*Technique
TECHNIQUE: How to Create a Sketched Watercolor Photo Effect in Paint Shop Pro 9.0
By Zee Helmick 2005
Jan 1, 2006, 01:35

This tutorial will show you how to transform your photo into a watercolor sketch using Paint Shop Pro 9.0 without relying on the use of plug-ins or scripts.

1. Open your image in Paint Shop Pro and make a duplicate (Shift+D). Close your original image.
   
2. Duplicate the background layer (Layers > Duplicate) and rename the new layer “Adjust” (double-click on the new layer > type in “Adjust” in the Name field).
   
3. Be sure the Adjust layer is active and apply the One Step Photo Fix adjustment (Adjust > One Step Photo Fix). The photo should now be enhanced.
   
4. Here’s the fun part. Continue applying the One Step Photo Fix until the desired effect is achieved. With each application of the One Step Photo Fix, you’ll notice that your image will begin to saturate, the colors will begin to blur and the edges will become more prominent. The following photo is the result of the One Step Photo Fix adjustment applied ten times:
   
5. If you prefer a sketched “unpainted” look, you can reduce the saturation (Adjust > Hue and Saturation > Hue/Saturation/Lightness > enter zeros in all the fields > check the Colorize box). Click OK.
   
   
6. If some of the edges are too prominent to your liking, you can soften the layer (Adjust > Softness > Soften).
   
7. You can apply a canvas texture to your image for a more realistic effect:
   
8. Be sure to experiment to achieve the desired result. Because each photo is different, you will want to make more or less One Step Photo Fix adjustments based on your photo. Here are some other examples:
   
   
   
   

Have fun experimenting!