:

Oh, how cool! This looks like so much fun. I'll have to at least try it. You are indeed very creative, talented and knowledgeable in this area, and I thank you for sharing your knowledge with us all here. The video is great, especially with the excellent music.

Voted up ++++ and sharing

Blessings, Faith Reaper

Vinaya Ghimire (author) from Nepal on February 15, 2013:

Billy

Nell

torrilynn

Natashalh

rasta

girishpuri

Thank you my dear fellow writers and friends for your appreciative comment. I'm glad that you found this interesting and useful.

Cheers

Girish puri from NCR , INDIA on February 15, 2013:

This is very interesting work of Photoshop, my son is perfect in doing these Photoshop activities, very useful hub, Thanks Vinaya.

Marvin Parke from Jamaica on February 15, 2013:

I love the music. I love the blues. Already bookmarked the hub to make some cartoons later.

Natasha from Hawaii on February 15, 2013:

Cool! Thanks for the Photoshop advice. I've actually been doing stuff like this lately so it's very timely for me!

torrilynn on February 15, 2013:

Really nice hub. Interesting and amazing on making a photo a cartoon. Thanks.

Nell Rose from England on February 15, 2013:

This was so clever! I will definitely give it a try, I really love it! voted up and shared, nell

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on February 15, 2013:

That is a great hub, Vinaya! You are so clever and talented. Thank you for sharing this with all of us.