Paint Shop Pro Tutorial: How to Create a Line Drawing from a Photograph

Creating a line drawing from a photograph in Paint Shop Pro isn't too difficult, but it requires a steady hand. If you have a stylus, use it. If you don't, you can use your mouse.

First, open your picture in Paint Shop Pro. Next, with the image selected as the current one, click Layer > New Raster Layer. Use the default settings.

Click the Paintbrush Tool from the Paint Shop Pro toolbar. Zoom in to enlarge the picture. This is very important, as you will be much better able to create a steady line when the image is blown up.

If you need to, use a Paint Shop Pro feature such as Adjust > Add/Remove Noise > Edge Preserving Smooth, or Effects > Edge Effects > Enhance. This will help to make the lines of the object you're trying to trace a little easier to find.

Make sure that your new raster layer is selected. Slowly but surely go over the object with a black line. You can also choose other colors to represent the colors of the object or face you're tracing. Use the Dropper Tool to choose colors from the image itself.

Depending on what style you want to create, you can use a greater or lesser degree of accuracy in your line picture. A shakier line actually adds some interest to a drawing, and permits you to draw faster. A more precise line may be warranted if you're creating a technical diagram or highly detailed drawing. You can also change the thickness of Paintbrush Tool in the Options Palette. Choose a thinner line for a more detailed image, and a thicker line for something bolder.

If you run into problems creating your line, there are other features which can help. If you need to draw a perfectly straight line, click the Pen Tool from the toolbar. Simply select the start and end nodes and make sure they are precisely where you want them.

If you want to duplicate a segment of your line drawing, use the Freehand Selection Tool in Paint Shop Pro to select it, then Copy and Paste as New Selection. Place the duplicate image where you want it to be, and fill in the details with the Paintbrush Tool.