How to Turn a Photo into a Pencil Sketch

To turn a photo into a drawing, open Photo to Pencil Sketch, add the photo, choose pencil, colour pencil or charcoal, adjust the stroke width and darkness, and download the sketch as a PNG in full resolution. Press and hold the preview to compare it with the original.

Make a sketch step by step

1. Open Photo to Pencil Sketch and add a photo.
2. Choose a style:
   • Pencil — classic grey graphite lines on white paper.
   • Colour pencil — the same strokes in the photo's own colours.
   • Charcoal — bolder, darker strokes for a dramatic look.
3. Adjust the stroke width: thin for fine detail like hair; thicker for a bold, hand-drawn feel.
4. Adjust the darkness: raise it if the drawing looks faint, lower it for a light study.
5. Press and hold the preview to compare with the original, then download.

How the sketch effect works

The tool uses the "colour dodge" technique artists use in Photoshop: it keeps the edges and outlines of the photo — where brightness changes sharply — as pencil strokes, and washes flat areas out to white paper. That's why photos with clear edges make the best drawings, and why smooth areas like sky and skin become clean paper.

Photos that make good sketches

• Portraits with good light on the face — window light from the side gives nice shading.
• Pets, especially with distinct fur patterns.
• Buildings and streets with strong lines.
• Objects — a teapot, a bicycle, a plant — against a plain background.

Busy backgrounds turn into lots of scribbled lines. Remove the background first with the Background Remover and the subject stands out on clean paper.

Ideas for your sketch

• Gifts and cards: print a sketch of a pet or a family photo on good paper and frame it.
• Profile pictures with an artistic look.
• Colouring pages for kids: a light pencil sketch of a favourite photo can be coloured in.
• Tracing guides for learning to draw: print the sketch faintly and draw over it.
• Wedding invitations and menus with a sketch of the venue.

Make it look hand-drawn

A few finishing touches make a digital sketch more convincing as a "drawing":

• Choose the charcoal style for a loose, artistic feel, or pencil with thin strokes for a careful study.
• Leave white space — crop so the subject sits in the middle of the paper with room around it.
• Sign it: add your name or the date in a corner with Add Text to Image using the handwritten font.

Printing tips

The sketch downloads at the photo's full resolution, so it prints sharply. Print on matte paper for a more convincing "drawn" look, and choose the paper size with the photo's shape in mind — or crop it first.

Other artistic effects

• Cartoon: bold outlines and flat colours with Image to Cartoon.
• Filters: vintage, noir, fade and more with Photo Filters.
• Classic black and white: a straightforward grayscale version with Image to Grayscale.

Frequently asked questions

Is my photo uploaded?

No. The sketch is made in your browser, and the photo never leaves your device.

Why does my sketch look too faint?

Raise the darkness, or use the charcoal style. Low-contrast photos (taken in flat light) produce faint lines — try a photo with stronger light and shadow.

Can I sell prints of a sketch made from someone else's photo?

The sketch is still based on that photo, so you need the photographer's permission to sell it. Sketches of your own photos are yours.