PsP-StReETArT » Converting Photo to Stencil with Photoshop

Converting Photo to Stencil with Photoshop 18. Januar 2007

Veröffentlicht von dazzle in : InPuT, TuToRiALs , trackback

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for this tutorial, so I thought I should explain the process I go through to create a single layer stencil from a colour photo. Once you are familiar with this technique you will find creating stencils with multiple layers easier to master using a similair process. So here we go…

First simply open the colour photo or image you will be using in photoshop (fig.1)

Now, once you have your photo opened we need to convert it into a greyscale image by using the ‘desaturate’ feature(fig.2)

Once you have your image desaturated we need to adjust its ‘brightness and contrast’ to make the job a little easier and to increase the contrast between the black and white areas of the image(fig.3)

This is one of the most important steps as the levels of contrast you create here are what will dictate the outcome and effectiveness of the single layered stencil image. Try and visualise the end result by understanding that only the most extreme areas of black will eventually be selected. Adjust the intensity of these black areas by sliding the 2 bars shown until you are happy that the image is still recognisable but there is a sharp difference between the colours(fig.4)

This is the part where there are a few ways to get a similair end result, but I think is one of the easiest and also most accurate. Select the ‘colour range’ of your image(fig.5)

Basically what is happening here is that photoshop will ’select’ a desired colour, highlight, midtone or shadow of your image. Because for this example we are creating a single layered stencil of the positive areas you will need to select ’shadows’,’selection’ and ‘greyscale’ from the selection preview. Just set your Colour Range palette up as shown in (fig.6)Click OK.

Now you will see photoshop has created a selection of the shadow or black areas of your image. Now just create a new layer in the layers palette and using the paint bucket tool fill the selection on your new layer with black.(fig.7) Hide the original layer under the new one you have created and bang! You have now converted a colour image into a useable stencil image. Keep in mind the basic rules of a stencil still applies as covered in the ‘Basic Stencil Cut’ tutorial and you may be required to tweak the image slightly to remove any of those nasty ‘floating islands’ of white areas contained within any of your black areas.

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