I love painting street scenes, however because I’m absolutely hopeless at drawing and especially “perspective” I needed to find a creative way to overcome my lack of talent. With this in mind I decided to cheat and with the aid of Photoshop created an outline picture from one of my favourite photographs which I could then print off and paint using water colours or acrylics. The only problem is I now can’t remember how I achieved this and I want to create more templates to paint!
After hours spent fiddling with Photoshop while cursing my stupidity as I tried various techniques, you can imagine my frustration.
So I’m appealing to all my followers and anyone who happens to drop by my blog out of curiosity…is there anyone out there in “CyberSpace” who is a “Photoshop Guru” who can help me or can anyone recommend a free photo management programme I can download which gives the same results?
Before
After
If you would like to paint this picture you are more than welcome to use the photo and template.
UPDATE
YAY! I’ve done it! Thanks for everyones input and encouragement!
The link below provides easy to follow Photoshop tutorials just right for techno-muppets like me!
www.lunacore.com/photoshop/tutorials/tut011.htm
I followed most of the instructions. However, to lighten the picture for painting I used:
Image tab, then selected Adjustments then Brightness/Contrast
BEFORE
AFTER
I made the outline detail far lighter on this picture as I’m using it as a guide only.
Piglet in Portugal 
Good job PiP I’m impressed! 🙂
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Love this! Hope you’ll share your completed work! 🙂
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Absolutely no help at all.
My expertise in both fields – drawing and computers- is limited to knowing which button to push to turn the machine on and off and which end goes in the pencil sharpener.
The street scene looks wonderful.
Here’s a similar shot when we were in Portugal in 2004 for the football
http://letterdash.com/Arkenaten/on-the-subject-of-football
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Your street drawing is a peach. Very artsy.
I enjoy editing photos. I think you may have used something that may have been called ‘find edges’ or ‘enhances edges’, I use ‘Photo Impact’ and that what they call it.
You may have also ‘inverted’ the colors after using the ‘edge’ effect
Also you might have used a ”cartoon effect.
or a Pen & pencil effect.
I hope this helps. 🙂
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Hi EC, thanks. I think if I can get the background colour right with a combination of yours and bianca’s suggestion I may have cracked it. I need a few hours now to “fiddle”
Someone has also suggested Picasa. Hopefully snout to the grindstone over the weekend I may have sussed it. we will see!
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Is it possible that you embossed it and then inverted the colors?
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What a brilliant idea!
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In theory yes, but in practise would be better if I could remember exactly what I did LOL 🙂
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Aren´t we a useless lot (sorry, can´t help either), but I did have to chuckle at you saying you did something then couldn´t remember how you did it…I can totally relate to that 😉
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Hi Chica,
It’s so frustrating! Glad to know I’m not alone 🙂
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I also can’t draw and wish that I could.
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This is the cheats method!
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When I want to move a picture or photo outline to needlecraft, is to place the said image on a window pane with bluettac then cover with fabric in the same way before tracing the lines in pencil to the fabric I wish to use.
Another way is to trace the image to tracing or greaseproof paper. Turn it over and go over the tracing line on the back. (this needs to be done where the pencil lines do not matter. Then place the tracing paper right side up on the canvas and go over the tracing line again. I suggest you try it on some waste fabric or canvas first. An eraser is handy to have to hand!
Another way is to draw grid lines on your drawing and then do the same on your canvas and work each square at a time in pencil. They should match up.
I hope these ideas help.
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Hi Grannymar, thank you for the suggestions 🙂 I’ve used tracing paper in the past This method printing directly onto the paper is easy as once printed I can then paint. However, tracing paper is great for canvass. I’ve not tried the square method yet, so this may be an option 🙂 thank you
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Hello there,
Open the picture in Photoshop, go to Filter > Sketch > Photocopy, from here on just play with the settings.
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Hi Bianca, and welcome! I’ve just tried this and is def along the right lines. I just need to sort out background colour etc Still def a step in the right direction. Thankyou!
