The painterly effect in Photoshop is perfect for anyone who wants their photos to look like classic paintings. With just a few tools, you can add brush-like strokes and textures that make your picture artistic and unique. It’s a popular trick among creatives. Once you learn it, you’ll keep applying this effect again and again.
The painterly effect Photoshop refers to changing your realistic photo but converting it into something more expressive. It gives your image a painted feel by adding soft textures, brush-like details, and stronger colors. This approach is perfect if you want your photo to resemble a piece of art hanging on a wall rather than a camera shot.
Photoshop, along with other free Adobe software, has just been updated. This means you now have even more fun tools to play with when turning your photos into art.
“Before, I had to spend forever cloning and masking little objects in photos. Now, I just brush over them and they disappear. It’s so helpful for cleaning up distracting stuff in the background. Now I can cope with these tasks faster than before.”
What’s cool about Photoshop is that it gives you many ways to create a painterly look. Some people use built-in tools and Photoshop’s filters, while others get more creative with brushes and textures. Either method can give you beautiful results. Just pick the one that suits your style.
If you're going for a painterly effect, Photoshop offers integrated filters for a smooth start.
How to create a painterly effect in Photoshop? If you’re aiming for a more personal, painted look, take advantage of Photoshop’s custom brushes.
The Mixer Brush Tool in Photoshop mimics the look of real paint on a canvas.
Want to experiment safely when creating a Photoshop painterly effect? Use Smart Objects so your original image stays untouched.
To make your photo look more like a painting, add textures and use blending modes.
If you want to edit faster or make your photos match each other, free Photoshop Actions can do the trick.
A lot of artists get the best effect by using a mix of tools:
It’s a creative way to work without wasting time or losing your style.
You don’t need the full Photoshop version if you’re not using it every day for professional tasks. Photoshop free version works just fine for making this beautiful painterly effect.
1. The first step in this Photoshop manipulation tutorial is to open the photo you’d like to turn into a painting.
2. Duplicate the photo onto a new layer.
3. Click on Filter, then choose Oil Paint.
4. Lower the intensity of the effect and set the Shine value to 0.2.
5. Create a mask on the layer.
6. The final step in the Photoshop tutorial is to select a black brush and paint over sharp areas to soften them and make the image look more realistic.
That’s it!
Getting a top-quality painterly effect in Photoshop isn’t just about clicking a few filters. It takes both skill and an artistic eye. The expert retouchers from the FixThePhoto team have shared their experience to help you get professional-looking, realistic results.
“Use Smart Objects and adjustment layers to keep your edits flexible.”
“Adjust the Mixer Brush to blend colors naturally, just like real paint.”
“Layer in canvas textures with Overlay or Soft Light for a traditional art feel.”
“Paint light and shadows on separate layers with a soft brush for added depth.”
“Use a mix of blurred and sharp edges to guide the viewer’s eye, just like in real artwork.”
“Try Gradient Maps or Curves to color grade and tie your colors together.”
“Don’t apply too many changes. Sometimes, less is more when you want a polished, painterly effect.”
“You can use actions or presets to speed up your workflow, but don’t neglect manually tweaking to make the image truly yours.”
“Remember to zoom out now and then to see how your image looks as a whole.”
If you want to create painterly effect in Photoshop fast, make use of the FixThePhoto brushes. It is easy to install Ps brushes and set them up. They are perfect for projects where you need a hand-painted look whether it’s watercolor, oil, or acrylic.
