Who doesn't love sketch of themselves or their loved ones?
but...
and but...
 You probably don't have a Tablet PC (or iPad), drawing skills are good for making amoeba and lazy enough to not use existing copying techniques then I have something for you (sounds pretty theatrical ) - A $2 Sketch portrait maker easy enough that a child can make realistic sketches (and obviously not using that computer tricks).

You just have to take a picture (or use which is already on your mobile phone or digital camera) place it over the device and draw on any flat surface like cards,books,etc. and  not only on thin paper !!!

Make a sketch of your loved one and gift him/her.
 
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Step 1: Materials Required

 A shoe box
Two magnifying glasses (i.e. convex lens) of two different focal lengths-in my case they are 6cm and 20 cm. You can use different focal lengths also but make sure that they have a difference as large as mine. Finding focal length is fairly simple, here's the Youtube video link of someone "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoGDOT6U9pQ"  (just see the approximate focal length part).
Paper Cutter
Sticking tape
A ruler
30 minutes
happybuilder says: Feb 26, 2010. 3:44 PM
DUDE I SAW AN IPOD PROJECTOR FOR 150 DOLLARS BUT 3 DOLLARS?
manish15 (author) in reply to happybuilderFeb 27, 2010. 1:22 AM
 because I wanted it for everyone.Thanks.
happybuilder in reply to manish15Feb 27, 2010. 7:20 PM
 I know, but that is just cheap!
ilpug in reply to happybuilderOct 13, 2011. 5:33 PM
If you can scrounge the materials, you could make this for free.
Parapegma says: Feb 8, 2010. 5:22 PM
 Wonderful high tech twist to a drawing technique that has been around since at least the 1500s, maybe even longer. In effect, it's a bit as though you've reinvented the camera obscura.  Camera obscura were perhaps invented by the Romans, and there are scholarly battles going on now among art historians whether mirrors were used in the Renaissance to achieve a similar effect. Certainly the use of mirrors or camera obscura  to cast strong images and trace from seems to have been used by such artists as Carravaggio and Vermeer. Or so some claim. Canaletto was very open in his use of a camera obscura for sketching and the 19th Century in particular brought a number of devices on to the market like it, some of which are still available. You might like to look up the antecedents of your technique in book, "The Science of Art" 
craftyv in reply to ParapegmaSep 22, 2010. 7:02 PM
Is this the book by David Hockney? I have borrowed it several times from the library.
I recommend it to everyone it is absolutely gob-smacking and really inspiring.
Tthanks a lot.
manish15 (author) in reply to ParapegmaFeb 9, 2010. 2:30 AM
 I searched about and yes you were absolutely correct.Thanks.
anglerfish says: May 22, 2010. 11:26 PM
Thank you!  This will be very helpful.
greiss122 says: Mar 5, 2010. 3:21 PM
This looks great!
I just went and picked up some lenses and I'm going to build it ASAP!

Nice Instructable.
manish15 (author) in reply to greiss122Mar 12, 2010. 11:16 AM
 Thanks.
wokwithme says: Feb 24, 2010. 10:41 PM
Great Idea! Sounds like something a Sculptor would do.
manish15 (author) in reply to wokwithmeFeb 27, 2010. 1:24 AM
 OK you can say me a digital sculptor.Thanks.
snapel says: Feb 25, 2010. 9:06 AM
 This will definetly help with my art class : ) Thanks a lot !
manish15 (author) in reply to snapelFeb 27, 2010. 1:23 AM
 Then what are you waiting for? Enjoy!!
Speedmite says: Feb 19, 2010. 4:06 PM
Print it out, use a light table, trace it that way. Then your hand wont get in the way. and no dealing with lenses.
manish15 (author) in reply to SpeedmiteFeb 19, 2010. 11:39 PM
 speedmite I already mentioned similar way (see last  step) but you cant draw on thick cards,books,etc. in that way. Thanks.
Speedmite in reply to manish15Feb 20, 2010. 3:11 PM
Sorry.

True. But couldnt you trace n' paste?

Welcome.
marjorieallea says: Feb 19, 2010. 10:04 AM
You rock!!!  This is an awesome instructable!!!
manish15 (author) in reply to marjoriealleaFeb 19, 2010. 11:40 PM
 Thank you very much marjor
agis68 says: Feb 18, 2010. 11:31 AM
 Excellent project. I have a Ipod Touch and I do a lot of designs like logos. I will build it during the next days...
manish15 (author) in reply to agis68Feb 19, 2010. 11:40 PM
 thanks agis68 I actually started with ipod first.
Greasetattoo says: Feb 18, 2010. 8:52 AM
Great instructable...

I am a tattoo artist and I have people bring in artwork on their phone.
I cannot copy it with my copier.
Now, I have a way!
thanks....
manish15 (author) in reply to GreasetattooFeb 18, 2010. 10:09 AM
I am planning a tattoo for myself now.
suckrpnch in reply to GreasetattooFeb 18, 2010. 9:54 AM
Interesting. I was thinking "why would anyone do this?" But that is a great application...
manish15 (author) in reply to suckrpnchFeb 18, 2010. 10:07 AM
 Thanks suckrpnch. -by the way interesting member name. 
pcairic says: Feb 18, 2010. 7:39 AM
I have a better idea. How about just printing the image downloaded from the internet? You can scale it, rotate it, even change the colours and make as many copies as you want.

Hahaha! Just kidding!

Nice instructable :-)
manish15 (author) in reply to pcairicFeb 18, 2010. 10:05 AM
 u just got me pcairic. thanks!
buteman says: Feb 14, 2010. 5:41 AM
Great idea. I just got some new shoes so have a good strong box and wondered what to do with it.
Now I know ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
manish15 (author) in reply to butemanFeb 14, 2010. 10:04 AM
 Have a great project buteman
astro boy says: Feb 13, 2010. 10:22 AM
 pretty neat i used to use a powerful lens with my camera to make a projector so i could watch movies on a bigger screen on road trips, i never thought to use it like this!
manish15 (author) in reply to astro boyFeb 14, 2010. 10:03 AM
 Actually the projector project was my inspiration
whiteoakart says: Feb 10, 2010. 12:36 PM
Nice job, Manish.  A nice simple way to trace a photo. 
manish15 (author) in reply to whiteoakartFeb 10, 2010. 11:21 PM
 Thank you whiteokart
Frivolous Engineering says: Feb 8, 2010. 12:22 PM
Simple and effective!  Well done.
manish15 (author) in reply to Frivolous EngineeringFeb 9, 2010. 2:29 AM
 Thank you so much
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