1792 Coins

I have been all over the web trying to find a way in which a no-talent-hack, such as myself, could possibly create any semblance of what one could call 'art.'  I found this article, which gave me hope.  (I highly recommend you read it as it will show all kinds of different methods of achieving various forms of comic art.)  However, they all reference the popular (and rightly so) Adobe Photoshop tool.  As a firm believer in Open Source Software, I primarily use Ubuntu Linux as my OS.  Not Windows, Not Mac.  This creates a bit of a dilemma in trying to follow a step-by-step Photoshop tutorial, when you can't natively run Photoshop.  Sure there are great options out there, like using PlayOnLinux to run Photoshop in the Wine environment, or even using GIMPshop.  But being the purist that I am, I wanted to find a way (preferably a good way), to create the comic book/graphic novel look I wanted with my photos.  I wanted to find a fast and easy method of reproducing the same overall end effect.  This is the first simple formula I used.  (see also ver. 2 and ver. 3)

1. Download GIMP (Windows .exe, and source available on site.  Also available through your Linux package manager.)
   
2. Install GIMP (via Windows .exe, per install instructions in the source archive, or via your Linux package manager.)
3. Choose the photograph you are wanting to use.  It is best to use a high resolution photograph (at least 1024x768, at least 300dpi).  The photograph used in this example (of our two new puppies Sophia & Isabella) was 3648x2736, however it has been scaled down for display purposes.
4. Auto adjusting the color levels will usually help the overall quality of the end result.  (Colors->Levels->Auto->OK)
   

   Colors->Levels

   

   Levels->Auto->OK

5. Apply the 'Oilify' filter to smear the colors of the image a bit.  (Filters->Artistic->Oilify)
   

   Filters->Artistic->Oilify

   Start with the default settings (Mask size:8, Exponent:8, Use intensity algorithm:Y), and adjust the Mask size to fit your preference.  Typically the more intricate details there are in the photograph (like blades of grass, fur, hair,  etc.), the lower you will want the Mask size.  If you have a close up photograph of a human face, for example, you will want to push the Mask size upward toward 25 at most.

   

   Oilify Settings

6. Apply the 'Cartoon' filter to enhance the edges of the items in your photo. (Filters->Artistic->Cartoon)
   

   Filters->Artistic->Cartoon

   Depending on the detail you wish to highlight in your photograph, you can play with these settings.  For the example, settings of Mask radius:50.00 and Percent black:0.500 were used.

   

   Cartoon Settings

7. That's it! Done!

   

   Sophie & Bella Result

Please leave comments and suggestions for future topics!

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