Pencil sketch

How it works

Your photo is turned to greyscale, and an inverted, blurred copy of it is blended back over the original using a “colour dodge”. Where the two match — the flat areas — the result blows out to white, like blank paper; where they differ — the edges — dark pencil lines remain. The strength slider sets how much the copy is blurred: more blur gives bolder, softer strokes, less gives fine, tight lines. A gentle contrast lift keeps the paper white and the lines crisp.

Turn a photo into a pencil sketch online. The tool traces the edges and tones of your image into a hand-drawn, line-drawing look — a fun, artistic effect that works especially well on portraits and buildings.

How the sketch effect works

The tool traces the edges and tones of your photo into a hand-drawn, pencil-line look — an automatic effect that mimics a drawing by emphasising edges and shading. It is a fun, artistic way to restyle a portrait, building, or object.

Which photos work best

Images with clear edges and good contrast — portraits, architecture, and distinct objects — produce the cleanest, most convincing sketch lines. Your photo is deleted automatically an hour after it is uploaded.

How to sketch an image

1Upload your photo.
2The tool converts it into a pencil-sketch drawing.
3Preview the sketch.
4Download it.

When to use Pencil sketch

A hand-drawn, artistic version of a portrait or landscape.
A stylised avatar or profile image.
A creative effect for a card, print, or post.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of photos work best?

Images with clear edges and good contrast — portraits, buildings, and objects — produce the cleanest sketch lines.

Is it a real drawing?

It is an automatic effect that mimics a pencil drawing by emphasising edges and tone; no artist is involved.

Is my photo uploaded?

Yes — your image is uploaded so our server can do the work, and it is deleted automatically an hour later. No account is needed.