Sketch Effect in Affinity Photo

In this tutorial, we will create a sketch effect in Affinity Photo. This effect will turn your images into sketches and make them look like real drawings.

Go to the following links to download the images for the tutorial:

• Dog with fur coat
• Sketchbook

Step 1

First, go to File > Open and select the downloaded image of the dog.

Step 2

Unlock the image in the Layers Panel.

Step 3

Next, press CTRL + J to make a duplicate of the image.

Step 4

With the duplicated image selected, go to the Layer menu and select Invert.

Step 5

Now, go to the Layers Panel. Set the Blend Mode of the duplicated layer to Color Dodge.

Step 6

After that, select the Live Filters icon in the Layers Panel. Then, click on Gaussian Blur. I set the Radius to 3 px, but you can set it to whatever you want for your desired look.

Step 7

Next, click the Adjustments icon in the Layers Panel. Select the Black and White adjustment. The percentages I used are Red 139%, Yellow 19%, Green -25%, Cyan 79%, Blue -66%, Magenta 29%.

Step 8

In the Layers Panel, click the Adjustments icon again. This time select the Curves adjustment.

Step 9

Now, go to the Layers Panel. Click on the Adjustments icon. Select the Levels adjustment. Set the Black Level to 15%. This step is optional.

Step 10

Select all the layers in the Layers Panel. Right click on the selection and click Merge Visible.

Step 11

Next, uncheck the other layers in the Layers Panel.

Step 12

Now, go to File > Open and select the image of the sketchbook.

Step 13

Go to the Tools Panel and grab the Selection Brush Tool. In the Context Toolbar make sure you’re in the Add Mode and that Snap to Edges is checked.

Step 14

Take the brush and select the sketchbook. Switch to the Subtract Mode to select the pencil so that it won’t be part of our selection.

Step 15

After making the selection, go to the Context Toolbar and hit Refine. Set the Output to New Layer and hit Apply.

Step 16

Next, go to the Layers Panel and turn the original image back on.

Step 17

Now go back to our sketch and copy it. Then, paste it onto our sketchbook image.

Step 18

In the Layers Panel, drag the sketch layer inside of the layer with our sketchbook selection.

Step 19

After that, resize our sketch to make it fit onto the sketchbook properly.

Note: Go to the Transform Panel and turn on the Lock Aspect Ratio before resizing your image.

Congratulations, you created a sketch effect in Affinity Photo! For more Affinity Photo tutorials, check out this tutorial on how to create a tiny planet effect.