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Pencil Sketches PSP Tutorial ver. 7.0
This tutorial shows you a quick and easy way to produce realistic looking pencil sketches. It goes beyond the simple artistic effects filter and allows you several degrees of control over the final image. The tutorial can be completed using PSP version 6.x, however, the steps as they are layed out in this tutorial apply to version 7.x .

To begin with, open an image that you would like to turn into a sketch. Make sure the image is even toned. The process works better on a good photo. For the purpose of this tutorial, I will use one of my favorite photo of Sophia Loren that I scanned in.
With the image on your screen, select Layers, Duplicate.  Now first choose Colors, Negative Image and then choose Colors, Gray Scale. The image should change to its negative counterpart and then a gray scale version of it. See below
With the Nagative Gray Scale image on the screen, select Layers, Properties and change the Blend mode to Dodge. Set Opacity at 100, Group to 0 and make sure that Layer is Visible, Mask is enabled and Mask is Locked are all checked in the Properties Window. Your image should now almost disappear. Don't worry, it's still there..
The image above on the left is the result od the Dodge Blend mode being applied. The one on the right was obtained after I applyed a Gaussian Blur of 2.50 . You can experiment with this value because it is a matter of personal taste. Try using the Soften and Soften More Filter on the finished image.in place of the Gaussian Blur. For that matter, try also using the Blur or Blur More effects several times until you get the results you want or even try the Average Blur.
Below are other finished sketches from various photos with different tonal ranges
Blur Radius = 7.5
Blur Radius = 4
Blur More Filter applied twice

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