Print PDF
Favorite
Email
Turn your family photos into fun kids' coloring books for free! This simple tutorial will teach you how to turn any photograph into black and white outlines that you can print out at home. What better way to keep your kids entertained on a rainy day or a holiday weekend?
I used a free online image editing app called Pixlr to achieve this effect, but you can do much the same thing in other software, such as Photoshop or GIMP.
Of course, you don't need to use family photos. We'll even discuss how to insert your family members into exciting action scenes or far-flung landscapes. It's your coloring book, so you can choose the story! Even better, why not let the kids decide?
I'm going to talk through this process in a lot of detail, but that's only so that a complete beginner will feel comfortable. Don't be intimidated by the number of steps; you can actually complete the project in about 5 minutes!
I used a free online image editing app called Pixlr to achieve this effect, but you can do much the same thing in other software, such as Photoshop or GIMP.
Of course, you don't need to use family photos. We'll even discuss how to insert your family members into exciting action scenes or far-flung landscapes. It's your coloring book, so you can choose the story! Even better, why not let the kids decide?
I'm going to talk through this process in a lot of detail, but that's only so that a complete beginner will feel comfortable. Don't be intimidated by the number of steps; you can actually complete the project in about 5 minutes!
Remove these ads by
Signing UpStep 1Choose a photo
The first thing you need to do is pick a photograph that you want to turn into a page in your coloring book. The best photos for this are ones that are in focus and have plenty of contrast between the different objects in the scene.
If you're planning to edit any of the people in your photo onto another background, it helps if the original photo is taken against a fairly plain background. For example, you could start by photographing your kids fiercely brandishing toy swords in front of a blank wall, then edit them onto a pirate ship background later!
Save whichever photos you want to use to an easy-to-find file on your computer.
If you're planning to edit any of the people in your photo onto another background, it helps if the original photo is taken against a fairly plain background. For example, you could start by photographing your kids fiercely brandishing toy swords in front of a blank wall, then edit them onto a pirate ship background later!
Save whichever photos you want to use to an easy-to-find file on your computer.
| « Previous Step | Download PDFView All Steps | Next Step » |
I sorted out the problem of finding colouring pages with different cartoon heroes.
My brother endlessly colours them in, but our cartoon and film tastes are unusual, and even popular heroes like Bob the Builder rarely have more than five colouring pages. (Try finding a picture of Judy Garland as Dorothy to colour).
Thanks!!!
Both of them have EXCELLENT "trace" tools for turning raster images into crisp and beautiful solid lines. For inkscape, see:
http://inkscape.org/doc/tracing/tutorial-tracing.html (tutorial)
http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/Tools#Vectorize.2Ftrace (alternatives)
Very readable instructable...I appreciated the way you broke it down into manageable steps, with screenshots.
I was looking Paint or (color by numbers) kind of help , and somewhat this is right way.
Is there any way numbering to colors on screen then print out black & white copy and use it just as paint by numbers picture on canvas or paper.?
thanks
At any rate, I loved learning about this online program. I have friends who, unlike me, are not Graphic Designers, and they will be thrilled to know this is out there.
Thanks for posting.
:)
and I have learnt a great deal about the photo/sw that I have on my PC , thx again
but I thought you were just going to say "click here" and it would be done.
This is like learning a whole new language.
The problem is that I don't have time to play with your ideas, and I know I'm not going to be able to stop myself.
You did a great job!
I really hope she was wearing a Halloween costume when that photo was taken. If you can actually see her bones, you might have the flash on your camera set a bit too bright...
That the Christmas prezzies sorted