Cartoonize a Photo

To create the cartoon effect you need to create multiple shape layers to represent the different areas in the photograph. So what I will do is document the process of completing, colouring and layering just a few shapes as the process is the same for all shapes.

Start by opening the file you want to cartoonize in Photoshop. Equip the pen tool by pressing ''p''. Click where you would like to start off and then follow around the edges of the shape you want clicking to create new extra anchor points as you go. If you simply click you will create a straight line between points but if you click and hold your click and then drag you can create curved lines. 

Don't worry if you don't get it exactly the way you wish you can press ''Ctrl+z'' or you can just go over it again when your finished by pressing ''Ctrl+right click'' or use the direct selection tool to move the anchor points around.

For simpler shapes such as circles you can just use the elliptical shape tool.

Once you come back around to where you began then hover over you're initial anchor point (you should see a little circle icon) and click. This will complete the shape and you will see it added to your layers.

To pick a colour for the shape you can simply double click on the shapes layer image. After you have double clicked this your colour window will appear. Down the bottom it says only web colours, if this is checked then uncheck it to get a wider range of colours to choose from. Once you select the colour you want you will see it on the shape.

                                                              

Once you have created multiple layers you should rename each layer to a relevant name, eg. "left eye". This will make it much easier to manage the file as you will end up with a large volume of layers.

When you have created all the shapes you should turn off the background layer by clicking on the eye icon beside it. This will highlight any gaps between shapes that you can then fix. After all this is completed and perfected you should have your cartoon style image.