Photo to drawing examples

Soft graphite shading on white paper. The classic choice for portraits and pets.

Best for portraits and pets you want to frame or give as a gift. Shading fills in soft areas, so it forgives a slightly blurry photo.

Clean black outlines with no shading. Best for coloring pages, tattoos and cutting machines.

Best for coloring pages, cards and layouts that need clean outlines. Busy backgrounds turn into many small lines, so crop close.

Deep blacks and smudged shadows for dramatic portraits and still life.

Best for dramatic portraits and photos with strong light. Dark photos stay dark, so choose one where the subject is clearly lit.

Crisp pen strokes and hatching on white, good for buildings and bold subjects.

Best for an illustrated look with hatching: posters, zines, stickers and buildings with clear structure.

Bold outlines and flat colours that turn people and pets into characters.

Best for avatars and kids’ projects. Features are simplified, so expect a character rather than an exact likeness.

Visible coloured pencil strokes that keep the photo’s real colours.

Best for colorful portraits and pets when you want hand-drawn texture but still want color.

Soft washes and paper texture for landscapes, flowers and gifts.

Best for landscapes, flowers and travel photos you want to hang on a wall or send as a card.

Chalky, blended colour on toned paper for warm, gentle portraits.

Best for gentle portraits and soft, warm pieces such as nursery art.