Watercolors are made of color pigments held in a water-based solution. Painters use brushes dipped in water to create stunning art with this medium. The paint on paper makes watery, translucent strokes that many learning and expert artists prefer for their aesthetic expression. Watercolor art has a long and rich history, but it is a widely-chosen art material even today. This applies to those who dabble in painting as a hobby as well as advanced painters who do it commercially.
Credit: Jeanine Malaney
But suppose you want to create a quick watercolor painting without the mess and hassle. In that case, many online tools are now available to convert your photos to watercolor or you can hire watercolour portrait artists or create watercolor digital art from scratch.
Understanding Watercolor Effects in Various Software
With the introduction of accessible AI filters, countless photo-to-art apps have been on the rise. However, there are also some specific reputed software options out there with excellent features, which many professional editors also prefer.
Exploring The Watercolor Effect in Photoshop
Photoshop is one such popular digital platform for photo editing. It is a valuable tool to enhance photos through effects, touchups, etc., or make artwork, edits, and illustrations. You can also create website layouts, posters, brochures, and other graphics for commercial purposes.
Credit: Adobe
You can remove objects in the background, add text, create gradients, edit videos, and more with Photoshop. It also lets you adjust the color and lighting and provides access to countless stock photos. Although you can get a free trial of the design app, it costs $31.49 a month if you subscribe for full access.
1) Does Photoshop Have a Watercolor Effect?
Photoshop has painting effects and hand-painted art filters in several styles, such as colored Pencils, Fresco, Underpainting, Rough Pastels, and Watercolors. A bunch of Photoshop filters can create watercolor effects on photos to make them look like authentic hand-painted creations. The watercolor effect in Photoshop does an excellent job of maintaining the essence of the original image.
Credit: Expert Photography
2) Mimicking Watercolor in Photoshop
Imitating watercolor in Photoshop includes exploring the suitable filters that can produce the effect of the medium on a photo. This result can be refined using Photoshop watercolor painting effect brushes to deform the image and add a paper texture for maximum realism. The paintings will appear soft, semi-transparent, and luminous with vibrant, dreamy colors due to the watercolor effect in Photoshop.
Credit: Spoongraphics
You need to download a digital watercolor paper texture from any stock photo website to do this. If not a blank page, a colored one or a texture that already has some watercolor brush strokes could also work. Free Watercolor brushes are available in Photoshop, but you can also get paid ones.
3. Creating Digital Watercolor Art in Photoshop
Now let’s check out the steps for creating digital watercolor art in Photoshop.
Step 1. Add Photo
The first thing to do is upload the picture you want to edit with the Adobe Photoshop watercolor effect. Simply select ‘File’ and ‘Open’ to choose an image. If this photo isn’t an 8-bit image, convert it by selecting ‘Image’, ‘Mode’, and then ‘8 Bits’. Converting the Mode to ensure a smaller and less chromatically diverse image can help when it comes to adding filters later.
Step 2: Copy the Background Layer
At the taskbar on the top, you will find a ‘Layer’ option. Click ‘New’ and ‘Layer via Copy’ in this drop-down menu. You can call this layer whatever you want, but naming it Watercolor Filter or Effect could be appropriate. By clicking on the symbol of the eye, you can temporarily turn off the Background layer.
Credit: Expert Photography
Step 3: Convert the Layer to a Smart Object
It's best to make edits in layers, as you can make future corrections and modifications while keeping the original photo intact. Right-click on the Watercolor Effect Layer, go to the ‘Layer’ option and click ‘Smart Objects’ to convert it.
Step 4: Apply Watercolor Effects and Filters
You can use different Photoshop filters to get watercolors' blurry, diluted effect. Simply go to ‘Filter’ and ‘Filter Gallery’ to apply the preexisting ‘Watercolor’ or ‘Dry Brush’ filter in the ‘Artistic’ menu. The former is the primary watercolor effect in Photoshop. Click ‘OK’ to apply.
You can modify the filter to suit your needs by setting Brush Detail to 14, Texture to 3, and Shadow Detail to 0. Or you can put the former to 10, Texture to 1, and Brush Size to 10. Another recommendation is to use Brush Size at 6, Brush Detail at 9, and Texture at 1.
