Download programs for creating caricatures from photos. Unique caricatures and caricatures from ordinary photography

Caricatures are a fun alternative to traditional portraits. The idea is to comically exaggerate individual character traits to create a comical image of the person being described. Adobe Photoshop tools such as Transform, Warp, Liquify are ideal for creating caricatures from portrait photographs. This lesson is part of a series of lessons on Deformation, Transformation and Plasticity. All of these tutorials can be found on the Tuts+ website.

Final result:

An alternative method for creating a cartoon.

In this tutorial, we will create a caricature from a photo. But if you're looking for an alternative method of creating a caricature, the best method is to use a Photoshop action, such as the popular Caricature Photoshop Action, which can be downloaded from the Envato website. You can download a range of caricature effects with just a few clicks.

If you still decide to create a caricature effect yourself, then you can proceed with this lesson.

1. Preparing the Photo

The most important thing in caricature technique is to find elements that are already, by nature, accentuated, and then exaggerate them to a certain degree of comicality. In our original photo, the young man's jawline is pronounced, and therefore his smile is immediately noticeable. Horn-rimmed glasses catch the eye, as does a hairline that seems to be starting to recede. These are all traits that we can play a joke on.

Step 1

A clean white background in a photo makes it easier to separate the image from the background. Use any selection technique of your choice - I used the Quick Selection(Quick Selection Tool (W)) to create a selection - and then go Layer - New - Copy to New Layer(Layer > New > Layer Via Copy) or press the keys (Ctrl + J) to copy the selected image of a man to a new layer.

Step 2

When each element of the image is selected individually, then it is easier to work with each individual element. Therefore, using the same selection technique, select the following elements of the image. The head with the neck and the jacket should be selected exactly along the line of the T-shirt.

The head/neck must fit exactly under the line of the T-shirt.

When selecting the chin, it is not necessary to be precise, create a rough selection - later, we will match the chin with the whole head.

Try to highlight the mouth along the outer region of the lips, so that there is enough space for alignment in the future.

Select the nose in the same way. Create a rough selection around the nose, leaving enough room for the blending to take place.

Step 3

To make it easier to work with, let's convert each image element layer into a Smart Object. Being on each layer, we go in turn Layer - Smart Object - Convert to Smart Object(Layer > Smart Objects > Convert to Smart Object).

2. Transformation and Deformation

So, individual facial features are located on separate layers, now, we can start transforming them by creating a caricature. The versatility of Smart Objects allows you to work with different combinations of sizes for a fun effect.

Step 1

A traditional caricature technique is to make the head too big compared to the torso. To do this, we need to significantly reduce the image of the torso, so let's go Editing - Free Transform(Edit > Free Transform).

Step 2

Next, let's go (Edit > Transform > Warp) to start warping the head image. The neck should fit under the neck of the T-shirt, and also inflate the top of the head. The main purpose of this step is just to create a basic head shape that will serve as the basis for the rest of the image.

Step 3

Distort the chin to elongate it and also sharpen it a bit. Try to match the top of the chin so that the seams at the transition of the element images are not too noticeable.

Step 4

Make the big smirk even bigger by stretching the mouth image.

Step 5

Very often, in cartoons, noses are made very large and exaggerated. Big noses just look really funny! Enlarge the image of the nose to comical proportions - even if the nose overlaps the mouth, it's okay.

Step 6

The glasses require more careful work than just the scaling we've applied to other elements of the image. Tool Deformation(Warp tool) will help to combine the stretched frame on the face, for this we go Editing - Transform - Warp(Edit > Transform > Warp).

Step 7

During the distortion, we have practically hidden the ear on the main layer with the image of a man. To fix this, we'll zoom in on the ear so the ear is big enough to hold the goggle mounts!

Step 8

The most difficult part of the work is processing the chin on the layer mask, because. you have to process the hairs in the beard area on the chin. Just use a smaller brush and be patient. In the screenshot below, you can see the processing on the layer mask of the chin layer and the result of blending.

