Rob Trek Forum

I did this in my sketch pad and then tried to get the look with processing. Although in my sketch pad I changed the background somewhat.

I've tried a few times to create a pencil sketch look with little success. Could you outline your process in PS?

I will try to be brief. This only works with 8 bit images in PS. So first thing Image>Mode>8bit. Just like converting a jpeg to 16 bit to process in ACR only 8 bit. If you do not do masking, you can record this as an action or save as a PSD and copy in another phot before copying.

Initial drawing:
Duplicate layer - (Ctrl J) I make 2 copies so I can do merges and still have the original
Invert copy. (Ctrl I)
Filter Gaussian Blur (4 or 5 is usually good)
Blend color dodge
Add an B&W adjustment layer

Shading: If you want or need it for the shot
Duplicate original layer and put on top of layers stack
D (to get brush colors B&W) and then make the foreground layer dark grey. (start with maybe B at30 in color picker)
Filter>Filter Gallery>Sketch>Charcoal
Blend Mode Mulitply
Optional. Add a Levels Adjustment Layer and do the Alt Click thing to so it only affects this layer. This way you can easily tuning the shading if too dark or light.

Accent lines for drawing:
Duplicate original layer and put on top of layers stack
Image>Adjust>B&W (this time you can change the image to B&W. The previous time was a B&W adjustment layer so it can be fine tuned for the final image)
Filter>Filter Gallery>Stylize>Glowing Edge
Invert
Blend Mode Multiply
Add a Levels Adjustment Layer and do the Alt Click thing to so it only affects this layer.
Adjust the output (bottom line below main adjustment) so it is not too black.
Double click (not on the layer or name, behind it) for the Blend If window
Pull down the white arrow to protect the highlights (lower adjustment bar to protect he whites in undelying layer. When it looks good, Alt Click the arrow and separate it for a smooth transition.

Now you should have something to work with. Go back and adjust fill (and maybe opacity) to fine tune image. This is where it all comes together as you vary the various layers for the right look.
Then when it is the right greys and shading, save as a PSD.

Finishing
Shift Alt Ctrl E (to make a new top layer merging all you have done)
Brush Tool, Pencil and Wet Brush (I use both for touching it up) and smooth out some of the remaining charcoal look until it is the way you want and clean up the lines. Also you can peak it in ACR or do any other adjustments on this layer. I actually have a brush shape I made from rendering clouds that I use instead of a soft brush. The soft brush will work, it is just sometimes too smooth for me. However I realize most people to not make their own brushes and things. I sometimes forget what LR PS have and what I made. I do not think I have to explain the dodging on burning or blur instead of a wet brush. But not everyone knows how to make a merged layer and still have everything if it does not quite work out and you have to adjust an earlier layer

When you look at it a day or 2 layer, open the PSD and make the adjustments you see it needs and do the finishing again. Since you make a merged layer no reason to save that.

I did this from scratch as I wrote it to make sure I did not miss everything. Sometimes it looks good along the way and you can stop at any time. But this is the complete instructions if you want to do it. I made a video as I did it, but have to do the voice explaining it now. I am sure there are better ways. I really do not know much about PS, just what I do and as they add new things, I often miss an easier way and keep doing what I have always done. Someday I want to learn PS, but since I am teaching the basic photo editing things like this, I do not have the time (nor inclination to learn what all it can do).