How to make a picture look like a painting (PS CS5)

HOW TO MAKE A PICTURE LOOK LIKE A PAINTING

The hard way

For this tutorial, we're going to take a simple picture (the simpler it is, the easier it is to follow this). In this particular case, we're using lovely Mo-01 stock photo from Devianart. You'll see why this picture is perfect for this exercise along the tutorial.

Final result

1. We'll start by duplicating the layer (Command + J or CTRL + J) and hide the new layer for the moment.
The tool we'll be using for this is the smudge tool . This one is useful for paintings, and it's rather easy to use when you use short, even strokes. Don't get too discouraged if it doesn't work out the first time. It takes some practice to control your hand, just like with drawing and painting. Just hit that Command + Z or CTRL + Z and try again.

2. We're going to start with the easy parts. Those round bits in the model like her cheeks are pretty easy to smudge. You just make a circular motion, kind of like shaking and jiggling (I looked rather funny jumping in my desk when i was doing this. People were staring... <_<)

3. The next bit is a tiny bit more difficult. You just have to watch for lines. That's right, lines. You can see those down her neck, down her arm and pretty much all along the picture. See where those shadows start? You just have to follow them with the smudge tool set around 40%-60%, according to how long you want the trace. (I try to keep it pretty low and make short traces, so I take longer but mess up less).

Once you're done with the skin, you'll have something like this.

4. The next part is the hair. You can clearly see in this picture where everything is going. Just follow those lines with the smudge tool.

5. Just like with the hair, you need to do the same thing with the rose on her chest. Just picture lines above it, and follow them.

6. The next bit is far easier but pretty cool. Remember that hidden layer? Well, bring it up. You need the High Pass feature and just set it to 67%. You'll have something like this.

Just set the layer to Overlay, and you're done! You have a photo turned into a painting.

You can merge this picture together and do whatever you want with it. Have fun!

Another fabulous tut! And I was about to bug you for more.

<3 I'm glad you liked it! I was worried it'll be too bland. >_<

goodness i'm going to HAVE to try this as soon as possible! Looks stunning really! thanks so much for sharing!