best way to get outlines from photos

2-ton · **Posted:** Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:42 am **(#1)**

GIMP Version: 2.6.11
Operating System: Mac OS
OS Version: XP - SP3
GIMP Experience: Basic Level

I was trying to do a tutorial on making a photo into a cartoon. It turned out ok, but I was wondering what is the best way to make the black outlines look better. Also, is there any script/plug-in that works better than the old posterize? for some reason, that filter always seems to make everything mostly yellow and red like when you turn the contrast way up. I only have Gimp to use, I haven't the talent to draw with a mouse or the ambition to get into inkscape yet.

paynekj · **Posted:** Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:59 am **(#2)**

For a better version of posterize, try saulgoode's script in this thread:
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1729&hilit=posterize

What method are you using to create the black outlines? and what do you think is wrong with the ones you are getting?

2-ton · **Posted:** Fri Jun 24, 2011 8:03 am **(#3)**

I was using a method I saw on flicker gimp users by Shelley and Roy. I don't remember exactly the tut, but it did use threshold a couple of times. Thanks for the link to the quantize script.

paynekj · **Posted:** Fri Jun 24, 2011 8:16 am **(#4)**

Ah yes, this one:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/gimpusers/ ... 4952794977

lylejk · **Joined:** Sep 24, 2010 **Posts:** 12845

I really like the Cartoonize Script-fu we all had fun with a while back. The originator added so many more features to it since the beginning of the thread below, but to appreciate this Script-fu, I recommend viewing the thread.

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=850&hilit=cartoonize#p8873

2-ton · **Posted:** Fri Jun 24, 2011 12:29 pm **(#6)**

How did I ever miss that thread? Going to get that script now and see if I like the lines. What I would love is a script that takes all the black lines and redraws them all the same width as if you traced them with the paths tool. I am very bad with the paths tool, or I'd do it by hand.

lylejk · **Joined:** Sep 24, 2010 **Posts:** 12845

As a side note, I recently used Cartoonize for the rendering at this thread (after I used G'MIC for the fake smudge).

http://www.innographx.com/forum/viewtop ... 89#p129650

2-ton · **Posted:** Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:29 pm **(#8)**

Here is a quick try of cartoonize...very good results, just need to play with the sliders a bit. I'd like fewer colors in the skin and clothing, but want to keep the yellow in the hair...guess I can paint by hand but I'm not very good with coloring and shading. Time to do some practicing!