Stylize filters stylize the image to look like a pencil graphic or an impressionist canvas. They can also add volume to the picture. All the effects are achieved by handling the contours of the image, i.e. the places with the highest contrast.
I used this image to demonstrate the abilities of the filters.
1. Diffuse
This filter disperses the pixels of the whole image or the selection area in a chaotic manner so that the image becomes less focused after the filter's application.
Start from opening the image and selecting Filter>Stylize>Diffuse. You'll see the following settings:
Mode - the mode of the filter has to be selected in the window (I used Anisotropic).
Normal - all the pixels are scattered uniformly, no matter what color they are.
Darken Only - the colors before and after the dispersion are compared; the darker one is left.
Lighten Only - after a similar comparison, the lighter color is kept.
Anisotropic - applies anisotropic filtration to the image.
So, here's what I got:
2. Emboss
This filter turns the image into a grey bas-relief at the same time outlining its main contours with white and colored lines.
Open the image and move to Filter>Stylize>Emboss to see the following settings:
Angle - determines the angle of slope of the lines (I used 166).
Height - controls the width of the contour outlines and the distance between the image and the outlines (I chose 2).
Amount - the larger this setting, the more original colors are kept in the image (I set 110).
This is what I got as a result:
3. Extrude
This filter applies 3d structure the whole image or a selection. The image is broken into 3d blocks, cubic or pyramid-like in shape. The blocks are aimed at the center of the image or selection.
So, open the image and select Filter>Stylize>Extrude. You'll find the following settings:
Type - determines the type of extrusion: blocks or pyramids (I used blocks).
Size - adjusts the length of a block's basis (I used 30).
Depth - sets the maximal length of a block or a pyramid. Also, sets the mode of determining the height for a specific block: Random or Level-based (the brighter the piece of an image, the higher it will be (I used 30, Random).
Solid Front Faces - if checked the front sides of the blocks will be filled with an averaged uniform color (I used unchecked).
Mask Incomplete Blocks - if checked, the blocks and pyramids jutting out of the image or the selection area will be hidden (I used unchecked).
And this is my result:
4. Find Edges
This filter highlights all the contours of an image and fills the rest with white. So, open the image and select Filter>Stylize>Find Edges. The filter has no settings.
This is what comes out:
5. Glowing Edges
This filter outlines the contours of an image and later inverts the image to obtain light contours on a dark background.
Open the image first. Then go to Filter>Stylize>Find Edges and you'll see these settings:
Edge Width - changes the thickness of the contours (I used 3).
Edge Brightness - this crawler adjusts the brightness of the highlighted contours (I set it at 5).
Smoothness - softens the sharp lines (I used 7).
Here's what I got:
6. Solarize
This filter tone-corrects the image by flipping down the top right part of the tone curve. This means that the shades and the darker part of the middle tones stay the same, but the lights and the lighter part of the medium tones gets inverted. The larger the light area, the smaller it will become after the filter's application.
Well, open the image and select Filter>Stylize>Diffuse. This filter does not have any settings.
This is what you'll get:
7. Tiles
This filter breaks the image into square tiles and sifts them.
Open the image. Select Filter>Stylize>Tiles and you'll find these settings there:
Number of Tiles - in this field, you can indicate the number of tiles to break the image into (I chose 10).
Maximum Offset - this filed lets you chose the maximum shift distance (I used 10).
Fill Empty Area With - here you chose the color to fill the gaps between the tiles (I used Background Color).
And here's what I got:
8. Trace Contour
This filter outlines the light or dark areas in each color channel with thin color lines.
You should open the image and move to Filter>Stylize>Trace Contour. You'll see the following settings there:
Level - lets you choose the top level of brightness (I used 121).
Edge - if Lower is chosen, the filter will outline the areas brighter than the top level indicated in the Level field. By selecting Upper edge, you will outline the areas with lower brightness (I used Lower).
This is my result here:
9. Wind
This filter is alike with Motion Blur in its function, but it impacts only the edges of the color areas.
Open the image and select Filter>Stylize>Wind. You'll see the following settings:
Method - selects the scale of the filter: Wind, Blast, Stagger (I used Stagger).
Direction - lets you choose the direction, from the right or left (I used From the Right).
This is what came out:
More Tutorials: 
