Runs in your browser · Up to 5 photos
Photo to Sketch Converter
Turn a photo into a pencil-style sketch
and adjust the detail before you save it.
Move Sketch Detail to change the lines and shading, slide Original reveal to compare with your photo, then save at the photo's own dimensions as JPG, PNG or WebP.
Add photos to sketch
Drag and drop, paste, or choose up to 5 photos. Each photo gets its own detail setting.
JPG · PNG · WebP · BMP · GIF · SVG · 10 MB each
Checking available output formats…
Batch defaults Fine-tune each photo below
0 shows the photo itself. Start at 3.0.
For JPG and WebP. PNG ignores it.
Defaults apply to new photos. Applying them to existing photos updates their previews and clears prepared files.
Adjust each photo, then prepare the files.
Settings guide
Make the sketch your own
The effect, the comparison view and the file settings are separate controls. Each one has a different job.
| Setting | What it does | Recommended use | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sketch Detail | Sets the blur size in the pencil effect (grayscale, inverted blur and color dodge), from 0 to 10. At 0 you see the photo itself. | Start at 3.0 | Balancing fine lines against broad shading. |
| Original reveal | Moves the comparison line between your photo and the sketch. It changes only the view, never the saved file. | 50% = split view | Checking which details changed. |
| Output format | JPG or PNG, plus WebP when this browser can create it. Every output is a raster image. | PNG for crisp lines | Matching where you will use or print the file. |
| Quality | Encoder setting from 0.10 to 1.00 for JPG and WebP. It is not a percentage of quality kept; PNG ignores it. | Start at 0.90 | Balancing file size against visible artifacts. |
| Download name | Sets the file name. Renaming after preparing a file updates the download name. | e.g. family-photo-sketch | Keeping finished sketches easy to find. |
| Prepare and download | Renders the sketch at the photo's full dimensions, then lets you download one file or all prepared files as a ZIP. | ZIP for 2+ photos | Checking the final size before saving. |
Before you save
Know what the file contains
The sketch uses the light and dark structure already in your photo. It does not add detail that the photo does not have.
Dimensions and print size
The file keeps your photo's pixel dimensions. The tool does not upscale or certify a print resolution; check the result at the size you plan to print.
Original look at Detail 0
Detail 0 skips the sketch effect. The file is still re-encoded, so it is not a copy of the original bytes. Your original file is never changed.
Preview and full-size detail
The preview is limited to 1200 px for smooth editing. The blur is scaled to the full size, but the preview is still an approximation of the fine detail in the file.
Still images on white paper
Any Detail above 0 makes an opaque sketch on white paper. Animation, vector paths and original metadata are not kept.
Example result
Look at the edges, then the shading
An illustration of the pencil effect on one photo. Your own photo and Sketch Detail setting decide your result.
How the effect works
From photo contrast to pencil-style lines
The filter turns the light and dark areas of your photo into lines and shading. It does not reconstruct missing detail.
What happens to your photo
Photo-specific starting points
Choose detail for the subject
| Photo | Try first | Check before saving |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | Start near 3.0 with a sharp, well-lit photo. | Eyes, hair edges and skin texture; a noisy photo can create unwanted lines. |
| Pet photograph | Compare moderate settings with Original reveal. | Fur can produce dense shading. Check that the eyes and outline stay readable. |
| Landscape | Try a few settings around the default. | Foliage and clouds can become busy; the filter does not simplify a scene into hand-drawn objects. |
| School project or greeting card | A clear photo, then PNG for crisp lines. | Print one test page first; very light lines can fade on some printers. |
| Coloring-page starting point | An uncluttered photo; compare low and moderate detail. | Edges are not guaranteed to form closed outlines; some cleanup may be needed. |
| Several photos | Set batch defaults, then fine-tune each card. | Prepare all, then download one ZIP. Photos at Detail 0 are saved with their original look. |
Troubleshooting
Get a result you can use
The sketch is faint or crowded
Lighting, contrast and noise in the photo shape the result; higher detail is not always better.
- Try a few Sketch Detail values around 3.0.
- Use Original reveal to inspect the edges.
- Start from a sharper, better-lit photo.
A photo cannot be read
The tool reads the real file type from the file's content and checks its size.
- Use JPG, PNG, WebP, BMP, GIF or SVG, up to 10 MB.
- Keep photos within 12 MP and 16,384 px per side.
- For SVG, set width and height in pixels and embed any images.
Preview or saving is slow
Pixel dimensions cost more than file size alone suggests, especially on phones.
- Remove photos you are not working on.
- Make a smaller copy with the Image Resizer, then add it again.
- Close other heavy browser tabs.
WebP or a download is missing
WebP appears only when this browser can create it, and changed settings clear a prepared file.
- Choose JPG or PNG if WebP is not listed.
- Press Prepare download again after changing a setting.
- Use Download ZIP to save all prepared files at once.
Frequently asked questions
Photo-to-sketch questions
Which photo formats are supported?
Add JPG/JPEG, PNG, WebP, BMP, GIF or self-contained SVG images. The tool reads the real file type from the file's content. Animated images give one still frame, and SVGs are turned into pixels. Save as JPG or PNG, or WebP when this browser can create it.
What does Sketch Detail change?
It changes the blur size in a grayscale, inverted-blur and color-dodge effect. It starts at 3.0 and ranges from 0 to 10. At 0 you see the photo itself. Higher values change lines and shading; they do not guarantee a better drawing.
Does Original reveal affect my download?
No. The comparison slider changes how much of the original photo is visible over the sketch preview. It does not change the effect, the prepared file or its dimensions.
Will the file keep my photo's dimensions?
Yes. Files are saved at the photo's own pixel dimensions, without upscaling. Photos are limited to 12 megapixels and 16,384 px per side. SVGs use the size the browser draws them at. Keeping the dimensions does not guarantee print quality or keep vector paths.
Why can the preview and the file differ slightly?
The editing preview is limited to 1200 px on its longest side. The blur is scaled for the full-size file, but resizing, pixel rounding and lossy encoding can change fine details. Check the downloaded file before printing or publishing.
Does Detail 0 save my original file unchanged?
No. Detail 0 saves the photo's look through the browser canvas, so the file is re-encoded and original EXIF/IPTC metadata is not kept. JPG fills transparency with white. The original file on your device is never changed.
What are the limits?
Add up to 5 photos, 10 MB each, with at most 12 megapixels and 16,384 px per side. Prepared files are limited to 96 MB in total. On phones, very large photos can be slow; a smaller copy helps.
How do downloads and quality work?
Prepare a file on each card, or press Prepare all. JPG and WebP use an encoder setting from 0.10 to 1.00; this is not a percentage of quality kept. PNG ignores quality. Download each file from its card, or all prepared files as one ZIP.
Are my photos uploaded or saved?
No. Your photos are read and turned into sketches inside your browser and are not sent to our server. Edits are not saved for a later visit; Clear all removes the photos from this page, and downloaded files stay on your device. Other parts of the site, such as analytics, follow our privacy policy.
What happens to transparency and SVG resources?
Any Detail above 0 draws the sketch on white paper. At Detail 0, PNG and WebP keep transparency and JPG uses white. SVGs that rely on external images, fonts or styles may look different or fail; use a self-contained SVG with width and height set.
Keep the photo. Save the sketch.
Return to your workspace to adjust a photo or save a prepared file.