Step 9

Create a new layer on top of all selected elements of the head image and use the tool Spot Healing Brush(Spot Healing Brush (J)), in the settings, select the option Sample all layers(Sample All Layers), paint over obvious joints or problem areas that you could not fix due to the layer mask.

3. Apply Plastic to the Face

Next, there is a powerful tool that is used in the process of creating a caricature - this is a tool Plastic(liquify). We have already done a lot of work with the warp, however, with the help of Liquify, we will create a really fun caricature. Tool Plastic(Liquify) is a powerful tool and at the same time it can be unpredictable, but luckily the tool is supported smart filter(Smart Filtering), therefore, do not worry!

Step 1

Select all the layers with the selected elements of the image of the man's head, including the top adjustment layer, to merge them into one layer. Convert this layer to Smart Object(Smart Object), for this we go Layer - Smart Object - Convert to Smart Object(Layer > Smart Object > Convert to Smart Object).

Step 2

Step 3

With a tool Deformation(Forward Warp Tool), brush size, about 200, increase the volume of the frontal part. Gently lift the skin up, towards the hairline.

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

With a tool Deformation(Forward Warp Tool), once again warp the area near the temple, and then with the tool Bloating(Bloat Tool), enlarge the eyes a little - the only thing, do not forget to reduce the diameter of the brush when applying this tool on the eyeballs. When finished, press the button No(None) in settings Mask Options(Mask Options) to remove all frozen areas.

Step 7

Slightly lengthen the chin with the tool Deformation(Forward Warp Tool), and also make the chin more round and bulging with the tool Bloating(BloatTool).

Step 8

Finally, make the man's smile wider with the tool Deformation(Forward Warp Tool). Pull the corners of your mouth towards the creases in your cheeks. The only thing, be careful, and do not deform the shape of the teeth.

After applying the filter Plastic(Liquify), the result should be like in the screenshot below.

4. Artistic Background

So, we have finished the deformation and work on the poor male face, now, let's give the photo a more artistic look. We'll start by creating a more artistic background.

Step 1

Add a layer mask to the cartoon layer and use a textured brush to paint on the bottom of the image, shading it on the layer mask. I chose the Sponge Brush Projection brush. Reduce opacity(Opacity) brush, up to about 40%, so the transition of the texture will be smooth.

Step 2

Open the background texture from the download link at the beginning of this tutorial. Position this texture below the cartoon layer.

Step 3

Add a layer mask to the background texture layer. Using the same brush, work on the texture on the layer mask to create a painted effect around the edge of the image.

5. Painted Picture Effect

So, we are ready to transform our caricature, giving it the effect of a painted picture. We will keep a little photographic quality, while creating the feeling of a painted picture. This is easily achieved with the tooling technique. Finger(Smudge Tool).

Step 1

Small details have a destructive tendency to affect the effect of the painted picture, so we will soften them first, this will be the best solution. Let's go Filter- Blur- Smartblur(Filter > Blur > Smart Blur). Set the following settings: Radius(Radius) 2.0, Threshold(Threshold) 10.0, Quality(quality) high(High).

Step 2

The highlights in the photo are slightly brighter. We will fix this with an adjustment layer. Curves(Curves). Add an adjustment layer to the cartoon layer. Curves(Curves) as a clipping mask to soften the highlights.

Step 3

Create a new layer on top of all other layers. Choose a tool Finger(Smudge Tool), set the brush size to about 40 px. Set value intensity(Strength) 80%, and check the box Sample all layers(Sample All Layers). With the tool set up, start smearing with your Finger along the main features of the man's face. Go over the natural texture of the leather to give it a more fluid texture.

Step 4

Reduce the brush size to about 5 px. Next, go over the smaller details with your Finger, such as the eyebrows, individual strands of hair, the eyes, and the teeth.

