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How to Create Caricature Faces From Photos Using Krita - Tutorial by TET

How to Create Cartoon Caricature Faces in Krita
I was looking around online for an app that can 'cartoonify' a photo of a person, kind of hoping for a 'one click' solution. There are a few out there but none worth highlighting.

Then I came across a video tutorial by Pixivu for Cartoonifying faces in Photoshop and wondered if I could do something similar in the free, open source drawing app, Krita?

While Krita isn't quite as elegant as Photoshop it does have some comparable features that make it very easy to create cartoon caricature faces from photos that you could use as illustrations or in your animations. They're particularly useful for using as Morph Based character heads in Cartoon Animator 4 (as shown below).

Example Caricature Faces use as morph character heads in Cartoon Animator 4.
Example Caricature Faces use as morph character heads in Cartoon Animator 4.

While the actual steps to create heads like those shown above (and, yes, that character on the right is based on a photo of me that I snapped on my webcam) is not something you're just going to stumble across yourself but, once you know them, you'll be creating this style of caricature head in easily less than 15 minutes. Probably even quicker. You don't even need any prior knowledge of Krita to learn (I do assume you can work out how to open and save images though).

To show you how it's done I've created a tutorial PDF that steps you through the process. I know that's not as flashy as a blurry, screen captured video that goes too fast, and you're constantly pausing while you catch up but, I assure you, the clearly labeled, large size screenshots and short, descriptive text, that allows you to follow along at your own pace, will be your new favorite way to learn.

Included in the tutorial is a link to a free website of unlimited human faces you can use in personal and commercial projects (upgrade to a paid subscription for commercial use and higher quality images). Note, I have no affiliation with this site which is completely free to use. Obviously I'm not saying what it is so you'll have another reason to check out my tutorial!

The tutorial is available in my Art Time Productions, Gumroad Digital Store or you can purchase it directly through the embed purchase form below. (Sign up to the Anim Life newsletter for special deals on my tutorials and other digital products).

If you do download my Caricature Faces tutorial and find it useful (or have questions, feedback etc.) I'd love to hear from you. Leave your thoughts and/or suggestions in the comments below.


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