How To Turn Any Photo Into a Realistic Painting Using Standard Photoshop Filters

How To Turn Any Photo Into a Realistic Painting Using Standard Photoshop Filters

Photoshop allows everyone to become a great artist, even those who cannot draw. Here is a quick tutorial on how to turn a photograph into a digital painting using only a small set of filters.

For this tutorial you will need a photo so begin by opening up a photo in Photoshop. Feel free to use this photo of a boat that we provide for this tutorial.

Step 1

Go to Filter > Artistic > Rough Pastels. For our photo of the boat, these settings worked fine. This gives us a nice looking canvas-texture.

Step 2

Go to Filter > Artistic > Smudge Stick. Set Stroke Length to about 1 and play around with the other two sliders till you get the result you want. This removes some of the details and “smudges” out some of the colors so that the photo looks painted.

Create a new layer, select a small-sized brush and draw your signature — and you are done!

This technique works for almost all photos, as long as you play around with the settings. Here are a few more examples.

Continue reading here: 20 Useful Photography Techniques for Snapping Beautiful Pictures

Was this article helpful?

0 0

Readers' Questions

  • samsa
    How to turn images into a specific art style in photoshop?
    4 months ago
  • To turn images into a specific art style in Photoshop, you can follow these general steps:
    1. Photos and Art Style Research: Start by researching and analyzing the specific art style you want to emulate. Look for typical characteristics, color palettes, brush strokes, or other defining elements.
    2. Open the Image in Photoshop: Open the image you want to alter using Adobe Photoshop.
    3. Duplicate the Image Layer: Right-click on the background layer in the Layers panel and choose "Duplicate Layer" to create a duplicate layer of the image.
    4. Apply Filters: Under the "Filter" menu, explore various filters that can help achieve the desired art style. Common filters for transforming images include "Artistic," "Filter Gallery," "Sketch," "Brush Strokes," or "Stylize." Experiment with different filter options and settings until you achieve the desired effect.
    5. Adjust Colors and Tones: Use adjustment layers such as "Hue/Saturation," "Curves," or "Color Balance" to modify the colors and tones of the image to match the chosen art style. You can also explore blending modes and opacity settings to create unique visual effects.
    6. Add Textures or Patterns: Consider adding textures or patterns that are characteristic of the chosen art style to create depth and richness. Overlay textures or patterns on the image using blending modes or adjustment layers.
    7. Apply Brush Strokes: Use various brush tools available in Photoshop to manually paint or enhance certain areas with brush strokes that align with the chosen art style. Experiment with different brush sizes, opacity levels, and blending modes to add further artistic flair.
    8. Fine-tune and Experiment: Continuously fine-tune and experiment with different adjustments, filters, and techniques until you achieve the desired outcome. Remember that each art style may require unique adjustments, so don't hesitate to explore further and be creative.
    9. Save and Export: Once you are satisfied with the result, save your artwork in the desired format, such as JPEG or PNG, and at an appropriate resolution.
    10. Note that these are general guidelines, and the process can vary depending on the specific art style you want to achieve. It's always helpful to refer to tutorials or specific resources related to the desired art style for more detailed instructions and techniques.
    • PAUL
      How to turn a photograph into a painting?
      7 months ago
    • There are several ways to turn a photograph into a painting, and the method you choose will depend on your skill level and available resources. Here are a few options:
      1. Traditional Painting:
      2. - Print the photo you want to turn into a painting. - Prepare your canvas or painting surface by priming it with gesso. - Use a grid method to accurately transfer the main elements of the photo onto the canvas. - Start painting by replicating the colors and textures of the photo using acrylic or oil paints.
      3. Digital Painting:
      4. - Scan or take a high-resolution photo of the image you want to paint. - Open the photo in a digital painting software like Adobe Photoshop or Corel Painter. - Use various digital brushes and tools to paint on layers above the photo, matching colors and adding brushstrokes to mimic a traditional painting. - Adjust the opacity and blending modes of the layers to achieve the desired painterly effect.
      5. Apps and Filters:
      6. - Utilize photo editing apps with painting filters, such as Prisma, Waterlogue, or Brushstroke. - Choose a filter that emulates the style and effect of a specific painting technique. - Apply the chosen filter to your photo, adjusting the settings and intensity as needed. - Save the edited image, and you'll have a photo transformed into a painting-like representation. Remember, turning a photograph into a painting takes practice and experimentation. Feel free to test different techniques and styles to find the one that suits your preferences and artistic vision.
      • Christina
        How to make pictures look like paintings in photoshop?
        9 months ago
      • To make pictures look like paintings in Photoshop, you can use various techniques and filters. Here's a step-by-step guide:
        1. Open your image in Photoshop:
        2. - Go to "File" > "Open" and browse for your desired image.
        3. Convert your image to a Smart Object (optional):
        4. - Right-click on the image layer in the Layers panel. - Select "Convert to Smart Object" to maintain flexibility while applying filters and adjustments.
        5. Apply the Oil Paint filter:
        6. - Go to "Filter" > "Stylize" > "Oil Paint". - Adjust the settings to achieve the desired painterly effect. - Play around with the sliders for "Stylization," "Cleanliness," "Scale," and "Bristle Detail" until you get the desired result. - Click "OK" to apply the filter.
        7. Apply the Filter Gallery:
        8. - Go to "Filter" > "Filter Gallery". - A dialog box will appear, offering a wide range of artistic effects. - Experiment with the available filters to achieve the desired painting look. - Popular filters to consider include "Cutout," "Dry Brush," "Palette Knife," "Underpainting," etc. - Adjust the settings for each filter to get the desired effect. - Click "OK" to apply the filters.
