This can be done using Photoshop or Flash. For this tutorial, I am using Photoshop. This tutorial requires patience; although its not very hard, its a long process. First, open a picture of yourself or someone else you wish to "cartoonize". For this tutorial, I will use a picture of myself.
Then, to start off, make a new layer. Then choose a feature and outline it using the pencil tool. You can use the brush tool, if you size it down to one pixel. I just suggest the pencil tool because it is automatically one pixel. I will do the eyes first. For the eyes, it is best to zoom in as much as possible:
Now, return to your background layer or the layer containing the actual photo and use the eyedropper tool to obtain the eye color (in my case, I have to pick out the color using the color mixer because the web cam isn't good quality). Fill in that part of the eye with that color like so:
Fill in the rest with and extremely light grey:
Now use a black brush for the pupils:
Now use a small white brush for the glares:
Now, while you're zoomed in, draw the wrinkles (don't be afraid, we all got 'em, and it looks weird w/o them):
From here, order doesn't matter except for hair, which comes last. I'm going to do my facial hair next to show an important factor of "cartoonization". Again, zooming in is recommended.
Its important not to leave out imperfect features such as my half-goatee. One part of cartooning is exaggerating such imperfections. Fill in black hair with extremely dark grey so outlines are visible. While I'm zoomed in here, I'll go ahead with the mouth. Start by outlining, then obtain the colors from the background using the eyedropper tool:
Next I'll scroll up to the nose. Again, zoom as much as possible, outline, but don't fill in yet. That comes later.
Now I'll continue the outlining with my ear. Again, filling this will come later, and zoom as much as possible.
Next comes the eyebrows. Very simple.
Now comes the outline of the face. Start with the bottom, then the sideburns (if a guy, if not skip). Again, exaggeration of the sideburns may have a better effect depending on how you imagine your digital self (just remember the Matrix).
Now make the outline of the hairline. This is very tedious, so be patient and don't destroy your mouse for being retarded. Fill the hair in with the same dark dark grey used for the facial hair (if a guy; if not, find a dark, dark grey). Fill in the eyebrows while you're at it.:
Now, obtain the skin color and fill in the rest of the face. Fill in the nostrils with black if you haven't already.
If your nose is as large as my honker, it is necessary to make the bottom part darker like the following. Just choose a darker color of the skin tone. Don't use the eyedropper tool.
Now, press ctrl+A (select all) on the layer with your cartoon and then ctrl+c (copy). Open a new file and press ctrl+v (paste).
That's it! Hope this has been useful!













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