How to turn a photo into an outline drawing

Use the outline and line-drawing effects in Pencil Sketch to turn an iPhone photo into dark lines with little or no shading.

Updated

1. Pick a photo with clear edges

Outline effects follow contrast. A subject that stands out from a plain background, such as a face against a wall or a building against the sky, gives cleaner lines than a busy street scene.

2. Choose an outline style

Open the photo in Pencil Sketch and switch between Line Drawing and Boundary. Look at the rim and handle of a cup to see which edges survive. Try Gray Pencil to keep more shading. The outline styles require a subscription.

3. Balance lines and background

Use the brightness and contrast adjustments to strengthen the lines you need and quiet the background. Check that eyes, hands, windows or other key details keep their shape.

4. Save and use it

Save the image to Photos. It is a rendered image, not an editable vector file, so print it at a size that suits the photo, or trace it by hand if you need clean ink lines.

The same cup, before and after

Red espresso cup and spoon on a wooden table
Original photo
Cup rim and spoon outlined, with fine lines in the wood grain
Line Drawing

Look at the rim, the spoon and the wood grain. The Line Drawing filter from version 2.0.4 keeps the rim clear and picks up fine lines in the table. A plain surface leaves more room to color.

Rachel Michetti · Pikolo Espresso Bar · CC0

A little more inspiration

An outline can be a starting point for a coloring page or a tracing template. Start with a simple subject and a plain background. If you need an editable SVG, convert the saved image in a dedicated vector tool.

Sketch a portrait or pet photo
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