Combine lineart
with a photo
If you want to use the same image download it from the free stock photo site Stock.XCHNG (Search for Photo #426208 by entering 426208 into the search field. The image was shot by Piotr Lewandowski from Poland. Downloading is free but registering is required).
For this tutorial you need Photoshop and my DitherFREE plugin. If you use Mac OS X see the notes at the end.
Step 1
To get a visible dither pattern resize the image first:
- Goto Image > Image Size...
- Ceck the Resample Image and Constrain Proportions checkbox (If availabe choose Bicubic Sharper)
- Enter a Width between 500 and 1000 pixels
- Hit OK
Step 2
Duplicate the background layer:
- Press Strg J
- Rename the new layer to "Dither"
Step 3
- Select the Dither layer and press Strg Shift U
- Goto Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask...
- Use Amount: 500, Radius: 5, Threshold: 1
- Hit OK
Step 4
Dither the image:
- Use Filter > Martin Koch line art > DitherFREE
- Choose Bill Atkinson Dithering
- Hit OK
Step 5
Set the blending mode of the dither layer to Screen:
The result:
Tips
Experiment with different blend modes especially Overlay and Soft Light. Additionally try out other halftone patterns. Find examples on the plugin examples page.
Also try out different Unsharp Mask settings. An alternative to all the steps above with the advantage of quick visual control is my Dither plugin. Click on the screenshot below:
Note for Mac OS X users
Use "Cmd" instead of "Strg" in the keyboard shortcuts above.
Follow the tutorial till Step 4 then do the following:
- Click on the "Dither" layer
- Copy the contents to the clipboard by pressing Cmd A, Cmd C
- Open a new document (Cmd N)
- Leave Width and Height but set the resolution of the new document to 72 pixels/inch
- Paste the Dither layer content into the new document (Cmd V)
- Copy the contents to the clipboard by pressing Cmd A, Cmd C
- Close the new document without saving
- Paste the image into HyperDither (Cmd V)
- Under Options Uncheck Sharpen and check Contrast
- Copy the result from HyperDither by pressing Cmd A, Cmd C
- Select the original "Dither" layer and paste the dithered result into it (Cmd V)
- Continue with Step 4 above