In this tutorial, you will learn how to create an illustration Photoshop action. I will explain everything in so much detail that everyone can
create it, even those who have just opened Photoshop for the first
time.

What you will learn in this Photoshop action tutorial:

• How to create a Photoshop action
• How to select the subject in Photoshop
• How to go from a photo to an illustration look
• How to create an illustration Photoshop effect

The effect shown above is the one I will show you how to create in this
tutorial. If you would like to create the even more advanced vector art style Photoshop illustration effect shown below, using just a single click and in only a
few minutes, then check out my VectorArt Photoshop Action.

What You’ll Need

To recreate the design above, you will need the following resources:

• Stock Image

1. How to Get Started

First, open the photo that you want to work with. To open your photo, go to File > Open, choose your photo, and click Open. Now, before we get started, just check a couple of things:

1. Your photo should be in RGB Color mode, 8 Bits/Channel. To check this, go to Image > Mode.
2. For best results, your photo size should be 2000–4000 px wide/high. To check this, go to Image > Image Size.
3. Your photo should be the Background layer. If it is not, go to Layer > New > Background from Layer.

2. How to Select the Subject in Photoshop

Step 1

In this section, we are going to make a selection of our subject and then copy the subject to a separate layer. Choose the Quick Selection Tool (W) and select the background of the photo. Use the Shift-Alt buttons on your keyboard to add or subtract areas from the selection. After you’ve made a perfect selection, press Control-Shift-I on your keyboard to invert the selection.

Step 2

Now go to Select > Modify > Smooth and set the Sample Radius to 5 px. Next, go to Select > Modify > Contract and set Contract By to 2 px. Finally, go to Select > Modify > Feather and set the Feather Radius to 2 px.

Step 3

Press Control-J on your keyboard to create a new layer using the selection. Name this new layer Subject.

3. How to Start Recording the Photoshop Action

In this section, we are going to start recording the action. Go to Window > Actions, and in the Actions panel, click on the menu icon in the top right-hand corner, choose New Set to create a new set, and name it Illustration. Then, click on the same menu icon again, choose New Action to create a new action, and name it Illustration.

4. How to Create the Background

In this section, we are going to create the background. Select the Background layer, go to Layer > New Fill Layer > Solid Color to create a new solid color fill layer, name it Background color, and choose the color #cfcac8 as shown below:

5. How to Create the Illustration Photoshop Effect

Step 1

In this section, we are going to create the illustration look. Select the Subject layer, go to Filter > Stylize > Diffuse, and set the Mode to Anisotropic.

Step 2

Now go to Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask, and set the Amount to 125%, Radius to 3 px, and Threshold to 0 levels.

Step 3

Go to Filter > Noise > Reduce Noise and use the settings below:

Step 4

Now go to Filter > Blur > Surface Blur, and set the Radius to 5 px and Threshold to 15.

Step 5

Go to Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask, and set the Amount to 250%, Radius to 3 px, and Threshold to 0 levels.

Step 6

Now go to Filter > Filter Gallery > Artistic > Cutout, and set the Number of Levels to 8, Edge Simplicity to 5, and Edge Fidelity to 1.

6. How to Create Subject Outlines

Step 1

In this section, we are going to create subject outlines. Control-click on the Subject layer thumbnail to make a selection of this layer. Then, select the Background layer and press Control-J on your keyboard to create a new layer using the selection. After that, drag this layer to the top of the layers in the Layers panel.

Step 2

Now go to Image > Adjustment > Levels and enter the settings below:

Step 3

Go to Filter > Filter Gallery > Sketch > Stamp, and set the Light/Dark Balance to 25 and the Smoothness to 5.

Step 4

Now go to Filter > Stylize > Oil Paint, set the Stylization to 5 and Cleanliness to 4, and uncheck the Lighting option.

Step 5

Go to Filter > Sharpen > Unsharp Mask, and set the Amount to 250%, Radius to 5 px, and Threshold to 0 levels.

Step 6

Now change the Blending Mode of this layer to Multiply and set the Opacity to 32%. Name this layer Subject Outlines.

7. How to Make the Final Adjustments

Step 1

In this section, we are going to make final adjustments to the design and save the action for future use. Control-click on the Subject layer thumbnail to make a selection of this layer. Then, select the Background layer and press Control-J on your keyboard to create a new layer using the selection. After that, drag this layer to the top of the layers in the Layers panel.

Step 2

Now change the Blending Mode of this layer to Color. Name this layer Subject Color.

Step 3

Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves to create a new curves adjustment layer and name it Color Look.

Step 4

Now Double-click on this layer thumbnail and, in the Properties panel, enter the settings below:

Step 5

Press D on your keyboard to reset the swatches. Then, go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Gradient Map to create a new gradient map adjustment layer and name it Overall Contrast.

Step 6

Change the Blending Mode of this layer to Soft Light and set the Opacity to 63%.

Step 7

Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Vibrance to create a new vibrance adjustment layer and name it Overall Vibrance/Saturation.

Step 8

Now Double-click on this layer thumbnail and, in the Properties panel, set the Vibrance to +45 and the Saturation to +22.

Step 9

Double-click on the thumbnail of the Background Color layer and choose the color #cfecfe as shown below. Then, go to Window > Actions, and in the Actions
panel, click on the rectangle icon in the bottom left-hand corner to
stop recording the action. Then, in the same panel, click on the menu
icon in the top right-hand corner and choose Save Actions to save the action.

You Made It!

Congratulations, you have succeeded! You’ve
learned how to create an illustration Photoshop action. Now you can transform any photo into an illustration.

You can also apply the effect to a photo and then add it as a background. This is the stock photo I chose. Here is the final
result:

Take It to the Next Level!

If you would like to create the even more advanced photo illustration Photoshop effect shown below, using just a single click and in only a
few minutes, then check out my VectorArt Photoshop Action.

With this vector art style Photoshop action, you can turn photo into an illustration with only a few clicks, even if you are a complete beginner! Simply open your photo, brush over your subject,
and run the action!

You can also get this item in a bundle and save 50%—check out my Cartoon 5in1 Photoshop Actions Bundle. Other tutorials you may also like:

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