Comic Art Effect
================
credit: MacMerc.com
original tutorial: http://www.macmerc.com/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=209&page=1



Open picture in Photoshop CS2



Step 1: Make a Displacement Map

	Ctrl-A (Select All)
	Ctrl-C (Copy)
	Ctrl-N (New Document)
		Color Mode: Lab Color
	Ctrl-V (Paste)

	Select 'Lightness' Channel in Channels palette
	Image>Mode>Grayscale
		Flatten Layers? OK
		Discard Other Channels? OK

	Ctrl-S (Save)
		Name: DispMap.psd
		Save
		(remember location)

	Minimize DispMap.psd
	Select Original file



Step 2: Tone Layer

Duplicate Background Layer in Layers Palette

	Name: Tone

	Filter>Artistic>Poster Edges
		Edge Thickness: 0
		Edge Intensity: 0
		Posterization: 1
		OK
	Filter>Artistic>Cutout
		Number of Levels: 4
		Edge Simplicity: 3
		Edge Fidelity: 2
		OK
	


Step 3: Color Layer

Duplicate the Background layer and drag it to the top of the layers currently listed in the Layers palette

	Name: Color
	Blend Mode: Color
	
	Filter>Noise>Dust & Scratches
		Radius: 10 pixels
		Threshold: 0 levels.
		OK

	Image>Adjustments>Hue/Saturation
		Hue: 0
		Saturation: 80
		Lightness: 50
		OK
	
	
	
	
Step 4: Ink 1 Layer

Duplicate the Background layer and drag it to the top of the layers currently listed in the Layers palette

	Name: Ink 1
	Blend Mode: Multiply

	Image>Adjustments>Threshold
		Threshold Level: 25

	Filter>Stylize>Diffuse
		Check Anisotropic
		OK



Step 5: Ink 2 Layer

Duplicate the Background layer and drag it to the top of the layers currently listed in the Layers palette

	Name: Ink 2
	Blend Mode: Multiply
	
	D-key (reset Foreground and Background colors)

	Filter>Sketch>Photocopy
		Detail: 12
		Darkness: 15
		OK

	Image>Adjustments>Threshold
		Threshold Level: 100

	Filter>Stylize>Diffuse
		Check Anisotropic
		OK



Step 6: Ink 3 Layer

Make a new layer at the top of the layers list.

	Right click>Layer Properties...
		Name: Ink 3
		OK

	Edit>Fill...
		Use: 50% Gray
		Blending Mode: Normal
		Opacity: 100%
		Preserve Transparency: unchecked
		OK

	Filter>Sketch>Halftone Pattern...
		Size: 2
		Contrast: 25
		Pattern Type: Line
		OK

	Filter>Distort>Displace...
		Horizontal Scale: 25
		Vertical Scale: 25
		OK
		Open DispMap.psd (from Step 1)

	Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur...
		Radius: 2 pixels
		OK

	Image>Adjustments>Threshold
		Threshold Level: 120

	Filter>Stylize>Diffuse
		Check Anisotropic
		OK

	Set the Blending Mode of the Ink 3 layer to Multiply

	Q-key (enter Quick Mask Mode)

		Ctrl-V (paste DispMap Image from Step 1)

		Filter>Blur>Smart Blur
		Radius: 6.0
		Threshold: 80.0
		Quality: High
		Mode: Normal
		OK

	Q-key (exit Quick Mask Mode)

	Layer>Layer Mask>Hide Selection

	Image>Adjustments>Threshold
		Threshold Level: 200 (or use own judgement)



Step 7: Painted Color Layer

Make a new layer just above the Color layer

	Right click>Layer Properties...
	Name: Painted Color
	OK
	Blend Mode: Color

	Paint over any colors you don't like with a more appropriate color with the Brush tool



Step 8: Whites Layer

Make a new layer just above the Tone layer

	Right click>Layer Properties...
	Name: Whites
	OK
	
	Paint teeth and eyes white with the Brush tool



Step 9: Adjust Levels

Select the Tone layer in the Layers palette

	Image>Adjustments>Levels
		Play around with the sliders at the bottom until you get the best result
		OK



Step 10: Dot Screen

Make a new layer just below the Ink 1 layer

	Right click>Layer Properties...
	Name: DotScreen
	OK

	Edit>Fill...
		Use: 50% Gray
		Blending Mode: Normal
		Opacity: 100%
		Preserve Transparency: unchecked
		OK

	Filter>Pixelate>Color Halftone...
		Max. Radius: 4 pixels
		OK

	Blend Mode: Overlay