Unfortunately, Photoshop doesn’t currently have a hedcut filter or effect that will make any image you put into it look like one of these illustrations. But you can get close with a few different methods using both software and free online tools.
How to Create the Hedcut Effect Online
For a quick solution, you can use online filters like the ones at PhotoMania. This service includes a variety of effects that you can apply for free to any photo you upload. It even has iOS and Android apps so that you can use these tools to the pictures on your phone. PhotoMania isn’t the only site that will do this for you, but here’s how to approximate the hedcut effect using its options.
How to Create the Hedcut Effect in Photoshop Using Filters
If you can’t get the effect you want using something like PhotoMania, you can try a few more things in Photoshop that might get you closer. Here’s what to do.
How to Create the Hedcut Effect in Photoshop Using Actions
Playing with a lot of filters takes a lot of time and patience, but one person has created a shortcut for Photoshop users. Graphic designer Chris Spooner has a set of free Photoshop actions that will help you easily create three different levels of “engraving effects” in Photoshop. The width you select depends on the size of your image. Too narrow of an outline won’t be visible, and too heavy of one will look more like a marker than a pen. Generally, you won’t want to use a stroke value greater than 1 percent of the total width of your canvas. Set the Color to black, and set the Location to Outside. Click OK to create the stroke. Play with the sliders to get the effect you want (and none you don’t). Generally, you’ll want the Edge Thickness and Edge Intensity settings low and the Posterization relatively high. Click OK to apply the filter. Keep the Size setting low, and keep the Pattern Type set to Dot (the other options are Circle and Line, which won’t give you the same effect). Finally, adjust the contrast until you get the look you want. You want to keep the dots visible without losing too much detail in the image. Click OK when the picture looks how you want. Using these actions won’t produce the same effect as a hedcut, but for the time it takes and the results, it’s close enough to satisfy most people.
How to Create the Hedcut Effect in Photoshop Manually
The final way you can make the hedcut effect in Photoshop is similar to how the artists at the Wall Street Journal do it. But instead of using a pen and ink, you’ll use the Paint tool. Select the area you want to use and click the checkmark to make the changes. You can also adjust the effect. Start by clicking the arrow next to the layer labeled Engraved Effect. Click the checkmark to save your changes. The color should be black, and the location should be Outside. Click OK to create the stroke. This method is similar to the way hedcut artist Kevin Sprouls describes the analog version. Set the Hardness to 100 percent. This layer will end up looking strange, but it will be a guide for the next steps.
