Learn Photo Editor Tutorials

How to Turn a Portrait Photo Into a Charcoal Drawing

By Sarah Foster | Photo Editor Tutorials

In the realm of visual storytelling, portrait photography holds a special place, capturing the essence, personality, and mood of its subjects with remarkable precision. This timeless art form has continually evolved with technological advancements, opening new avenues for creativity and expression.

There are several ways to transform an image into a sketch, but a fan favorite is transforming your image into a charcoal drawing. BeFunky’s Charcoal effect in the Photo Editor allows you to transform your portraits into stunning charcoal drawings. This photo-to-charcoal sketch effect is more than just a digital gimmick – it represents a fusion of modern photography with the classic beauty of traditional art.

photo to charcoal female portrait

Incorporating the photo-to-charcoal sketch effect into your portrait photography elevates your work but also broadens your creative horizons. It allows for customization and experimentation, ensuring that each piece is as unique as the story it tells. You can transform your photo into a work of art in minutes. Whether you're a professional photographer or a hobbyist, exploring this technique can add a sophisticated and artistic flair to your portraits, making them truly unforgettable.

How to Turn Your Portraits Into Charcoal Drawings

Whether you're a professional photographer looking to add a new dimension to your work, or a hobbyist eager to explore creative avenues, transforming your portraits into charcoal drawings can be both fun and rewarding.

Step 1: Upload Your Portrait

Get started by heading to the Sketcher category, which can be found in the Artsy tab. Drag and drop your photo directly onto the canvas, or select the Open tab for additional options.

charcoal

Step 2: Adjust and Apply the Charcoal GFX Effect

From here, we're going to choose Charcoal GFX. This effect uses AI technology to analyze the important details and contrasting colors to create the most realistic charcoal drawing effect.

adjust-GFX

Step 2: Adjust and Apply

After selecting the effect, you can use the slider to adjust the amount. For further customization, click on the Settings icon. With Charcoal GFX, you can adjust the fidelity, smoothness, and pencil size to create your ideal effect. Fidelity measures how closely a copy resembles the original, preserving detail and avoiding any distortion. It’s useful because it allows you to be able to be as creative as you want. Finally, you can choose from several variations of the same effect to find your perfect fit. Once you have achieved your desired look, click the Apply button.

adjust charcoal gfx

Step 3: Save Your Charcoal Portrait

To save your charcoal drawing photo, click Save at the top of your canvas and choose your preferred save location. If you'd like to revisit your project for further edits later, click Save as Project

save charcoal portrait

Finished Product – Portrait to Charcoal Sketch

Transforming your portraits into original artworks is a breeze with just three simple steps and the help of AI. Witness the change of this image as we accentuated its striking linework and infused texture onto the portrait using a Charcoal effect.

final results portrait to charcoal

Get Inspired With These Charcoal Portraits 

Whether you're drawn to classic compositions, intimate close-ups, or dynamic group portraits, you'll find inspiration and ideas to elevate your artistic endeavors. Let's ignite your imagination and discover the endless possibilities of charcoal transformations in portraiture.

Classic Portraits

Traditional head-and-shoulders compositions that focus on the subject's face and expression are ideal for creating a sleek and impactful charcoal drawing.

classic charcoal portrait

Close-Up Portraits

Use Charcoal GFX to highlight and enhance facial features in close-up portraits, such as eyes, lips, or hands.

up-close charcoal portrait

Group Portraits 

Charcoal drawings can beautifully capture the dynamics and relationships between multiple subjects, whether it's a family portrait or a snapshot of friends.

charcoal group portrait

Transform Your Portraits Into Charcoal Masterpieces 

Charcoal GFX offers a seamless way to transform portrait photography into a charcoal sketch in just seconds. This technique enhances the contrast of your images and highlights the unique features of your portraits for frame-worthy results. Try it today!

Go From Photo to Art in One Click


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