How to turn a photo into a cartoon in Photoshop

How to turn a photo into a cartoon in Photoshop

Caricature cartoons exaggerate facial features to create memorable, humorous portraits that capture personality in an instantly recognizable way. This technique transforms ordinary photos into stylized artwork with oversized heads, emphasized expressions, and smooth cartoon-like textures.

This comprehensive tutorial covers the complete process from initial photo preparation to final cartoon styling using smart objects for easy reapplication.

Watch the Tutorial

Video by Pixvu. Any links or downloads mentioned by the creator are available only on YouTube

Essential Tips for Photo Caricature Effects

Master these key techniques to create professional-looking caricature effects from any portrait photo.

  • Use Face-Aware Liquify (available in Photoshop CC 2015+) for precise facial feature adjustments instead of manual warping
  • Convert your work to smart objects before applying filters to maintain editability and easy reapplication on new photos
  • Apply the Oil Paint filter twice during the process - once for initial smoothing and again for enhanced cartoon texture
  • Control effect intensity by adjusting document size: larger dimensions create more detailed results, smaller sizes produce simplified cartoon looks
  • Blend multiple detail layers using Overlay and Pin Light modes at low opacity (below 50%) to add cartoon outlines without overpowering the effect

More Tutorials About Photo Caricature Effects

Explore additional techniques for transforming photos into stylized cartoon artwork.

Photoshop photo to cartoon effect
In the world of digital photography, adding a unique touch to your images can truly make them stand out. One such way to achieve this is by applying a cartoon effect to your photos using Photoshop. This technique is surprisingly simple and can breathe new life into even the most ordinary of images. By following a few straightforward steps, you can transform your photos into vibrant, works of art. The process involves a combination of adjusting the levels, applying filters, and fine-tuning the d
Create a Photo Caricature in Photoshop
The tutorial on TutsPlus demonstrates how to create a photo caricature using Adobe Photoshop. It shows the user how to exaggerate specific features of a face to produce a comical and humorous representation of a person. Photoshop's transform, warp, and liquify tools are perfect for this task, allowing the user to manipulate a photographic portrait and transform it into a unique caricature. The step-by-step instructions guide the user through the process, from selecting and preparing the source
How to Make a Comic Book Cartoon Effect From a Photo in Photoshop
The author provides a step-by-step guide on how to transform a regular photo into a comic book-style cartoon effect using Adobe Photoshop. They explain the process of applying various filters and techniques to achieve the desired look. The tutorial starts by discussing the importance of selecting the right photo for the comic book effect. The author suggests choosing an image with a clear subject and good contrast. They then guide the reader through the process of applying filters and adjustmen
Create hilarious caricatures from your friends' photos
Creating a photographic caricature of a person, regularly a friend or a relative, is simpler than it looks at first sight. In this tutorial, talented Photoshop artist Chris Spooner, from Spoon Graphics, will take you through the process of creating a realistic cartoon character effect from a photograph. Since the base image is a photo, you won't have to draw anything from scratch, and the final artwork will retain a strong resemblance to the subject. Only this time with some nicely exaggerated

Get tutorials & freebies delivered to you.

Subscribe to the Photoshop Roadmap newsletter, a weekly roundup of new tutorials, insights and quality downloads, trusted by 6500+ readers.

You might also like

Colorful Christmas Text Effects Photoshop Tutorials

This collection of colorful Christmas text effects tutorials in Photoshop offers a fun way to spread holiday cheer. You can create eye-catching designs that convey your affection for family and friends with just a few simple steps. Each tutorial is laid out in a clear, step-by-step format, making it accessible...

How to Use Photoshop's Match Color Tool for Consistent Image Tones

Color consistency between images can make or break a professional composition. When combining photos from different sources, lighting conditions and camera settings create jarring color mismatches that immediately reveal the edit. Photoshop's Match Color tool provides a direct solution, automatically analyzing and transferring the color characteristics from one...

How to Build an Element Library for Faster Photoshop Composites

Creating Photoshop composites becomes much smoother when you have pre-cut elements ready to use. Building a collection of inspiring images and cutting them out ahead of time eliminates the tedious prep work. This approach lets you jump straight into the creative process when inspiration strikes, rather than stopping to hunt...

How to Replace Any Sky in Photoshop Using Selection Tools and Color Adjustments

A dull, overexposed sky can drain the life from an otherwise compelling photograph. Sky replacement transforms flat images into dramatic scenes that capture attention and convey mood. This tutorial demonstrates the complete process of replacing skies in Photoshop using built-in selection tools, smart objects, and color matching techniques for natural-looking...

How to Use Gemini 3 Nano Banana Pro in Photoshop for Advanced AI Editing

Google's Gemini 3 Nano Banana Pro brings powerful AI capabilities to Photoshop with features like focus shifting, text recognition, and 4K resolution support. Adobe integrated this advanced model immediately upon release. The tool excels at maintaining context while transforming images, creating storyboards, and generating realistic text replacements with...

How to Create Custom Moon Brushes in Photoshop

Custom brushes unlock creative possibilities that standard Photoshop tools can't match. Moon brushes add dramatic celestial elements to composite images and fantasy scenes. This technique transforms moon photographs into reusable brush presets through proper selection, masking, and sizing adjustments. Watch the Tutorial Essential Tips for Creating Moon Brushes...

You’ve successfully subscribed to Photoshop Roadmap
Welcome back! You’ve successfully signed in.
Great! You’ve successfully signed up.
Success! Your email is updated.
Your link has expired
Success! Check your email for magic link to sign-in.