Learn Photo Editor Tutorials

Turn Photos Into Old School Comics With the Vintage Comic Creator

By Melanie Doncas | Photo Editor Tutorials

Vintage comics are having a revival of late, and it isn’t hard to see why. The charm of vintage comics lies in their bold colors, expressive illustrations, and nostalgic vibes – think classic comic strips, old-school advertisements, or vintage cartoons (like old-school Disney).

While the vintage cartoon style shares some similarities with pop art, you’ll find that it leans into a smoother and more polished aesthetic. Rather than the prominent halftones pop art is famous for, vintage comics are more reminiscent of the hand-drawn cartoons and vintage illustrations of decades gone by. Its versatility makes it perfect for everything from creating timeless portraits to unique graphic designs.

Want to create your own vintage comics? Keep reading, because we’ll show you how you can use BeFunky’s Vintage Comic effect, available in our Photo Editor, to do just that!

How to Create Vintage Comics Using BeFunky

Ready to add a vintage cartoon style to your photo? Head to the Comics section of the Photo Editor and open the image you wish to turn into a vintage illustration.

open a photo in vintage comic maker

Step 1: Select the Vintage Comic Effect

Within the Comics category of the Artsy effects, click Vintage Comic GFX. This will sample the effect on your image.

You can adjust the strength of the effect using the slider. You also have the option to click on Settings, which allows you to alter the effect further; Cancel, which cancels the selected effect; and Apply, which applies the effect as-is.

basic comic effect applied

Step 2: Adjust the Vintage Comic Effect (Optional)

Click the icon on the left-most side to open the Settings menu. Here, you have the additional option to adjust the Vintage Comic GFX effect’s Fidelity, Smoothness, and Variation. Fidelity refers to how closely a copy resembles the original image without losing detail. Adjusting the Smoothness slider allows you to control how sharp or smooth your image’s lines are. Variation, on the other hand, lets you toggle through several variations of your image with the same effect applied to it. When you’ve finished making your adjustments, click Apply.

advanced settings of vintage comic effect

Step 3: Save Your Vintage Illustration

Once you’ve finished creating your vintage comic, click the Save button at the top of the page, then select your desired save location.

save your vintage comic

Final Results: A Vintage Comic Book in Seconds

Who knew creating vintage cartoons could be so easy? With the Vintage Comic GFX effect, there’s no end to the stunning vintage-style comics you can create!

woman with floral background and black dress and Vintage Comic GFX applied
woman with floral background and black dress

Before

After

What Other Ways Can You Use the Vintage Comic Effect?

Looking for inspiration for your next vintage comic project? Here are some exciting ways to get creative with this versatile effect!

Mix and Match Other Vintage Effects

Mix and match the Vintage Comic GFX effect with additional effects such as Halftone Duo, Pop Art, or even Sunburst to create a vintage illustration that’s unique while staying rooted in retro comic aesthetics. In this example, we used Sunburst 2 to give our portrait a retro vibe.

vintage comic and sunburst applied to photo of man
male portrait with blue sky

Before

After

Experiment With Mixed Media Art

The Vintage Comic GFX effect also pairs beautifully with mixed media techniques, allowing you to craft one-of-a-kind designs that combine vintage illustration with modern mixed media. You can use the Background Remover tool to layer a grainy or textured background behind your subject. This creates a weathered and aged look that’s reminiscent of old comic book pages. You can also use the Cutout tool to turn your vintage comic into a vector file that can be placed within a graphic design featuring various illustrations, shapes, and textures.

mixed media vintage comic book idea

Design a Holiday Card With a Retro Twist

The Vintage Comic effect is even perfect for creating unique holiday cards with a festive and timeless feel. Simply transform your family portrait into a vintage comic, then add your image to one of BeFunky’s many holiday card templates. We’ve pre-designed a ton of holiday cards to save you the hard work of creating one from scratch!

vintage style holiday card of family with vintage comic applied

Embrace the World of Vintage Cartoon Style

With BeFunky’s Vintage Comic GFX effect, you don’t need to worry about creating vintage illustrations by hand. In just a few clicks, you can turn any photo into a vintage comic and recreate retro-inspired cartoons of decades gone by.

Check out the Photo Editor to see just how incredible the Vintage Comic GFX effect really is!


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