How to Turn Photos into Line Art in Procreate! Quick and Easy!

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will learn how to transform a photo into stunning line art using Procreate. This simple technique is perfect for beginners and can be completed in just a few steps. We will also explore how to add color to your line art for added flair.

Step 1: Open Your Canvas and Import the Photo

• Launch Procreate and create a new canvas.
• Tap on the actions menu (the wrench icon).
• Select "Insert a photo" from the "Add" menu.
• Choose your desired photo (e.g., a red panda for practice) and fit it to the canvas if necessary.

Step 2: Prepare the Photo for Line Art

• Duplicate the imported photo layer by swiping left on the layer and selecting "Duplicate."
• Hide the original layer by tapping the checkbox next to it.
• Select the new layer and go to the adjustments menu (the magic wand icon).
• Choose "Hue, Saturation, Brightness."
  • Set the saturation to zero to convert the image to black and white.
  • Optionally, adjust the brightness slightly (e.g., set it to 52).

Step 3: Create Line Art

• Duplicate the black and white layer again.
• Change the blending mode of this layer:
  • Tap on the layer and select "Blend Mode."
  • Choose "Divide" (the image may disappear at this point).
• Apply a Gaussian blur to the layer:
  • Go back to the adjustments menu and select "Gaussian Blur."
  • Adjust the blur to around 5% for optimal visibility of the line art.
• Merge the two layers together by tapping on the top layer and selecting "Merge Down."

Step 4: Refine the Line Art

• Use the adjustments menu again to select "Curves."
  • Move the bottom point to the right to enhance the contrast.
  • Slightly adjust the top point left for more definition, but avoid extreme adjustments to prevent inversion of the image.

Step 5: Color the Line Art

• Change the blending mode of the line art layer:
  • Set it to "Multiply" or another blend mode that suits your preference.
• Create a new layer beneath the line art layer for coloring.
• Use brushes to color your illustration on the new layer, revealing the line art above.

Step 6: Final Adjustments

• If desired, bring back the original photo layer for reference or additional detail.
• Review your artwork and make any final adjustments to brightness or color.

Conclusion

You have successfully turned a photo into beautiful line art using Procreate! This technique is not only quick but also versatile, allowing you to add color and make artistic choices. For further practice, consider exploring more tutorials on digital art or joining platforms like Patreon for additional resources and community support. Happy drawing!