If you want to add one more filter on top, click on the plus sign below and then the ‘Sketch’ option to choose the ‘Water Paper’ effect. Set the Fiber Length to 35, Brightness to 63, and Contrast to 65, but feel free to modify it to your preference.
Credit: Spoongraphics
You can also add the Cutout filter on top of this at ‘Number of Levels’ at 5, ‘Edge Simplicity’ at 4, and ‘Edge Fidelity’ at 1. You can preview your edits at the bottom left end of the window using the ‘Fit in View’ button.
If you find a brush filter you want to import, go to ‘Window,’ then ‘Brushes’ and ‘Import Brushes’ from the upper right corner of the brush panel. In the brushes menu, you can find the imported watercolor brush collection in a folder titled the name you gave the file you downloaded. You can click to open it.
Step 5: Enable Smart Blur
While on the same layer, opt for the ‘Filter’ drop-down menu again. Choose ‘Blur’ and ‘Smart Blur’ to enhance the work of the watercolor effect in Photoshop. You can set the Radius to 5 or 15, the Threshold to 100, and the Quality to ‘High’. Click OK after each step to proceed.
If required, you can change the blending mode to ‘Pin Light’ or ‘Soft Light’. You can do this by double-clicking the settings menu on the top right of the ‘Filter Gallery.’ Bring down the opacity of this effect’s blending mode to 50% by changing it to ‘Screen.’
Step 6: Add Sketched Edges
Finally, to make it more natural and seem like you drew a sketch and painted over it, add one more effect from ‘Filter Gallery.’ In the same layer, go to ‘Stylize’ and observe the three ‘Smart Filters’ provided, of which you should now pick ‘Find Edges.’
Credit: Expert Photography
On the right of this option, you can change the Mode to ‘Multiply’ with 50% opacity. This will make the background a bit transparent so that the effect of the pencil lines gets enhanced.
Step 7: Add a Paper Texture Layer
You can find free paper textures and copy and paste them into your picture. Scale it to fit the canvas size so it covers it well, and set the blending mode to ‘Multiply.’ If not, copy and paste, choose ‘File’ and ‘Place Embedded,’ and follow the same steps. For colored paper, ‘Soft Light’ is a better blending mode.
Step 8: Add a Layer Mask
Choose the ‘Layer’ menu and apply ‘Layer Mask’ where all the watercolor edits were made. Now click ‘Hide All.’ Alternately, add the Layer Mask to the background and fill it with black. This Layer Mask will erase the original photograph and just keep the outcomes of the watercolor effect in Photoshop.
Credit: Expert Photography
Step 9: Get out the Brushes and Paint
Choose the Layer Mask and Brush tool to pick the watercolor brush you want to use on the picture. Pick white as the foreground color using the toolbar. You can use the square brackets to determine the brush size. With Opacity and Flow set at 100, paint over the image with the downloaded brushes.
Try various brushes of different sizes and tones and paint bit by bit to slowly bring the watercolor digital art to life. If you paint around the edges of the canvas, the photo will appear to bleed out in watercolor style.
Thus, you can create art using the watercolor effect in Photoshop. You can copy and paste the edits done on this Smart Object layer to easily convert other images into watercolor art.
Creating Watercolor Effects in Canva
Canva is another remarkable photo-editing tool many use to design personal and commercial graphics. With the app, you can make Instagram posts, birthday cards, flyers, presentations, and more. It is a tool that even complete beginners rely on to make collages, logos, animations, etc.
Credit: Canva
Canva is available on both mobile and desktop devices. It has a great feature that enables collaboration with multiple parties. Canva Pro, which is available from $14.99 per month, provides features like background removal, one-click resizing, and access to unlimited photos and illustration templates.
1. Making a watercolor effect in Canva
Canva also offers a watercolor effect that can be applied to the image to create instant art in this timeless style. The app also provides other filters, such as Trippy, Duotone, and Letter Mosaic. If you don’t like any of the options in the filter gallery, you can also use the Paintbrush tool to do it.
