If you are looking to add a creative twist to your photos, converting them into a painting is a great way to do so. In this article, I have outlined three different methods you can convert your photos into paintings using photoshop.

While there are apps that allow you to convert your photos into paintings these apps are limiting. Often, these apps will leave you with the same style of painting as everyone else. Using photoshop and following the simple steps I have outlined will allow you to convert your photos into paintings with flexibility and creative control.

Style 1

Step 1: 

Image–> Mode–> 8 Bits 

Step 2: 

Filter–> Filter Gallery –> Artistic –> Water Color

Set Brush Detail to 14

Set Shadow Intensity to 0

Set texture to 1

Press Ok

 

Step 3:

Filter–> Filter Gallery–> Texture–> Texturizer

Texture Canvas

Set Scaling to 100%

Set Relief to 1

Set Light to Top

Press Ok

Step 4:

Layer—> New –> Layer Via Copy (Ctrl+ J  (PC)/ Command+J (Mac))

Filter—> Filter Gallery—> Artistic—> Plastic Wrap

Set Highlight Strength to 10

Set Detail to 10

Set Smoothness to 2

Press Ok

Step 5:

Set Layer Mode to Lighten

Step 6:

Add Layer Mask  (Layer –> Layer Mask–> Reveal All)

Use the Brush Tool (B) to remove unwanted glare

Step 7:

Create a Levels layer using Ctrl or Command L and set the output to ten to make the image brighter (optional)

Final Picture:

Style 2Step 1: 

Image–> Mode–> 8 Bits 

Step 2:

Filter–> Artistic–> Filter Gallery–> Poster Edges

Set Edge Thickness to 0

Set Edge Intensity to 0

Set Posterization to 2

Step 3:

Layer—> New –> Layer Via Copy (Ctrl+ J  (PC)/ Command+J (Mac))

Step 4:

Filter–> Artistic–> Filter Gallery–> Palette Knife

Set Stroke Size to 8

Stroke Detail to 1

Set Softness to 0

Step 5:

Add Layer Mask  (Layer –> Layer Mask–> Reveal All)

Use the Brush Tool (B) to remove where you want more details

Final Picture:

Style 3

Step 1: 

Image—> adjustments—> Black and White

Step 2: 

Layer—> layer via copy (Duplicate layer (ctrl/ command J))

Step 3: 

Filter—> Filter Gallery—> Sketch —> Note Paper

Step 4: 

Adjustments—> levels (command L)

Step 5

Set Layer Mode to Overlay 

Final Picture: