3) Change the
name of the Background copy layer to Desaturate.
4) Make sure
the Desaturate layer is active (highlighted).
5) Go to Enhance
> Adjust Color > Adjust Hue/Saturation, or press Ctrl + u.
A Hue/Saturation window will open.
Desaturate the
color of the Desaturate layer by moving the Saturation slider to
-100.
Click OK.
Invert
6) Make sure
the Desaturate layer is active (highlighted).
7) Press Ctrl
+ j to make a copy of the Desaturate layer.
8) Change the
name of the new layer, Desaturate copy, to Invert.
9) Go to Filter
> Adjustments > Invert, or press Ctrl + i, to invert the Invert
layer.
10) Change the
blending mode for the Invert layer from Normal to Color Dodge.
The blending mode box is above the layers, to the left of the
opacity box.
Click the arrow at the end of the blending mode box to open the
menu.
The image will turn white.
Why?
The Color Dodge blending mode uses the shades of gray in the
Invert layer to lighten the shades of gray in the Desaturate layer.
Because the shades of gray are opposite in the two layers, the
result is maximum lightening—white.
Add Some Gaussian Blur
1) Make sure
the Invert layer is active (highlighted).
2) Go to Filter
> Blur > Gaussian Blur.
Adjust the Radius slider until the "drawing" is to your liking.
Why do you see the drawing?
The Gaussian blur creates a difference between the Invert and
Desaturate layers.
The two layers no longer have precisely the opposite shades of
gray.
Original
Drawing
Options
Levels Adjustment Layer
You can change the contrast of the drawing with a Levels adjustment
layer.
Make sure the Invert layer is active (highlighted).
Create a Levels adjustment layer.
Click the Create adjustment layer icon, the half-dark, half-bright,
circle at the top of the Layers palette, and select Levels.
The Levels window will open.
Adjust the middle, gray, slider, and click OK.
If you need to make further adjustments, double click the Levels
window thumbnail in the Levels adjustment layer to reopen the Levels
window.
Threshold Adjustment Layer
You can use a Threshold adjustment layer to create a drawing
with no grays.
Make sure the Invert layer is active (highlighted).
Create a Threshold adjustment layer.
Click the Create adjustment layer icon, the half-dark, half-bright,
circle at the top of the Layers palette, and select Threshold.
The Threshold window will open.
Adjust the white slider, and click OK.
If you need to make further adjustments, double click the Threshold
window thumbnail in the Threshold adjustment layer to reopen the
Levels window.
Drawing
Drawing Modified with a Levels Adjustment Layer
Drawing Modified with a Threshold Adjustment
Layer
Other Options
Toning
You can add color to the drawing by using one of the several
toning methods, such as the Color
Variations Method.
Before toning, press Shift, and select the adjustment layer,
if present, and the Invert and Desaturate layers.
Go to Layer > Merge Layers, or press Ctrl + e.
The layers will be merged into one layer, allowing you to tone
the image.
Below, the midtones where toned with blue, and the highlights,
with some green.
Selections
Make a selection of the drawing with the Magic Wand tool.
Make sure Contiguous is deselected in the options bar.
Paint Bucket Tool
With a selection, you can use the Paint Bucket tool to add color
to the selection.
Below, in the example from above using the Threshold adjustment
layer, the black part of the drawing was selected and filled with
deep blue using the Paint Bucket tool.
The white area was selected, and filled with a lighter blue.
Before making the selections, press Shift, and select the Threshold
1, Invert, and Desaturate layers.
Go to Layer > Merge Layers, or press Ctrl + e.
The three layers will be merged into one layer, allowing you
to make selections and use the Paint Bucket tool.
Clipping Mask
You can use the selection as a clipping mask to combine a layer
above, and a layer below.
Make a selection, and go to Layer > New > Layer via Copy.
A new layer is created with the selection.
Below, Layer 1, the selection, is grouped with a Solid Color
adjustment layer, called Color Fill 1.
The selection is colored by the color of Color Fill 1 layer.
The photograph of a sky is seen where Layer 1 is transparent
(checkerboard pattern).
