Your photo, redrawn in graphite

This photo to pencil sketch converter redraws an image as a hand-drawn pencil study, with six styles from soft graphite to hard cross-hatching. Upload a photo, pick a style, and download the result in PNG, JPEG or WebP.

How it works

  1. 1

    Upload a photo

    Portraits, pets and landscapes all work. Sharper source photos produce cleaner linework.

  2. 2

    Pick a drawing style

    Graphite, Charcoal, Cross-hatch, Line art, Coloured pencil or Sketchbook — or describe your own.

  3. 3

    Generate and download

    Request up to four variations and keep the one with the linework you want.

What you can make

Portrait gift sellers

Pencil portraits are a staple commission. Produce a draft in seconds and spend your time on the finish instead of the block-in.

Art students

Compare how cross-hatch and charcoal treat the same photo to study how shading choices change form.

Tattoo artists

Line art output is the closest style to a stencil-ready reference for client consultations.

Content creators

A sketch version of a photo makes a strong reveal post when paired with the original.

This photo to pencil sketch converter redraws an image as a hand-drawn pencil study, with six styles from soft graphite to hard cross-hatching.

Make your first sketch free

Specs & limits

InputOne photo you upload
StylesGraphite, Charcoal, Cross-hatch, Line art, Coloured pencil, Sketchbook
Custom directionUp to 2,000 characters
Output formatsPNG, JPEG or WebP
Variations per run1 to 4
Commercial useYours to use, including client work

Tips for better results

  • Pick the style by what the photo already has. Cross-hatch needs strong shadow shapes to hatch into; a flatly-lit photo suits Line art far better.
  • Crop before you generate, not after. The style follows the composition it is given, and cropping a finished sketch cuts through linework.
  • Use the custom description for what to leave out — "plain background, no hatching behind the head" does more than adding adjectives.
  • Charcoal hides noise, graphite exposes it. If your source photo was shot at high ISO, choose Charcoal.
  • For a print, export PNG. Pencil textures are fine-grained and JPEG compression softens exactly the detail you are paying for.

Frequently asked questions

Is it free?

Generating uses credits from your Publiz plan, and new accounts start with a free credit allowance you can try it on.

Do I need an account?

Yes, so results save to your media library and generation bills to your credit balance.

Can I use the sketch commercially?

Yes, including paid commissions and print products.

What formats does it accept?

Standard web image formats in, and PNG, JPEG or WebP out.

Will it look like a real hand drawing?

It reproduces the marks of a pencil study convincingly at normal viewing size. At full zoom the hatching is more regular than a human hand would make it, which is why many artists use it as an under-drawing rather than a finished piece.

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