2. Transforming images into watercolor-like paintings in Canva
To create watercolor paintings in Canva, you need the paid version of the app. Take the following steps:
Step 1: Upload Image
Choose the image you want to turn into watercolor art and upload it into any canva template or a blank page of any size.
Step 2: Add Effect
There are a few ways you can create the watercolor effect on canva. Go to ‘Edit Images’ and choose the ‘Liquify’ or ‘Prisma’ filters. Select the ‘Snowfall’ effect within the 'Prisma' option. Add more layers of filters on top as desired- for example, a blur filter or a vignette.
Credit: Website Builder Insider
Step 3: Edit the Intensity
After you apply the filter, you can edit the Amount, Scale, and Speed of the filters using sliders. Simply adjust it according to your preference by moving it left or right.
Step 4: Download the Image
Your image is now ready for use. Download it in the PNG or JPG format and share it directly on social media if you want to with the ‘Transparent Background’ option.
Step 5: Change Background
This is an optional step to change the background to appear like watercolor splashes. You can remove the image's backdrop, which might take about 20s after you click ‘Background Remover’ from the ‘Edit Image’ tab. Then download the image with the ‘Transparent Background’ option on.
Credit: Freelance Facuet
Reupload the image and add a new page to the document. Choose ‘Elements’ from the vertical toolbar on the left, go to ‘Graphics,’ and search for ‘Watercolor Splash.’ Choose a suitable background for this blank page and bring your edited subject into it to complete your watercolor-like painting.
3. Exploring the paint tool in Canva
Canva has a paintbrush tool which can be found if you click the ‘Brush’ tab in the menu bar. You can choose the color, brush size, and opacity to customize the watercolor painting effect brush before using it. Use the Eraser to add details and enhance your creation.
Making Watercolor-like Illustrations in Illustrator
Illustrator is another Adobe app that graphic designers cherish, perfect for web designs, logos, infographics, and packaging graphics. It is primarily used commercially, like developing a brand identity through merch designs, social media posts, campaigns, and icons. You can use the tool at $20.99 per month.
Credit: Adobe Illustrator
It is the perfect app for creating posters with bold, popping patterns and fonts. With in-app tutorials, mastering Illustrator becomes manageable for beginners as well. It has AI tools that support features like using text prompts to generate color, intertwining text, and objects, etc.
1. Creating watercolor-like images in Illustrator
Creating watercolor paintings using Illustrator is possible with the in-built watercolor brushes in the app. However, you can also make your own vector brushes to personalize your output completely.
2. Utilizing Watercolor Brushes in Illustrator
To create a watercolor-like image in Illustrator, you need to put your artistic skills to use and sketch with watercolor-style brushes. To achieve this, do the following:
Step 1: Open Brush Set
After you launch the app, click ‘Brushes’ and ‘Brush Libraries Menu’. You can find this in the lower left end of the window. Now choose ‘Artistic’ and ‘Artistic_Watercolor’.
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Step 2: Choose and Use Brush
In the new window that opens, you will see 12 default Illustrator watercolor brushes for use. Select the one you want and choose the ‘Paintbrush Tool (B).’
Step 3: Edit the Brush
Under ‘Stroke,’ you can use the sliders to change the brush’s values and hue. You can also edit the brushstroke thickness by entering the desired number in the ‘Weight’ column.
Step 4: Paint
Now you can let your imagination run wild and paint a picture with the digital brush, using a mouse or graphics tablet.
Step 5: Download the Image
Save your image to your device, and you have a watercolor painting ready to share.
3. Converting Photos to Watercolor in Illustrator
You can create watercolor art with your photos in Illustrator through effects. This result is less realistic than an illustration you create with brushes. In this method, you upload your image and add a new layer while hiding the original image's layer. Add some color using the ‘Fill and Gradient tool,’ go to ‘Effects’ and select ‘Stylize’ or ‘Artistic,’ and then ‘Watercolor’ to open its menu.
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Choose ‘Overlay’ under Mode and set the opacity to 100% so that the blended colors show through the effects. You can stop hiding the original layer and send the ‘Blending Mode’ to ‘Lighten’ so both layers combine.