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This is one area I am hopeless at. Sorry, Pip, no help from me, sadly.
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Hi Robyn, I think photoshop is really complicated and hardly a “fun” application. So it does not surprise me there are not many takers
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When it comes to drawing and painting I am absolutely useless and have yet to master photoshop. But what a great way to satisfy your painting urge. Hope help comes soon.
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Hey optie, it is almost like painting by numbers 🙂
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Photoshop is not my cup of tea either, I actually would like to enrol in photoshop lessons…The photo is lovely, so it will certainly be a great painting.
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Hi Sami,
Photshop is quite complicated, so I’m not surprised I forgot the process! Still, I’m googling and may find an option using picasa.
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A more old fashioned way is to draw your subject on a glass (or trace over a photo to a glass, scan it and print on the final media canvas or paper. For large scale paintings I’ve done the slide projector trick, where you project on the media from a slide, trace the outlines and then turn of the projector and of to printing!
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I have tried tracing paper in the past and was relatively successful. Unfortunately, we do not have a projector but I do like the idea 🙂 Thank you
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I’ll ask my daughter when she finally gets up. She keeps teenage hours. She’s into all things artistic and design related.
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Thanks Steph
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Cool idea. Aren’t you creative? Sorry, I don’t know but will ask my OH later on for you, he uses photoshop a lot so may have some clues.
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thanks A. I can’t believe I’ve forgotten how to do this! I puzzled over the problem for hours
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Richie doesn’t know either, sorry!
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What a great idea, PiP! I’m sorry I can’t help you, but I totally support your efforts.
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thanks Sally 🙂
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Hi PiP,
I agree with Adventures…Google (or your favorite search engine) is amazing…we had a broken lightbulb that we couldn’t get out of the socket without electrocuting ourselves…sure enough, there was a video clip telling you exactly how to do it. Another time, I was taking care of my grandson while my daughter and her husband were away…the downstairs bathroom got locked from the inside…quick as a wink, I googled “open a locked bathroom door” and there it was on YouTube…step by step instructions.
Best of luck…enjoy the painting. 🙂
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Hi vivian, just googled and may have found solution. Someone has also emailed me and said I can create the same effect using Picasa3!
I never even thought about google for this, but I know what you mean.
I am going to try and grow sweet potatoes and I found some brilliant step by step advice!
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Yup…the internet can definitely be a life-saver. 🙂
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You could buy a cheap light projector and with that you can put any image on any surface as long it has a power source. Plus you can run it through your computer and change it with photoshop on the fly if needed, for the painting.
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Hi Alan, not sure buying a light projector is an option. Still it is an interesting suggestion and one I’ll bear in mind if I want to paint on a large canvass.
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I thought YOU were going to tell ME how to do it Piglet!!!!
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Hi Chip, yep I was 😳 I can’t believe I’ve completely forgotten how to do it. I feel such a dork!
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Saw your post title and rushed over, but I’m definitely not one who can help. But I would say this: whenever I don’t know something I jump on Google (or the search engine of your choice) and start typing in different ways to ask for what I want. I’m betting someone has already posted an instructional video on YouTube as I often find basic technical computer help there. You might try YouTube first. Good luck, it sounds likes a great concept to know and share!
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Hi Linda,
I never thought of looking on Google! Just had a quick look and the results, once I’d worked our the search term, are encouraging! I can’t believe I’ve forgotten how to create a line only image. Duh!
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Sadly, I can’t help you. What a cool effect, however! I didn’t know one could such things! Hope help arrives soon! 🙂
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Aw thanks Margarita. There must be someone who knows…
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I wish I could help but I only know how to paint the old-fashioned way, with paint and brushes. I hope someone can help you out.
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Sorry chubby, I never made myself clear. I print off the template or transfer onto canvass and then paint. It’s a bit like painting by numbers I suppose.
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