Step 5

Create a merged layer from the finger smudged texture layer, the cartoon layer and the adjustment layer Curves(Curves). To do this, first, select all layers, and then, while holding down the (Alt) key, go to Layer - Merge Layers(Layer > Merge Layers (Ctrl+E)). While on the merged layer, go to Filter - Color Contrast(Filter > Other > High Pass). Install Radius(Radius) 5.0 px. Name this layer ‘Details’.

Step 6

Change the blending mode for the 'Details' layer to overlap(Overlay) and also reduce opacity(Opacity) layer up to 78%. Next, let's go Layer - Layer Mask - Hide All(Layer > Layer Mask > Hide All). Use a soft white brush to paint details such as the eyes, eyebrows, nose, mouth and beard to make them reappear.

Step 7

Create a new layer on top of all other layers. Fill this layer with 50% gray. You can upload via Editing - Fill(Edit > Fill). Change the blending mode for this layer to overlap(Overlay) and then using a soft black brush with 30% opacity, recreate the darkening effect. Switch the brush color to white to recreate the lightening effect.

Step 8

Next, we'll add the final touch. First, create a merged layer from all layers, to do this, hold down the key (Alt) + navigate Layer - Merge Visible(Layer > Merge Visible). Next, go Filter -cameraRaw(Filter > Camera Raw) and in the window that appears, set the following settings Contrast(Contrast) +10, Brightness(Clarity) +22, and Vibration(Vibrance) +48.

And we have completed the lesson! I hope you enjoyed this awesome cartoon style tutorial! Now apply this technique to photos of your friends or family members to create fun, unique and inimitable portraits!

Today it is difficult to name the sphere of design and graphics, where graphic applications are not used. And this is quite understandable, because they allow you to create an unusual photo montage or an intricate collage almost in the blink of an eye, turn a photo into a real work of art by successfully adding some interesting effects or creating an image based on an ordinary picture that resembles traditional graphics or painting. In graphic applications, you can simulate smoke and fire, sky and water, the texture of metal, fabric and other natural surfaces. With their help, it is easy to depict various natural phenomena: snow, rain, wind, waves; amazing results can be obtained by adjusting the lighting, etc.

Graphic applications can also be used to create cartoons and caricatures. Both of them, as before, quite often accompany a variety of news information, having a socially critical orientation and ridiculing any social, socio-political, everyday phenomena, real persons or characteristic types of people, or are purely amateur in nature and are an original way of depicting friends, relatives and acquaintances. By the way, many art studios offer the service of creating cartoons and caricatures today, and it is in constant demand.

Note that it is not necessary to create caricatures and cartoons from scratch, drawing all the elements of the image, because it will take more than one hour. Considering that real people and animals often serve as prototypes for caricatures and cartoons, it is much faster and easier to create them based on ordinary photographs. In this case, three paths open before users, each of which we will consider further.

Creating caricatures and cartoons using universal graphic applications

To create cartoons and cartoons, you can use popular universal graphics applications in one form or another, the corresponding capabilities are available in a variety of packages. For example, Adobe Photoshop has a built-in Liquify module (fluidity), called by the Filter=>Liquify command and designed to distort images. Jasc Paint Shop Pro has a warp brush that allows you to stretch parts of an image or create the effect of enlarging individual sections of it. In the Adobe Illustrator package, a whole group of tools is intended for this purpose. Liquify Tools, with which you can instantly distort the image and quickly achieve bizarre deformations that are not achievable in other ways. The possibilities of universal graphic applications in terms of image deformation to obtain one or another caricature effect are very wide. In addition, in many packages, after achieving the desired distortion effect, thanks to the presence of appropriate filters, it is easy to turn a photo into a pencil drawing or a brush drawing and, if necessary, correct it by hand and finish the background elements and the cartoon or caricature is ready. True, there is one drawback all universal graphic applications are quite voluminous and require a lot of time to master. However, they are chosen by professionals.