        9. Add texture (optional):
        10. - Look for suitable texture images that blend well with your painting-like effect. - Open the texture image in Photoshop. - Drag and drop the texture onto your painting image. - Change the blending mode of the texture layer to "Overlay," "Soft Light," or another mode that suits your image. - Adjust the opacity of the texture layer to create the desired amount of texture.
        11. Adjust colors and tones:
        12. - Use adjustment layers (e.g., "Hue/Saturation," "Levels," "Curves") to alter the overall colors, tones, and contrasts of your image. - Play around with different adjustments until you achieve the desired look.
        13. Fine-tune details:
        14. - Zoom in and pay attention to details that require improvement. - Use Photoshop's painting tools like the "Clone Stamp," "Healing Brush," or "Spot Healing Brush" to fix any imperfections or distractions. - Use the "Brush" tool with a soft edge to enhance or add subtle details.
        15. Save your work:
        16. - Go to "File" > "Save As" to save your image in a suitable format (e.g., JPEG, PNG, or PSD) and choose a location on your computer. Remember to frequently save your work as you progress to avoid losing changes accidentally.
        • Philipp
          How to make a picture look like a painting in photoshop?
          1 year ago
          1. Duplicate the image layer by pressing Ctrl + J.
          2. Convert the duplicate layer to a Smart Object by right-clicking on it and selecting ‘Convert to Smart Object’.
          3. Select ‘Filter > Stylize > Oil Paint’.
          4. Adjust the stylization levels until you find a look that you like.
          5. To add highlights and shadows, add a new layer and select ‘Filter > Render > Lighting Effects’.
          6. Use brush tools to apply shadows and highlights to the different portions of your image.
          7. Finally, use the ‘Layers’ palette to adjust the opacity of the Smart Object layer until you find a painting-like feel that you like.
          • SINIT
            How to make an image look painted in photoshop?
            1 year ago
            1. Start by opening up the image in Photoshop.
            2. Use the Select > Color Range tool to select the colors of the image you want to make look painted.
            3. Go to Filter > Stylize > Glowing Edges. Adjust the settings until you find the effect you like.
            4. Add a layer mask to the layer and then paint the effect onto the area you want to look painted.
            5. To finish, adjust the hue and saturation of the image until you achieve the painted effect you want.
            • helvi
              How to turn a picture into a painting in photoshop?
              1 year ago
              1. Create a duplicate of the image by pressing Ctrl + J (or Command + J on Mac).
              2. Go to Filter > Stylize > Oil Paint. Experiment with the settings until you find a style you like.
              3. Optional: If you want to tweak the colors of the painting, use the Hue/Saturation adjustment layer.
              4. You can also add a second layer of the original image for a bit of a mixed media effect.
              5. Finally, add any other elements you want to the painting to tie it all together.
              • Mantissa
                How to make photos look like paintings in photoshop?
                1 year ago
                1. Open your file in Photoshop and create a duplicate layer of your photo.
                2. Go to the Filter tab, select Artistic and then choose either Dry Brush or Paint Daubs. Experiment with the settings until you get the look you want.
                3. Switch the blend mode of that layer to Luminosity and then adjust the opacity.
                4. Alter the colors using the Color Balance or Split Toning adjustments.
                5. Optional – Add a layer mask and erase any areas you don’t want affected by the paint filter.
                6. Optional – Add a Levels adjustment to get a deeper contrast.
                7. Merge and save your file.
                • richard
                  How to make a photo look painted in photoshop?
                  1 year ago
                  1. Open the photo in Photoshop.
                  2. Duplicate the layer.
                  3. Apply a posterization filter to the duplicated layer.
                  4. Adjust the levels of the posterization layer to make the lines and shapes more defined.
                  5. Add a Gaussian blur to the posterization layer by going to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur.
                  6. Select the posterization layer and use the Sponge tool to apply a “Desaturate” effect to make the entire photo black and white.
                  7. Change the layer blend mode to “Soft Light” to apply a soft, painted effect.
                  8. To add texture, create a new layer and fill it with black.
                  9. Go to Filter > Texture > Texturizer and select a texture.
                  10. Change the layer blend mode to “Soft Light” and adjust the opacity to your desired level.
                  11. To further enhance the painted look, add a “Glow” layer style.
                  12. Finally, set the desired levels for Contrast, Brightness, and Saturation.
                  • melanie
                    How to turn photo into painting photoshop?
                    1 year ago
                  • To turn a photo into a painting using Photoshop:
                    1. Open the photo you want to convert in Photoshop.
                    2. Duplicate the background layer by selecting Layer > Duplicate Layer.
                    3. Go to Filter > Filter Gallery and select either the Cut Out or Paint Daubs filter.
                    4. Play around with the settings to adjust the intensity of the effect. When you’re done, click OK.
                    5. Optional: To further enhance the painting effect, go to Filter > Stylize > Oil Paint and adjust the settings as desired.
                    6. Finally, save your image to preserve your work.
                    • Lily-rose
                      Where can you find vector boats in photoshop?
                      1 year ago
                    • Vector boats can be found in the Adobe Stock website. Simply search for “vector boats” in the Adobe Stock search bar, and you will be presented with a variety of vector boat images that can be accessed and used in Photoshop.