Tutorial: AKVIS Sketch

Imitate Sketch Drawing on a Canvas

AKVIS Sketch does not only offer photo-to-sketch conversion, but it also allows adding a textured surface to a picture imitating a drawing on a canvas, corrugated paper, brick wall or anything else.

Watch a flash movie that gives a snap introduction to the Canvas effect of AKVIS Sketch: Click here (flash-movie, 6 Mb)

To use this effect, adjust the settings in the Canvas tab.

By default the parameters of the tab are disabled and the sketch comes out as if drawn on plain paper. To activate the parameters of the Canvas tab, select the check-box Use Canvas.

the check-box "Use Canvas" is disabled

the check-box "Use Canvas" is enabled

The canvas is generated by reproduction of the chosen texture. There are the following parameters of texture generation and application:

Adjustment of Texture Properties:

• Texture. Select a texture from the Texture Library. To open the Texture Library, double click with the left mouse button on the square box with a sample texture.

  

  Select a texture with a double-click of the mouse.

  It is possible to use your own texture. For this purpose create and save a pattern into a folder on your computer. The pattern can be square or rectangular and must be saved as a JPEG, BMP, TIFF or PNG file.

  To load a texture into AKVIS Sketch, open the Texture Library , click on and select a texture in the Select user texture dialog box.

  To return to the Settings Panel without selecting any texture click on .

 

• Scale. The parameter sets the size of the repetitive pattern. By default the Scale is set to 100%. The higher the value of the parameter, the larger is the pattern.

  Scale = 70%	Scale = 150%

• There are the following options that define the way the canvas is generated:

  Repetition. When this option is selected, the canvas is generated by simple repetition of the given pattern.

  
  the option "Repetition" is enabled

  Reflection. When this option is selected, the canvas is generated by repetition of the given pattern.The difference from the Repetition mode is that the ends of the patterns are joined at mirror reflection.

  
  the option "Reflection" is enabled

  Alignment. Use this option when the original texture is irregular and the texture joins are visible on the final image. This option allows aligning the patterns for a smoother transition.

  the option "Alignment" is enabled	other option enabled

Adjust the parameters of texture application:

• Light Source. Use the dagger on the ball to set the probable light source during the shooting. The position of the light source influences the texture wrapping. To change the position of the light source, left-click on the required point of the ball.

  

• Brightness. The parameter allows changing the texture brightness. The values of the parameter vary between 0 and 150. The brightness of the original texture is 90. The higher the value of the parameter, the lighter is the texture. As a result, the output image gets lighter.

Brightness = 10	Brightness = 90

• Embossement. The parameter allows embossing the texture. The values of the parameter vary between 0 and 150. At 0, the texture is flat. As you increase the value of the parameter, the texture gets more prominent.

Embossment = 25	Embossment = 150

• Reveal Texture. The parameter defines to what extent the canvas is shown through the image. The values of the parameter vary between 0 and 40. The higher the value, the more distinct is the texture and the less visible is the original image. A higher value of the parameter also increases the influence of the Brightness parameter and the texture contrast.

Reveal Texture = 20	Reveal Texture = 35

• Distortion. The parameter defines the distortion of the resulting image. The values of the parameter vary between 0 and 50. The higher the value of the parameter, the more distorted and blurred is the image.

  Distortion = 0	Distortion = 30