Exploring watercolor effects in Procreate
Procreate is an accessible digital art app that even learning artists can use to unleash their creativity. The app is intuitive, interactive, and often used to make 3D illustrations, animations, and doodles. You can find many effects and brushes in the tool and add your own when needed.
Credit: Procreate
It has terrific design tools such as HD canvases and an option to create countless layers for making art in 64-bit color. It autosaves your progress, so you never have to worry about accidentally losing your work. It has more than 25 layer blend modes which help with high-quality professional compositing.
1. Creating digital watercolor portraits in Procreate
Ideally, explore any paid online course if you want an in-depth understanding of creating digital watercolor portraits in Procreate. But the following steps can give you a rough idea of how to paint watercolor-like images on Procreate:
Step 1: Import a Watercolor Brush Set
Download the Watercolor brushes you want and open them in Procreate by clicking ‘Share’ and ‘Open in Procreate.’
Step 2: Add a Picture or Draw One
Open a ‘New Canvas’ in Procreate with a paper texture of your choice, such as ‘Canvas-2’. Resize, crop, and rotate it if necessary. Click on ‘Draw Here’ to open the layer for sketching.
Credit: Tutsplus
Now, at this stage, you can independently draw a rough outline of your portrait or select a photograph to trace or draw over after reducing its opacity. Choose any brush and color to establish the bare silhouettes of your composition.
Step 3: Refine the Sketch into a Line Drawing
Click ‘Transform,’ ‘Uniform,’ and ‘Fit to Canvas’ to ensure the drawing covers the canvas adequately. In a new layer, clean up the picture using a smaller brush by adding details and erasing unwanted lines. In ‘Actions,’ go to the ‘Prefs’ toggle icon to edit the ‘Pressure and Smoothing’ of the brush while polishing the line drawing.
Credit: Envato
Step 4: Block in the Base Colors
With the drawing in place, it's time to go to the ‘Color Palette’ and choose shades to fill the picture. Since you want to create a watercolor effect, choose light yet vibrant colors. Block in the base colors using one of the default or imported Watercolor Brushes in Procreate.
This can be done in a new layer, guided by the line drawing in the previous one. You must also experiment with brush types and thicknesses to get the desired variations and gradient effects.
Step 5: Add Color Variations
To add finishing touches to your digital watercolor portrait, change the ‘Blending Mode’ to ‘Linear Burn.’ You can reduce the opacity of the rough sketch line drawing so it appears more subtle behind the watercolor strokes. Use the Eraser to add highlights by brightening the areas of reflected light and refine the painting further.
Credit: Envato
Add contrasts and shadows to make the artwork appear expressive and lively. Add freckles, eyelashes, and other final facial details to your portrait before combining the two layers. Add any texture strokes and background details to complete your creation.
Step 6: Save and Share the Image
You can now download your finished product and share it proudly with the world!
2. Availability of watercolor brushes in Procreate
Procreate has hundreds of individually crafted brush sets sorted for painting, drawing, and sketching. Each brush can be customized based on more than 100 settings in the brush panel.
The app also has a Brush Studio that lets you develop your brushes and import external ones. You can also add Metallic and Roughness effects to your painting to enhance the 3D effect.
Credit: Envato
3. Simulating watercolor gradients in Procreate
You can make the diluted, blurry and gradient effect of watercolors using the motion blur effect from one foreground. You can also use features like the brush pen, a soft brush, a mask, etc., to create gradients. Another option is to use the Gaussian Blur to make gradients and create a watercolor effect.
Utilizing watercolor in Adobe applications
The Adobe Creative Suite contains a set of applications made for photo editing, graphic designing, digital illustration, and web development. Apps like Photoshop and Illustrator, as discussed in this article, are part of the Adobe software tools.
Credit: Adobe
Other Creative Cloud apps are Adobe Acrobat, Lightroom, InDesign, Adobe Express, and Premier Pro. If you subscribe, you can access free stock images, collaborative tools, and other features to aid your creative projects. All the 20+ apps together cost $54.99.
