Changing Color Photos To Color Charcoal

[francesnbob]

Hi,
I currently have Elements 3 & would like to know if it is possible to change color photos to color charcoal. I would appreciate knowing which version of Photoshop can create color charcoal, if this is not possible with elements 3.
Thanks,
Bob

[mom to 4]

PSE4 has a charcoal filter. I have never used it, don't know what you are looking for it to do, but I am sure someone will be along soon who can help you better than I.

[mrod]

Hi Bob-

Do you mean make the color of the image a charcoalish color, or do you want to make the image look like it was drawn with a stick of charcoal?

Mike

[francesnbob]

Hi Mike,
I would like to take color photos & change them to color charcoal (as if they were origanally drawn using color charcoal), so that I can enlarge them & have them printed into large sizes & have them framed.
thanks,
Bob

[apasskey]

What is color charcoal? Do you mean the charcoal you draw with that is black or is there some other kind that has colors?

[francesnbob]

My wife & I purchased a picture which had charcoal with different colors & we really like it. Is there another term for this kind of picture/painting?
Thanks Again,
Bob

[Karin Sue]

I think it is probably similar to colored chalk or pastels.

Someone posted portraits of her children that she had done with a similar effect. I don't remember who. It was in the last couple of months. I don't remember how she did it.

Okay I found the thread: http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8107

Is this at all close to what you want?

[francesnbob]

Hi Karin,
I didn't didn't see anything on her gallery that looked like color pastels. Is there any other site I can look at?
Thanks,
Bob

[Karin Sue]

She must have dropped them off her gallery.

I found them on her website though: http://www.chambersofmyheart.com/myhtml/robin13.html

You can see both the original photos and the sketches she made of her grandchildren.

[francesnbob]

Hi Karin,
It looks like black & white charcoal; whereas I was lloking for color charcoal or color pastel. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Bob

[Ward Grant]

Bob
I think an example of the technique you want would be a help. Is there a web site that has some samples, perhaps an artist you like? If not and you have a sample image on your PC, you can post the image for us to view.

If you need a space to post the image (your own site or a photo sharing site like Snapfish or Yahoo pictures), you can use either www.pixentral.com or www.imageshack.us. Both are free. You can post the image on one of these sites and then copy/paste the URL back here.

[jo]

Bob, is this what you're talking about?
http://www.chambersofmyheart.com/myhtml/bpfr13/r13l.html
Karin Sue gave you the url for the thumbnail page. These are soft color "sketches".

[jo]

There is a gallery with some things that look to me like watercolor, but I can't remember whose. Maybe that's what you're looking for.

edit:

How about this from Len's gallery
http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/gallery/view_img.php?id=2706

[Kathy]

Hi Bob,

Here is a link to a tutorial on creating Charcoal Line Art ....
http://www.pslover.com/click/6590

The selection part is not necessary if you wish to use your entire photo.

After you have converted your photo to the Line Art Drawing, you can put back the colour by lowering the opacity of the Drawing Layer so that the Background Layer shows through or use a Layer Mask on the Drawing Layer and paint in black on the areas where you want the colour back. Using the Layer Mask provides much more flexibility since you can vary the intensity of the revealed colours, especially if you use a tablet.

Not sure if this is what you are looking for ........

Also check out Janee's ....
http://myjanee.home.insightbb.com/tutorials.htm

There are several really good tutorials on converting photos to art ..... using techniques from the different tutorials may give you the effect that you are looking for.

Kathy

[francesnbob]

Hi Jo & Everyone,
Thanks for the numerous responses. I think Jo's response with Lens Gallery photo is the closest thing to what I am looking for. Do you know which Photoshop he used? I don't have any examples to post, as I only purchased Elements 3.0.
Thanks To Everyone,
Bob