Let's try to use Adobe Photoshop and Jasc Paint Shop Pro to create a friendly cartoon. Let's take the photograph shown in Fig. 1, this picture, due to the comical and enthusiastic expression of the face, is ideal for the intended caricature. We will carry out the necessary operations for color correction of the image and remove all unnecessary elements that will significantly complicate the creation of a caricature (Fig. 2).

and removing redundant elements

After that, we proceed directly to creating a caricature from the picture. Load the built-in module Liquify(fluidity) called by the command Filter=>Liquify take a tool Bloat(Inflation), adjust the parameters of the brush and start experimenting: make the nose bigger, make the cheeks plumper, etc., trying to emphasize the characteristic features of the person depicted in the picture. Then we will continue to work with other tools in this example, the tools were used Pucker(Compression) and Warp(Distort), each time adjusting the brush settings as needed. The final result is shown in Fig. 4.

Now you need to turn the photo into a drawing let's focus on the black and white pencil drawing. It is more convenient and much easier to do this in Paint Shop Pro. To do this, first create a duplicate of the background layer with the command Layers=>Duplicate e (Layers => Duplicate) and change the blending mode of the duplicate layer, in relation to which all further actions will be performed, to Color. Make an image negative using the command Adjust=>Negative Image(Adjust => Image Negative), and then turn the color image into black and white with the command Image=>Greyscale(Image=>Grayscale). Call the layer properties window again and change the blending mode to Dodge As a result, only the darkest details of the image will be visible, and the resulting version will not much resemble a finished pencil drawing, rather, only its individual outlines. Therefore, reduce the layer opacity to an acceptable value for each image it will be different, in this example the opacity was set to 94%. As a result, the photo will look better (Fig. 5). Merge both layers with command Layer=>Merge=>Merge All(Layer=>Merge=>Merge All). Now you can copy the person's face into a new image and draw other elements of the cartoon (Fig. 6) in this example, we simply used the caricature background of one of the cartoons of the art studio ART presented on the Internet.

into a pencil drawing

Creation of cartoons and cartoons in specialized packages

You can use software products specifically designed for creating cartoons and caricatures. They are easy to learn just like in universal graphics applications, the deformation in them is carried out using visual deformation tools, and therefore they are designed for amateurs who do not have experience with graphic applications, but at the same time want to try themselves as an artist - cartoonist. It should be noted that the programs of this group, despite their external simplicity, can have very good opportunities and often allow achieving no less professional results, and with minimal effort and time.

But there are very few packages with such capabilities, so there is not much to choose from, and a significant part of them have not been updated for a long time. Perhaps the most famous and popular application in the world from this group is the SuperGOO program from the once famous company Metacreations. Unfortunately, the company no longer exists, there are no new versions of SuperGOO, but if you really want to, you can find the application, and it works fine under Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000. And of the specialized applications currently sold by developers, the clear leader is the Deformer 2.0 program from the Russian company STOIK Imaging.

Deformer 2.0

Developer: STOIK Imaging

Distribution size: 5.58 MB

Distribution method: shareware

Price:$29

Work under control: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP

Deformer is currently the best program for quickly creating funny cartoons and animations, aimed at a wide range of users. A friendly, although not quite familiar interface, combined with extremely simple working methods, makes it the best solution for home users who, in a matter of minutes, can use it to create funny caricatures and caricatures of their friends and acquaintances, having only a good photo in their arsenal. .

The program supports a very large set of visual deformation tools, for convenience, combined into groups Catastrophe, Toolkit, Global, Shrink, Plain and Grow and allowing you to perform various manipulations with image fragments captured by the mouse: compression, stretching, twisting, etc. (Fig. 7 ). The deformation process is carried out by simply moving the mouse over the image. After a few manipulations, you can quickly transform a photo into a caricature, emphasizing the characteristic features of a person in a caricature. All transformations are carried out in real time and displayed on the screen, while at any time you can abandon the resulting caricature and return to the original image.