1. Exploring watercolor techniques in Adobe Suite
You can use the watercolor techniques in Adobe Suite through Photoshop and Illustrator. Adobe Fresco and Adobe Capture are other suitable options for watercolor painting filters. The best part is that you can create realistic paintings anywhere using just their filter gallery and your tablet, iPad, mobile, or desktop.
2. Using watercolor effects in Adobe software
Adobe Capture is excellent for converting real photos into digital art. It can turn any photograph into “colors, brushes, and textures.” It can reproduce the same color combinations and textures artistically. You can further import it to Photoshop or Fresco to finalize the edits.
Adobe Fresco is ideal for digital drawing and painting, with or without a reference image to convert to art. It offers pencils and brushes, including watercolor ones, that can produce results like the real hand-painted thing through blending and swirling effects. You can add this image to Illustrator for additional editing.
Debating the Authenticity of Digital Art
With the rise of accessible technology and digital art creators, many creative and talented souls channel their artistic expression through digital art rather than traditional handmade methods. However, some debate on whether art made on a device screen can be considered ‘true art’ compared to paintings, drawings, sculptures, or other tangible creations.
1. Is Digital Art Real Art?
While people may have subjective opinions on this topic, art is a diverse and vast concept that defies strict definitions. What constitutes art or ‘good’ art may not be the same for everyone.
However, even for art made using electronics, people still use their skills and creativity to combine digital elements and make something unique. Their efforts should be celebrated as much as traditional artists.
Credit: Vetyr via Deviant Art
Digital art creation also needs skills and talent, an artistic eye, and a good imagination, so it may not be easy for just anyone. One needs to practice hard and master the techniques and approaches of digital painting and drawing tools before being able to craft spectacular masterpieces.
While some consider digital art “cheating,” its conveniences and advantages do not negate the individual creative efforts taken by the artist. This may not apply to cases where only a filter is applied and AI does the work. But creating art by drawing and painting digitally, using extensive photo editing skills, etc., can undoubtedly be considered real art.
2. Appreciating the Unique Qualities of Digital Watercolor Painting
What makes a digital watercolor creation unique and different from a traditional one is that it’s portable, durable, and can have multiple copies. Creating watercolor digital art involves relatively less time, mess, and effort in most cases.
You can paint anywhere and don’t need many supplies, either. Despite these benefits, you can convert your favorite photo or a visual from your imagination into realistic, vibrant watercolor paintings that appear just like the hand-painted ones.
Credit: Digital Watercolors, Irakli Nadar via ArtStation
At the same time, traditional watercolor art has its own charm. If you prefer the approaches and techniques of hand-crafted paintings, holding brushes, and feeling the texture of paper, then this is the route to go.
If you feel like avoiding the hassle and mess of making a watercolor artwork but need one, consider commissioning it. Many artists and art companies offer art commissioning services where you can get a painting on any image of your choice.
Commissioning Art through What A Portrait:
One such well-known company with countless positive reviews is What A Portrait. The primary service provided by their group of highly capable artists involves turning a picture into a painting entirely by hand. The trustworthy brand guarantees satisfaction by meeting all your portrait painting requirements.
All you need to do is place an order for your painting on their website by uploading the reference image, adding any other details and comments, and choosing the art medium and frame. You will get to preview your artwork while it is in progress as proof, allowing you to provide feedback for revisions. Within 2-4 weeks, the painting will be freely shipped to your address.
Credit: What A Portrait
So, check out the products and services offered by What A Portrait to commission the watercolor artwork of your dreams. With this hassle-free option, you can sit back and relax while the experts take the matter into your hands and diligently meet your expectations.
Conclusion
Watercolors are a classic and timeless medium adored by budding artists and professionals. It creates soft yet vibrant strokes that produce visually pleasing results. It is a versatile medium that works for almost any theme or subject.
In today’s technological age, you can use many graphic designing and illustration apps and tools for digital painting. You can also use effects and filters to convert photos into watercolor paintings.
While many question the authenticity of digital art, it also takes time, effort, and skills to create. Thus, it is a legitimate method of bringing one’s artistic vision to life. But if you prefer traditional art, you can always commission watercolor artwork from awesome companies like What A Portrait!
