Programs to turn a photo into a cartoon drawing
You would like to understand how to turn a photo into a cartoon drawing acting as a computer? Then immediately test the tools you find listed below. There are for Windows, MacOS e Linux: I sincerely hope they can satisfy you.
XnSketch (Windows / macOS / Linux)
The first of the useful resources that I want to suggest you consider is XnSketch, a free software for Windows, macOS and Linux that allows you to apply cartoon and drawing effects to selected photos, returning noteworthy results. It is fairly simple to use, even for novice image editing users, and includes convenient options for tweaking lighting, contrast, and other photo parameters.
To use it on Windows, connected to its official website and click on the button Zip Win 64bit (if you are using 64-bit Windows) or on that Zip Win 32bit (if you are using 32-bit Windows). When the download is complete, extract theZIP archive obtained and start, by double clicking on it, the file XnSketch.exe present inside.
Se, invece, stai using a Mac, go to the page of Mac App Store online dedicated to XnSketch and click on the button See in the Mac App Store. In the screen of the Mac App Store "True and proper" that opens, click on the button Ottieni / Installa to proceed with the download and installation of the application. If necessary, authorize the download by typing the Password of your Apple account or through touch ID (if the Mac you are using supports it). Then, press the button apri appeared on the screen to start the program.
Now that you see the main XnSketch window, drag the photo you want to turn into a cartoon over it. Alternatively, click on the button with the folder and the blue arrow present at the top left and select "manually" the image of your interest.
Then choose one of the effects present in the lower part of the window, corresponding to the section Effect, and adjust (if you want) the options relating to brightness, contrast and so on by moving the relative sliders located to the right. All the changes are shown to you in real time, through the preview of the photo placed in the center of the program window.
If you are interested in this, I would like to point out that, using the buttons on the toolbar (top) you can rotate the photo and you can change the zoom level, while clicking on the tab Mask (below) you can add a mask to the image.
Finally, save the final result obtained by pressing the button with the folder and the green arrow (above) and indicating the output format and location on your computer. Done!
FotoSketcher (Windows / macOS)
Another excellent program that I invite you to consider and that can be useful for the purpose of this tutorial is FotoSketcher. It's free, works on Windows and macOS, and lets you transform photos by applying cartoon and pictorial effects to them. It is very easy to use and also allows you to adjust other image parameters for even more accurate results.
To download the program to your computer, visit the relevant download page on FOSSHUB and click on the link FotoSketcher 64-bit Windows Portable (if you are using 64-bit Windows), on that FotoSketcher 32-bit Windows Portable (if you are using 32-bit Windows) or on the link FotoSketcher OS X (if you are using MacOS).
When the download is complete, if you are using Windows, open, by double clicking on it, the .exe file just got it. If, on the other hand, you are using MacOS, extract theZIP archive ottenuto e trascina l 'program icon in the folder Applications computer, then right-click on it and select the item apri for two consecutive times, in order to start the software going to circumvent the limitations imposed by Apple on non-certified developers (an operation that must be performed only at the first start).
Now that you see the FotoSketcher window on the screen, drag over the photo you want to turn into a cartoon or, alternatively, click on the button with the blue folder and the photo present at the top left and select "by hand" the image of your interest.
At this point, click on the button with the icon of the palette placed on the toolbar (top) and select, from the further window that opens, the comic effect you want to apply to the image after clicking on the menu Drawing style. By hovering the mouse pointer over it, you can also see a preview.
By moving the sliders placed in correspondence with the items Contour threshold, Repetitions etc. you can adjust, if you deem it necessary, the other parameters related to the stylization of the photo. Then intervene on the further settings relating to the texture, the outlines and the frame and, finally, click on the button Draw.
Once the changes have been applied, the photo transformed into a cartoon will be visible in the right part of the window. If you wish, you can make further changes using the buttons for cropping and the one for adding text always located on the toolbar, while to increase or decrease the zoom you just need to use the buttons with the magnifying glasses which are located at the top (always on the right).
Finally, save the modified image by pressing the button with the floppy disk present in the upper left part of the program window and specifying, in the further window that opens, the format and the output location of the file.
Online services to turn a photo into a cartoon drawing
You don't want or can't download new programs on your computer and would like me to recommend some online service to be able to turn your photos into comic drawings? Said, done: below you will find those that, in my opinion, represent the best online resources to carry out the operation that is the subject of this guide. What are you waiting for to try them?
Cartoonize
The first of the online resources to turn a photo into a cartoon drawing and that I recommend is Cartoonize: this is a renowned Web service used exclusively for the transformation of images into comics. It is very easy to use, free, requires no registration and works from any browser. The only thing to consider is that it applies a watermark to the final images.
You ask me how to make use of it? I'll tell you right away. First, connect to the Cartoonize home page and click the button Browse / Choose File located on the left to select the photo on your computer on which you want to intervene. Next, click on the button Online Cartoonizer to start the process of transforming the photo into a cartoon.
If you want, you can also go to act on a photo already present online. If so, check the box next to the item Upload photo from URL, paste the reference URL in the appropriate field that you see appear and press the button Send.
Once the photo has been uploaded, regardless of the upload method used, it will automatically be transformed into a cartoon and you can see the final result returned in the center of the page. If you wish, you can change the applied effect by selecting another from the list on the left.
If you see fit, you can also add clipart, texts, filters and various other decorative elements to the image by selecting the tools and functions of interest using the buttons on the left. All elements added to the photo can be managed via the card Layers located at the top right.
To download the edited image to your computer, click on the button Save at the top, it indicates the quality and format of the final file and presses the other button Save. If you have not made any changes to the default browser settings, the photo turned into a cartoon will be saved in the folder Download Of computer.
Pho.to
Another great online service that I invite you to consider to succeed is Pho.to: it is a no-cost solution, very easy to use, usable from any browser and operating system and that does not require registration. The customization margin is not very high, this must be said, but the final result obtained is excellent.
To use it, connected to the home page of the service, press the button Scegliere located at the top and select the photo you want to edit. If the image is online, press the button instead Put URL and enter the relevant link in the displayed field. You can also upload your own photos on Facebook, by pressing the appropriate button, logging into your account and selecting album and reference image.
Once the photo is uploaded, you will immediately be shown the final result. To save the edited image on your computer, click on the button Save and share located at the bottom, presses on the photo and, in the new page that will open, right click on it and choose the option to download it. Again, if you haven't changed the default browser settings, the image will be saved in the folder Download of the PC.
App to turn a photo into a cartoon drawing
As I told you at the beginning of the guide, there are also some uses to Android e iOS that you can use to transform a photo into a cartoon drawing directly on the go, without necessarily having to go through the computer. You ask me what are these apps? Well, the ones that in my opinion are the best in the category are listed below. Try them now!
- MomentCam Cartoons & Stickers (Android / iOS) - renowned app thanks to which it is possible to transform photos into comics and cartoons, returning highly realistic final results. Note that with the resulting modified images you can also create customized emoticons and stickers. It's free, but offers in-app purchases (starting from 59 cents on Android and from 1,09 euros on iOS) to unlock some extra features, such as the ability to remove the watermark that is applied to photos once edited .
- ArtistA Cartoon & Sketch Drawing & Art Effects (Android) - another app belonging to the category that incorporates many filters to transform photos into comic drawings. The final results obtained can be saved on the device or shared online. It's free.
- ToonCamera (iOS) - renowned application thanks to which comic-style filters and effects can be applied to photos, obtaining very convincing final results. It costs € 2,29.
