Photoshop: How to transform photograph into digital painting.

Introduction

In this tutorial, you will learn how to transform a photograph into a stunning digital painting using Adobe Photoshop. This technique adds an artistic flair to your images and can be useful for various creative projects, including social media posts, prints, or digital art portfolios.

Step 1: Open Your Photograph

• Launch Adobe Photoshop.
• Go to File > Open and select the photograph you want to transform.
• Create a duplicate of the background layer by right-clicking on the layer in the Layers panel and selecting Duplicate Layer.

Step 2: Apply the Oil Paint Filter

• With the duplicated layer selected, navigate to Filter > Stylize > Oil Paint.
• Adjust the settings:
  • Stylization: Set between 5-10 to control the brush strokes.
  • Cleanliness: A value around 5-10 helps smooth the painting effect.
  • Scale: Adjust to control the size of the brush strokes; between 1-10 is recommended.
  • Bristle Detail: Set to a value that brings out the texture without losing detail, typically around 5.
• Click OK to apply the filter.

Step 3: Enhance Colors with Adjustment Layers

• Go to the Layers panel and click on the New Adjustment Layer icon at the bottom.
• Select Hue/Saturation and adjust the saturation slider to enhance the colors, making them more vibrant.
• You can also create a Levels adjustment layer to improve contrast:
  • Adjust the shadows, midtones, and highlights by moving the sliders under the histogram.

Step 4: Add Texture for Realism

• Create a new layer above your painting.
• Use the Brush Tool (B) to paint with a textured brush. Choose a brush that mimics traditional painting (e.g., oil or watercolor).
• Adjust the opacity of this layer to blend it with the painting underneath, adding depth and realism.

Step 5: Blend and Finalize

• Select the top layer and change its blending mode in the Layers panel to Overlay or Soft Light.
• Use the Eraser Tool (E) with a soft brush to gently erase parts of the texture layer where you want to reveal more of the original image.
• Zoom out and review your artwork, making any necessary adjustments to layers or colors.

Conclusion

You have successfully transformed a photograph into a digital painting using Photoshop! This process enhances your images with artistic effects that can elevate your creative projects. Experiment with different brushes and filters to personalize your style. For further exploration, consider looking into advanced techniques, such as adding backgrounds or integrating multiple images for a more complex composition.