How to Make Watercolor Effect in Photoshop?

Transform your photographs into stunning artwork by applying a watercolor aesthetic in Photoshop. This tutorial is designed for those seeking to infuse their images with an artistic touch.

Adding watercolor effects can make your photos very vibrant. They will also become ethereal and unique. Initially, we will prepare the workspace. Subsequently, we will apply filters, generate textures, and merge layers.

Ready to get started? Let’s dive in and discover how to turn photos into watercolor in Photoshop! From our previous post, you may also learn How to Give Photos Painting Effects in Photoshop.

How to Make Watercolor Effect in Photoshop

Creating a watercolor effect in Photoshop can be a fun and rewarding process. Follow these 10 simple steps to transform your photos into beautiful watercolor paintings.

1. Open Photoshop and Your Image

Launch Photoshop and open the image you want to transform by going to File > Open and selecting your file.

2. Duplicate the Layer

In the Layers panel, right-click on your background layer and select Duplicate Layer. This preserves the original image.

3. Convert to Smart Object

Right-click on the duplicated layer and choose Convert to Smart Object. This allows for non-destructive editing.

4. Apply the Cutout Filter

Go to Filter > Filter Gallery. In the Artistic folder, select Cutout. Adjust the settings: Number of Levels, Edge Simplicity, Edge Fidelity. Click OK.

5. Apply the Dry Brush Filter

Return to the Filter Gallery (Filter > Filter Gallery). In the Artistic folder, select Dry Brush. Adjust settings: Brush Size, Brush Detail, Texture. Click OK.

6. Add a New Layer for Texture

Create a new layer above the Cutout filter layer. Click on the New Layer icon at the bottom of the Layers panel.

7. Apply a Watercolor Brush

Select a watercolor brush from the brush presets. Paint over the new layer, varying brush sizes and shapes for a realistic texture. Adjust the opacity of the brush as needed.

8. Change the Blending Mode

Set the watercolor texture layer’s blending mode to Overlay or Soft Light in the Layers panel. This helps blend the texture with the image.

9. Add a Paper Texture

Import a paper texture image by selecting the texture file to File > Place Embedded. Place it above all layers and set the blending mode to Multiply. Adjust the opacity if needed.

10. Final Adjustments

Use adjustment layers to refine the image. Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer and choose Brightness/Contrast, Hue/Saturation, etc. Make any final tweaks to enhance the colors and contrast of your watercolor effect.

To Conclude

You’ve now got a cool watercolor painting from your photo using Photoshop! Follow these easy steps to give any image a handmade, artistic look.

So you wanna make your digital art stand out? Just experiment with it! Try all sorts of filters, brushes, and textures until you find the perfect combo that says “you”. And don’t worry if it doesn’t work out at first – that’s all part of the process.

Hope you had fun with this tutorial and it made sense! Got questions or wanna show off your art? Let us know in the comments or tag us on social media. Keep creating, and we’ll catch you in the next Photoshop tutorial!