In this tutorial, I will show you how to turn a photo into a comic book illustration in Photoshop using filters and textures.
1. How to create a background with rays
Step 1
Create a new document in Photoshop 850 by 645 pixels. Of course, you can choose any size you want, but you will have to adjust the settings proportionally.
Create a new layer calling it Sunburst Background (Background with rays). Take the tool Gradient
(Gradient) (G) and select the following colors for the gradient: # 777777 and # c5c5c5.
Step 2
Hold down the Shift key and draw a vertical line, starting from the top of the canvas, with shades of a linear gradient from beginning to end in a straight line.
Step 3
Click Filter> Distort> Wave (Filter> Distortion> Wave) and change the settings as shown in the screenshot to create vertical lines,
Translator’s Note: Filter settings on screenshot: Number of generators: 5; Wavelength: Min .: 28, Max .: 29; Amplitude: Min .: 998, Max .: 999; Scale: Horiz .: 100%, Vert .: 100%
Step 4
Check that the first line is light gray and the last line is dark gray. If it is not, press Control-T to fix it.
Step 5
It is very important to press Image> Trim (Image> Trimming) and set the settings from the screenshot, otherwise the previous step will be useless.
Translator’s Note: Settings on the screenshot: Based on: Transparent pixels; Trimming: Top, Bottom, Left, Right
Step 6
Click Filter> Distort> Polar Coordinates (Filter> Distortion> Polar Coordinates) (translator’s note: Option Rectangular to Polar), to create rays.
Step 7
Click Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Gradient Map (Layers> New Adjustment Layer> Gradient Map) to add a color to the background. You can choose any colors to your taste. I used # 003876 (Position 23%) and # 00b5e9 (Position 100%).
2. How to remove the background
Step 1
On a new layer, add a photo of the pair and using the tool Lasso
(Lasso) Highlight a pair.
Lessons to help you learn the Lasso tool:
- Lasso Tool
- Magnetic Lasso tool
Step 2
Press Shift-Control-I to invert the selection. Click Delete to remove the background.
3. How to increase the contrast of a photo
Step 1
Add adjustment layer Brightness / Contrast (Brightness / Contrast) to enhance the contrast of the photo.
Click on the third button on the left to cut this adjustment layer on the previous one.
Step 2
Add a second adjustment layer. Brightness / Contrast (Brightness / Contrast) to enhance the contrast of certain parts of the photo.
Click on the third button on the left to cut this adjustment layer on the previous one.
Step 3
Click on the layer mask of the adjustment layer. Brightness / Contrast (Brightness / Contrast) and press Control-I to invert the white color.
Choose a tool Brush 
(Brush) and with a soft round brush, paint over some areas to add more contrast. Paint in white.
The areas on which I painted white on a layer mask.
4. How to make a photo more juicy
Click Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Vibrance (Layers> New Adjustment Layer> Juiciness). Boost Vibrance (Juiciness) to 100, and Saturation (Saturation) to 4.
Click on the third button on the left to cut this adjustment layer on the previous one.
5. Use the Outlined Edge filter.
Step 1
Press Control-J to duplicate the layer with a pair. Name this layer Comics Effect (Comic effect).
Click Filters> Artistic> Poster Edges (Filter> Imitation> Contoured edges) and set the following parameters:
Translator’s Note: Filter settings on screenshot: Edge thickness: 0; Intensity: 10; Posterization: 2
Step 2
Add a layer style Stroke (Stroke) to layer Comics Effect (Comic effect) to create a black stroke and around the edges.
Step 3
Create a new layer and name it. Color (Colour). Right click on the layer and select Create Clipping Mask (Create clipping mask). Change the blending mode to Color dodge (Lightening the basics).
Using the Brush tool, paint on top of the girl’s T-shirt with color # 9a60c3. Do the same with the guy’s shirt, only in color # e06f00.
6. Use the Photocopy filter
Step 1
Press Control-J to duplicate the layer with a pair. Move this layer on top of the layer. Comics Effect (Comic effect). Call it Outline effect (Stroke effect). Change the blending mode to Multiply (Multiplication).
Change the foreground color to # 000000, and the background color to #ffffff.
Click Filters> Sketch> Photocopy (Filter> Sketch> Photocopy) and change the settings to the following:
Translator’s Note: Filter settings on screenshot: Detail: 2; Darkness: 50
Step 2
Click Filter> Stylize> Diffuse (Filter> Stylize> Diffusion) to soften the effect (translator’s note: Anisotropic option). If there are too many lines, you can remove some of them with the tool. Eraser (Eraser).
7. Create a halftone texture
Step 1
Create a new layer called Halftone texture (Halftone Texture) and fill it with #ffffff. Click Filter> Noise> Add Noise (Filter> Noise> Add Noise) (translator’s note: Settings: Effect: 100%; Distribution: Evenly; Monochrome).
Step 2
Click Filter> Pixelate> Color Halftone (Filter> Stylize> Color Halftones) and change the settings to the following:
Translator’s Note: Filter settings on screenshot: Max. radius: 4 pixels; The raster angle (in degrees): Channel 1:45, Channel 2:45, Channel 3:45, Channel 4:45)
Step 3
Change layer blending mode Halftone texture (Halftone Texture) on Multiply (Multiplication), and his Opacity (opacity) at 66%.
Step 4
Add adjustment layer Brightness / Contrast (Brightness / Contrast) to brighten the image and make it brighter. If you want to get juicy and rich colors, you can also add a correction. Vibrance (Juiciness).
8. Create speech bubbles
Step 1
Use the tool Ellipse Tool 
(Ellipse) to create rounded shapes, as shown below. For them, choose the color #ffffff.
To add shapes on the same layer, make sure you click the button Add to shape area (Merge shapes) after creating the first one.
Step 2
There are many different speech bubbles. For example, the one on the right depicts thoughts.
Let’s create another speech bubble. Use the tool Pen
(Pen) to create a triangular shape. Once again make sure that the option is selected. Add to shape area (Combine shapes).
Step 3
Add a layer style Stroke (Stroke) to bubbles of color # 000000.
Step 4
Add text inside the speech bubbles using a comic book font. I used the BD Cartoon Shout font.
Translator’s Note: Text in bubbles: a girl: You are so funny !!!; at the guy: She’s cute 
Step 5
Use the tool again. Pen (Pen) to draw a new shape. Change the background color to # ffeb27, and for the stroke – # 000000.
Add text colors of # 000000 and # dd1735.
9. Add grunge effect
To create an orange effect, I will use the texture of old paper. Change the blending mode to Overlay (Overlap).
Add adjustment layer Levels (Levels) to this layer. Use the clipping mask to adjust the effect to your taste.
10. Add a frame
Press Shift-Control-Alt-E to make a copy of all layers. Add a layer style Stroke (Stroke) to create a frame effect. Use color # 000000 (translator’s note: Size: 6 pixels; Position: Inside; Blend Mode: Normal; Opacity: 100%; Stroke type: Color; Colour: # 000000)
Congratulations! All is ready!
In this tutorial, you learned how to create a comic book effect in Photoshop from scratch using filters and textures. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.
Author: John Negotia
