How to Convert an Image Into a Line Drawing Using Photoshop

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: September 15, 2021 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to use Adobe Photoshop to make an image look like a simple line drawing, rather than a more detailed sketch, without tracing it yourself.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:
Opening the Image

1
Open an image in Photoshop. To do so, double-click on the blue app icon that contains the letters "Ps," click on File in the menu bar at the top of the screen, click on Open... and select the image.
- Original images with higher contrasts allow for a cleaner line drawing effect.
2
Click on Layers in the menu bar.

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3
Click on Duplicate Layer… in the drop-down and click on OK.
- You can give your new layer a different name otherwise it will be called "[Name of your first layer] copy."
- If you don't see a padlock icon next to the original, Background layer in the Layers window in the lower-right part of the screen, click on the layer. Then, click the padlock button at the top of the Layers window.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:
Preparing the Image

1
Click on the duplicate layer. It's in the Layers window in the lower-right part of the screen.
2
Click on the Normal drop-down near the top of the Layers window.
3
Click on Color Dodge.
4
Click on Filter in the menu bar, then click on Filter Gallery….
5
Click on the "Stylize" folder.
6
Click on Glowing Edges.
7
Slide the "Edge Width" slider to a value between 3 and 6. Use the preview to determine when the lines are the weight that you want them to be.
8
Slide the "Edge Brightness" slider to the middle.
9
Slide the "Smoothness" slider all the way to the right.
10
Click on OK.
11
Click on Image in the menu bar.
12
Click on Adjustments in the drop-down.
13
Click on Invert in the drop-down.

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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:
Creating the Line Drawing

1
Click on Image in the menu bar.
2
Click on Mode in the drop-down.
3
Click on Grayscale.
4
Click on Don't Merge or Flatten. The prompt will depend on your image properties.
- If promoted to discard color information, click on Discard.
5
Click on Image in the menu bar.
6
Click on Adjustments in the drop-down.
7
Click on Exposure….
8
Adjust the sliders until the image has the line drawing effect you desire.
- Check "Preview" in the dialog box if it's not already.
9
Click on Image in the menu bar.
10
Click on Adjustments in the drop-down.
11
Click on Posterize….
12
Use the slider to adjust the lines of the image.
- Check "Preview" in the dialog box if it's not already.
13
Save your image. Do so by clicking on File in the menu bar and Save As…. Name your file and click on Save.

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