Fast JPEG to Vectors

[jrmoore]

Here is a tip I picked up on from KarenW. This saves me untold hours trying to fine tune a JPEG digital photo into practical vectors. It needs Photoshop to implement, but it may also be possible in Inkscape (free software). I have not checked that out yet.

To Pencil Sketch from a JPEG Photograph:
1. Open photo in Photoshop
2. Double Click Layer (Make it editable)
3. Image>>Adjust>Desaturate (Work in black and white)
4. Duplicate Layer
5. Ctl I (Invert image)
6. Blend mode = Color Dodge
7. Filter>Other>Minimum
8. Adjust Radius (as desired for line width)
9. Flatten image
10. Save as a JPEG file

To Vcarve the JPEG file:
1. Open Vcarve and create a new file
2. Import bitmap for tracing
3. Trace bitmap – fit vectors to selected bitmap
4. Adjust Black/White threshold
5. Apply and Close – then go test a Vcarve

Extra tip – write the Photoshop steps 2 - 8 as an action to really speed up the process.
All comments on this tip are welcome. Hat tip to Karen for the lead.

[baby15]

thanks will save this

[tonydude]

Will have to try this myself.

Tony

[KarenW]

It's really a quick process to do this, too.
Takes me maybe 3 minutes in Photoshop to convert a digital photo for vectorization.
Two key things (for me anyway) is it has to be a fairly high res photo and when doing the pixel radius in the Gaussian blur window, keep the numbers down as low as possible for the sharpest rendering.

*edited to add:
I do steps 5 & 6 in reverse - I color dodge first and invert after.
But I'll try it that way and see if it makes a difference.

[Dash]

Hello, All

Following the steps, I get hung up on blend mode = color dodge, Where are these located? I have never worked with any kind of photo programs so this is very new to me....

Thanks,
Dash

[KarenW]

Dash - if you're using Photoshop you'll find Color Dodge on the pop out menu on the right side of the screen under the Layers tab, then the drop down menu where it says "Normal". Click that drop arrow and you'll find it 10th down on the list.

[Dash]

Karen,
You rock!! Thanks!
Dash

[KarenW]

[azimmer1]

Karen
This may be a stupid question, but why do you invert the image?

[Wolffie1]

Karen
This may be a stupid question, but why do you invert the image?

Lithophanes come out much more like a real photo when it is inverted.
I'll show a photo when I come home.
Cheers
Wolffie