[responsivevoice_button rate=”1″ pitch=”1.2″ volume=”0.8″ voice=”US English Female” buttontext=”Story in Audio”]
Photoshop Artistic filters: Colored Pencils, Cutout, Dry Brush, Fine Grain, Fresco
The best thing about Photoshop is the huge selection of special effects called filters. But the real genius comes when you learn to mix them into new and even more astounding effects, such as Fresco and Paint Daubs together, or Poster Edges with Watercolors. The purpose of this article is to introduce, explain, and show examples of these amazing features.
What are Photoshop’s Artistic filters?
In a nutshell, Photoshop Artistic filters are computerized, artistic techniques (or special effects) that enable you to create images that simulate artistic styles such as colored pencils, watercolors, chalk pastels, charcoal, pen and inks, crayons, and dozens of other artistic media. In the current version of PS, there are over 225 special effects filters.
Six categories of filters are available in the Filter Gallery: Artistic, Brush Strokes, Distort, Sketch, Stylize, and Texture, with dozens of filters inside each category. There are also 16 additional filter categories under the Filter menu, with yet more filters inside those categories.
How do Photoshop’s Artistic filters work?
Each filter creates one or more artistic effects with multiple, custom settings per effect. They’re all different. The filters are located under the Filter tab on the main PS menu. There must be an open image for this menu option to function.
For the Artistic filters, select Filter > Filter Gallery > Artistic Filters. Scroll through the 15 filter options and choose one that fits your project, or browse through the rest of this article to learn all about these features.
Notice the formats: The Settings (name and range) are defined once in the beginning of the first paragraph. The following examples list the user’s selected range (inside parentheses). Images are identified as (TL = top left), (TR = top right), (BL = bottom left), and BR (bottom right).
All about the Artistic filter Colored Pencils
The colored-pencil filter works best on images with multiple, bright colors. Choose an image, then select Filter > Filter Gallery > Artistic Filters > Colored Pencils. The customizable settings include Pencil Width (1 thru 24), Stroke Pressure (0 thru 15), and Paper Brightness (0 thru 50). Notice the examples in figure 01 Colored Pencils.
The first image (TL) shows the original photo. The second image (TR) has darker colors with a thin, lighter stroke (5, 15, 10). The third image (BL) mutes the colors and increases the stroke slightly (6, 10, 20). And the fourth image (BR) maximizes the stroke and the brightness/contrast (10, 15, 50). These are all effective for artistic purposes; however, if combined with other filters, results are amazing.
JD Sartain / IDG01 Colored Pencils filter
If you need an outline of your image, most artists use Filter > Stylize > Find Edges. If that solution is unsatisfactory; increase the contrast on your image (such as Image > Adjustments > Brightness/Contrast > Contrast 75), then apply the Colored Pencils filter (15, 15, 50), which provides a more defined stroke throughout the image.
Next, remove the colors using Image > Adjustments > Desaturate. If the outlines are still minimally defined, then add the effect Filter > Stylize > Find Edges and the outlines should then pop.
All about the Artistic filter called Cutout
The Cutout filter works best on images with uncluttered backgrounds, bright colors, and simple images. Choose an appropriate photo, then select Filter > Filter Gallery > Artistic Filters > Cutout. The customizable settings include number of levels (2 thru 8), obviously, how many cutout levels you want based on colors and luminosity; edge simplicity (0 thru 10) adjusts the angles of the corners; and edge fidelity (1 thru 3) affects how smooth the edges become. Notice the examples in figure 02 Cutout filter.
The first image (TL) shows the original photo. The second image (TR) has multiple cutouts with minimal edges (8, 1, 1). The third image (BL) has maximum cutouts with multiple to maximum edges (8, 8, 3). And the fourth (BR) has midrange cutouts with mid to minimal edges (5, 8, 1). If your project includes creating posters, patterns for linocuts (print making), or silk screen designs, this filter is a good choice.
JD Sartain / IDGFigure 02 Cutout filter
All about the Artistic filter called Dry Brush
Use the Dry Brush filter to create the illusion of a painting. Any photo, drawing, or even a scanned painting will work. Choose an image, then select Filter > Filter Gallery > Artistic Filters > Dry Brush. The customizable settings include brush size (0 thru 10); brush detail (0 thru 10); and texture (1 thru 3). Notice the examples in figure 03 Dry Brush filter.
The first image is the original photo. The second image (TR) minimally alters the texture only (0, 0, 1). Next, (BL) has midrange to minimal brush settings and maximum texture (5, 1, 3). And the last (BR) maximizes the texture only (0, 0, 3). If you have ever painted with a dry brush, this filter is a decent match.
JD Sartain / IDGFigure 03 Dry Brush filter
All about the Artistic filter called Film Grain
Excess film grain creates that wonderful “vintage photo” look, especially when the image is in black-and-white or sepia-toned. This filter also emulates that “grainy” feature that you get when you use high-speed film with ISO settings between 400 and 800, or when you over-develop or under-expose film, or use infrared film.
For this illusion, any photo or illustration will suffice. Choose an image, then select Filter > Filter Gallery > Artistic Filters > Film Grain. The customizable settings include Grain (0 thru 20); Highlight Area (0 thru 20); and Intensity (0 thru 10). Notice the examples in figure 04 Film Grain filter.
First, the original photo. Next, (TR) has minimal grain (18, 12, 3). Next, (BL) has a little more (20, 1, 8). And last (BR) has even more (20, 11, 10). The grain results with this filter are subtle and look very different based on the image you choose.
If you prefer more grainy images with higher settings, try using the effect Filter > Noise > Add Noise > Uniform (or Gaussian) from 0.10 thru 400, in monochromatic or Kodachrome. Or, you can also try Filter > Filter Gallery > Texture > Grain (this one has 10 grain types to choose from).
JD Sartain / IDGFigure 04 Film Grain filter
All about the Artistic filter called Fresco
Photoshop’s Fresco filter (which simulates the warm, saturated effect of a wet-plaster painting method best known from examples in the ruins of Pompeii and the murals of the Italian Renaissance) works especially well with photos using bright colors and high contrast. Choose an image, then select Filter > Filter Gallery > Artistic Filters > Fresco. The customizable settings include brush size (0 thru 10); brush detail (0 thru 10); and texture (1 thru 3). Notice the examples in figure 05 Fresco filter.
After the original photo (TL), the (TR) image has minimal brush settings with maximum texture (0, 0, 3). Next, (BL) has maximum brush, minimum texture, and no detail (10, 0, 1). And last, (BR) has maximum brush and texture with zero detail (10, 0, 3). Notice how the image progresses from a simple nightscape to a nocturnal explosion that resembles a blue and white volcano.
JD Sartain / IDGFigure 05 Fresco filter
