How It Works

AKVIS Sketch converts photos into pencil sketches, the software allows creating realistic color and black and white drawings. The software can be used independently as a standalone program or as a plugin filter in a photo editor.

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

• Step 1. Open an image.

  - 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.

  - 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 on Windows or ⌘+O on Mac.

  Call the AKVIS Sketch plugin select the menu item:

  In AliveColors: Effects -> AKVIS -> Sketch;
  in Adobe Photoshop: Filter -> AKVIS -> Sketch;
  in Corel Paint Shop Pro: Effects -> Plugins -> AKVIS -> Sketch;
  in Corel Photo-Paint: Effects -> AKVIS -> Sketch.

• Step 2. 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.
  
  AKVIS Sketch Workspace, Express Mode

  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: the interface's appearance will change, granting access to the full functionality of the program.

  Note: All parameters work in Express mode as well; some are hidden and the program uses values of a chosen preset.

  
  AKVIS Sketch Workspace, Advanced Mode

  Once the program is open, part of the image will be automatically converted to a pencil drawing. The result will be shown in the quick preview area in the Before tab.

  
  Quick Preview

  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 3. Select the photo-to-sketch conversion style - Classic, Artistic or Maestro; and adjust its parameters.
  • The 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.
  • The 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.
  • The Maestro style (available only for the Deluxe/Business licenses) is intended to solve artistic tasks. It creates vivid and expressive works of art with masterly hatching, clear and natural contours, and without excessive detail, less photographic and more like drawings. This style harmoniously combines exquisite technique and artistry.
  
  Classic Style

  
  Artistic Style

  
  Maestro Style
• Step 4. Click on to convert the photo into a pencil drawing with the new settings.

  Note: You can observe the processing in real-time. It's possible to stop photo-to-sketch rendering and save the semi-processed drawing as a result. To interrupt the process, use the Stop button right to the progress bar.

• Step 5. Optionally, in the Classic and Maestro styles, you can use a special tool that lets you change the direction of the applied pencil strokes. The Stroke Direction tool gives you full control over how hatching is drawn on an image. Using this technique you can achieve a truly realistic drawing with patterns and textures going in the right direction.

  Note: This feature is only available for the Home Deluxe and Business licenses.

  
  Automatic Strokes

  
  Guiding Lines

  
  Reoriented Strokes
• Step 6. You can also adjust the settings on the Background tab and use Decoration options: Canvas, Frame, and Text. Click on the button to start processing the image.
  
  Sketch Drawing + Canvas + Text
• Step 7. It is possible to save the settings you like as a Preset and use them in the future. A preset contains the settings of the Sketch and Decoration tabs.

  To process an image with the settings of a certain preset, you select it from the drop-down menu and press the button .

• Step 8. The Timeline feature allows you get variations of your drawing without adjusting the settings. If you like some semi-processed image more than your final result, click on it to choose. The shot will be shown in the After tab.

  If you want to get back to your final result, click on the last shot in the Timeline list.

  Note: This feature is only available for the Home Deluxe and Business licenses.

  
  Timeline Shots

  You can set the number of the shots in the Preferences dialog box.

• Step 9. You can edit the result and put the finishing touches to your drawing with the post-processing tools: Pencil , Eraser , and History Brush in the After tab.

  Note: The post-processing tools are only available for the Home Deluxe and Business licenses.

  Hint: Use these tools at the final step! If you run the processing again, the changes made with the tools will be lost.

• Step 10. In the standalone version, you can cut off unwanted areas of the result and improve its composition with the Crop tool . If you use the plugin, you can do this in your image editor.
  
  Crop Tool
• Step 11. Share your sketch by clicking on . This button opens the list of the services where you can publish the image.

  In the standalone version, you can also print your result using .

• Step 12. Save the processed image.

  - If you work with the standalone program:

  Click on the button to open the Save s dialog box. Enter a name for the file, choose the format (TIFF, BMP, JPEG or PNG) and indicate the target folder.

  - If you work with the plugin:

  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.

  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.

  
  Pencil Sketch