Tutorial: AKVIS Sketch

How it Works

AKVIS Sketch converts photos into pencil sketches, the software allows to create realistic color and B&W drawings.

In order to turn a photo into a pencil sketch follow the instructions:

Step 1. Run the standalone edition of AKVIS Sketch or open your photo editor (if you work with the plugin version of AKVIS Sketch).
Step 2. Open an image.
- If you work with the plugin:

Open an image in your photo editor by calling the command File -> Open or using the key combination Ctrl+O (or +O on Macintosh).

- If you work with the standalone edition:

The dialog box Select file to open appears if you double-click on the empty workspace of the program or if you click on the button on the Control Panel. You can also drag the required image into the workspace of the program.
The Standalone edition of AKVIS Sketch supports RAW, JPEG, PNG, BMP, and TIFF file formats.
Step 3. In plug-in version only: call the AKVIS Sketch plugin select the menu item Filter -> AKVIS -> Sketch in Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements; in Corel PaintShop Photo Pro select the menu item Effects -> Plugins -> AKVIS -> Sketch; in Corel Photo-Paint select the menu item Effects -> AKVIS -> Sketch.
Step 4. The first time the program is opened it will be in Express mode, with a simplified interface and a minimal set of sliders, which help to quickly obtain a satisfactory result.

The AKVIS Sketch window (Express)

Experienced users who are familiar with the capabilities of AKVIS Sketch can switch to Advanced mode. Switch to this mode by clicking the Advanced button in the Control Panel: the interface's appearance will change, granting access to the full functionality of the program.
Note: All features and parameters work in Express mode. Some are hidden and use default values or those of a chosen preset.

The AKVIS Sketch window (Advanced)

Once the program is open, part of the image will be automatically converted to a pencil drawing with the last used settings or with the settings of the AKVIS Default preset (depending on the program preferences).
The conversion result will be shown in the Before tab in the Preview Window. The quick preview area takes settings only of the Sketch and Canvas tabs.
The Preview Window is a square frame outlined with a dotted line ("marching ants"). Drag the square to the required position or draw it anew on any part of the image (double click with the left mouse) to analyse the corresponding area. The preview window disappears after image processing starts and appears again when a parameter in the Settings Panel is changed.
To compare the converted sample with the original photo, left-click on the image in the preview area.

Preview Window

To convert the whole image, click on or on the After tab. After processing it is possible to switch between tabs by pressing the left mouse button on any point of the image.

Default settings
Step 5. Select the photo-to-sketch conversion style: Classic or Artistic; and adjust the parameters.
- Classic style lets you create color and B&W drawings with well-defined contour lines. A characteristic feature of this style is its accuracy: the image looks as if it was primarily created by contour lines with the addition of hatching. Though this mode is versatile and good for many purposes, it is the most suitable for technical illustration, architectural images, and other pictures where you would like to attain good detail.
- Artistic style is designed to create expressive drawings that look like the handmade work of a real artist. In this style, it is easy to create both a quick sketch and a carefully drawn and shaded pencil drawing. The main advantage of this style is the ability to play with hatching and to vary the number of shadings and shadows to get natural tonal transitions. This style requires a good photograph. The best results can be achieved if the original photo was taken in the right light and has good contrast.
Classic Style Artistic Style
Step 6. Press the button to convert the original photo into a pencil drawing with the new settings.

You can observe the processing in real-time. To interrupt the process, press the Esc key or click on the button Stop right to the Progress bar. Adjust the settings and start the processing again.
Step 7. Under Home Deluxe and Business licenses, in Classic Style only, there is a function that defines the direction of the applied strokes. This special tool gives you full control over how hatching is drawn on an image. With this technique you can achieve a truly realistic drawing with patterns and textures going in the right direction.
To draw and edit the guiding lines use the tools and and the buttons and (remove/restore the last drawn line).
- Stroke Direction . Draw with the tool over the image to define the "guiding lines", along which the strokes will be drawn. The changes will be shown in the Preview Window. To process the entire image, click on the button .
- Eraser . Use this tool to erase the lines. The size of the tool can be adjusted with the parameter Brush Size (1-300).
Hint:
- For more efficient use of the Stroke Direction feature adjust the parameters under the Direction tab in Classic style.
- Guiding lines can be saved to a file with the .direction extension (with the button), to use them for further processing in case of work interruption. Loaded guiding lines (with the button) adapt automatically to the size of the image.
Step 8. If needed, adjust the settings on the Background, Canvas or Text tabs. Click on the button to start processing the image.
Step 9. It is possible to save the settings you like as a preset and use them in the future. A preset is shared by three tabs (except the Background tab). To save a preset, enter a name for the preset into the Presets field and press the button Save. Now, as you start the program, it will use the settings of this preset. If you change the values of the parameters, you can always come back to the default settings of the preset by pressing the button Reset.
To delete a preset, select it from the list and press Delete.
To process an image with the settings of a certain preset, you should select it from the drop-down menu and press the button .
Step 10. In plug-in version only: press the button to apply the result and close the plugin window. The AKVIS Sketch plugin will close and the picture will appear in the workspace of the photo editor.
Step 11. Save the processed image.
- If you work with the plugin:

Call the Save As dialog box using the command File -> Save As, enter a name for the file, choose the format and indicate the target folder.

- If you work with the standalone edition:

Click on the button to open the Save as dialog box. Enter a name for the file, choose the format (TIFF, BMP, JPEG or PNG) and indicate the target folder.
Step 12. The standalone edition of AKVIS Sketch allows printing the image. For this purpose press the button , adjust print settings in the Print dialog box and press the button Print.