Top 5 Apps for Turning Photos into Line Drawings
Many apps can convert pictures to line drawings. They combine AI automation with manual operation, contributing to an efficient conversion. Users can easily put the drawings into art creations or social media. However, the effects and processing requirements of different apps vary. So this article will introduce five top photo-to-line-drawing apps to you. Read it, and you can pick the best one for yourself.
Contents:
Part 1. Top 5 Photo-to-Line-Drawing Apps
Picwand
Picwand is an image processing tool based on AI deep learning. One of its primary functions is converting photos to line drawings automatically. Several popular styles are introduced here. After importing the picture, you will instantly get its anime image in your favorite style. In addition, you can refine some details of the converted pictures with adjustable parameters. The app supports web browsers and iOS/Android platforms.
Pros
- No professional skill is needed. You can get the drawings you want in a few simple steps.
- The AI technology and manual operation are combined here, which optimizes efficiency and performance. You can get the line drawing within less than 5 seconds.
Cons
- You must subscribe to specific styles and get permission to use them.
- The app might have difficulties dealing with complex photos.
Photoshop
Photoshop offers multiple professional methods to convert photos into precise line drawings. It is suitable for illustration drafts, design materials, and other applications. Here, you can instantly get a batch of line drawings. And you can also refine the result through various parameters.
Pros
- You can quickly transform many photos into line drawings while colleagues can edit and cooperate on different layers of the same PSD file. It is highly efficient.
- It requires no professional drawing foundation. Many tools and filters are provided.
- Photoshop is a widely used software. Lots of tutorials and resources for the conversion are easy to find.
Cons
- Photoshop drawings are sometimes not so natural. For some complex pictures, the converted drawing might be strange.
- The process is raster-based. And lines might appear pixelated or jagged if zoomed in too much.
- If you are aiming for a specific style, careful adjustments and multiple iterations are needed, which is time-consuming.
GIMP
GIMP(GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free and open-resource raster graphics editor. It involves a group of tools that convert photos to line drawings with different designs and styles. Though GIMP lacks dedicated AI filters, users are allowed to make manual parameter adjustments, which shows great flexibility.
Pros
- GIMP is free. Everyone can do image processing without financial pressure.
- Users can make specific and detailed adjustments by optimizing parameters, editing scripts, or extending the plugins.
- You can download and use GIMP on Windows, Mac OS, and Linux platforms. Its visual interface remains consistent across platforms and versions, which shows a user-friendly workflow.
Cons
- GIMP does not support AI filters, meaning that you can not turn pictures into line drawings with just one click.
- Users have to familiarize themselves with the layer or filter blending method. It is troublesome for beginners or amateurs
- Getting into error or dim is possible for some details in complex areas. And users need to improve that by hand drawing.
Adobe Illustrator
Abode Illustrator is an app that can trace an image and convert it into vector graphics. On that base, users can handily create a line drawing style. Tools in the app include image trace, art brushes, and effects, and the converting process can be refined by hand. Like other software, it is accessible to diverse artistic styles. The feature is suitable for printing and animation production. So, Abode Illustrator is a good choice for designers and cartoonists.
Pros
- Users can create a special style by anchor point-level line art editing. Custom brushes can be imported here, which keeps consistent with personal habits.
- The photo-to-sketch conversion in Adobe Illustrator is original, preventing users from AI training data copyright disputes.
Cons
- Without AI filters, most of the work must be done by hand. It will be laborious when dealing with complicated photos.
- Users must learn art knowledge and skills to use those tools, which takes time and energy.
- The vector nature makes it hard to show delicate light, shadow, and texture. You have to add these details if you pursue a high-quality drawing.
Canva
Canva is an AI-based converter that converts photos to line drawings online, as well as sketches, oil paintings, and anime portraits. With advanced algorithms, the app can recognize the main contours and edges in an image and allows users to make further customizations. You can remove the photo background and make adjustments according to the results presented on the board.
Pros
- Canva can preserve details in images better than other similar software.
- The original image remains unaltered and can be readjusted at any time.
Cons
- Processing high-resolution images may require more powerful hardware.
- It mainly services black-and-white line art, with relatively simple effects for colored line drawings.
Part 2. Comparison of 5 Apps
The key features of the five apps are listed here. You can quickly find the best one after scanning this chart.
| Picwand | Photoshop | GIMP | Adobe Illustrator | Canva | |
| features | AI-based photos to line drawing app; Multiple anime styles; one-clink operation | Industry-standard raster editing; AI neural filters; PSD layer collaboration | Plugin extensions; Custom script automation; no AI filter; cross-platform editions | Vector graphic design benchmark; Image trace (non-AI); precise anchor point editing | Smart edge detection; none-destructive editing; multi-layer processing support |
| platforms | Web/iOS/Android | Windows/macOS/iPad/Web | Windows/macOS/Linux | Windows/macOS/iPad | Windows/macOS/iPadOS |
| prices | Free (simple version); $9.99 (high-definition output) | $20.99 per month (single app); $54.99 per month (all creative cloud) | free | $20.99 per month (single app); $54.99 per month (all creative cloud) | $14.99 per month (Pro version); $24.99 per month (team version) |
Part 3. FAQs
Which one is the most convenient app for converting photos to line drawings?
To get the line drawing quickly, it is best to use Picwand. It supports line drawings in various styles, which AI drives. After making the choice, you will get the drawing in a few seconds. What's more, no artistic proficiency is needed. It is friendly for the non-professionals.
Which one realizes the best effect for art creation?
If you pursue professional design and good printing, you'd better choose Photoshop for its precise control or Adobe Illustrator for its vector output. Notice that both of them ask for operational skills and artistic knowledge.
Summary
In conclusion, GIMP and Adobe Illustrator feature in their adjustability and technicality, which also throw challenges to many non-professionals. On the contrary, Picwand and Photoshop are based on AI technology, greatly simplifying the conversion. But for daily usage, I recommend Picwand to you because of its AI automation, free version, and various styles. It is a good app for everyone to transform photos into line drawings.
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