Any images can be used as initial ones, both available on the disk and loaded from TWAIN devices. The results of the work are saved in TIFF, BMP, PCX, TARGA, JPEG, GIF and PNG formats, image optimization is possible. The created deformations can be included in the video track to create an animated video in AVI or animated GIF formats.

A Russian-language version of the Deformer 2.0 program is available for sale Reformer + (publisher: Novy disk (http://www.nd.ru/), price: $4.5, fig. 8). It additionally contains a built-in database of photos of politicians that can be transformed as you wish, and is intended for everyone who loves funny jokes and pranks and feels the hidden talent of a cartoonist. As already noted, the program interface is extremely simple, and tips that pop up during operation make it easier to master the application. Thanks to this, Reformer + can be mastered even by children, and it can be useful for them for two reasons: Reformer + is suitable for teaching the nuances of graphic transformation and at the same time allows you to get acquainted with the art of creating cartoons and caricatures in an easy and fun way.

cartoonist 1.0

Developer: VicMan Software

Distribution size: 3.15 MB

Distribution method: shareware

Price:$19.95

Work under control: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003

This compact and easy-to-use program allows you to quickly create caricatures based on photos by deforming their individual fragments. Cartoonist has a simple and intuitive interface, allows you to see the results of transformations in real time and supports a phased rollback or full return to the original image in case of an unsuccessful operation. Created cartoon images can be saved in BMP, JPG, and PNG formats. If desired, in JPG format, it is easy to determine the quality of the saved images and save the EXIF ​​data.

While Cartoonist has only one distorting brush in its arsenal, the brush size and background color can be adjusted. However, the program is currently under active development (its last version appeared at the end of 2004), so there is every reason to believe that Cartoonist will support a wider range of deforming tools in the near future.

Using morph editors

Theoretically, there is a third way to create caricatures based on pictures deformation of a photo using morphing editors. The term "morphing" comes from the word metamorphosing, which means "transformation", and refers to an animation technique in which one image is gradually transformed into another. Thus, the main task of morph editors is to create animations, but they can also be useful when making cartoons. An ordinary photograph can also act as a source, and the final result will be presented as a series of generated intermediate frames that provide a smooth transition from the initial image to the final one. As a rule, frames can be saved not only as a whole as animation, but also individually in popular graphic formats JPG, GIF, etc., which can be used.

The deformation technology in morphing editors is fundamentally different from the deformation methods discussed above and lies in the fact that it is necessary to manually compare the correspondence points on the source and final images. The more points you place on the images, the better the morphing result will be. For best results, dots should be placed in all key areas of the images. In this case, in the case of creating a caricature, the role of the source and destination images will be played by the same photograph. Note that to achieve a good result by choosing this method is much more difficult than in the case of deformation of photos using visual deformation tools, you will need some knowledge about morphing technology and the ability to work in morphing editors. Also, creating a caricature this way will take a lot more time, and placing match points is a very tedious process.

As for editors for creating morphs, there are a lot of them. For example, consider one of the most popular and at the same time quite simple ACD Morpheus Photo Animator. This program comes in two editions: standard Morpheus Photo Animator and professional Morpheus Photo Animator Pro. To create caricatures and cartoons, the standard version is enough.

ACD Morpheus Photo Animator 1.85

Developer: ACDsystems

Distribution size: 3 MB

Distribution method: shareware

Price:$29.95

Work under control: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP

ACD Morpheus Photo Animator is an internationally recognized photo morphing program that allows you to add dynamics and emotions to your photos and is a plug-in for the ACDSee package. The program is a convenient, fast and even fun tool for both beginners and experts.

It supports beginner modes ( Beginner Mode) and for qualified users ( normal mode) and features a user-friendly and intuitive interface. In Beginner Mode, almost all tuning tools are hidden from the user, except for the minimum set of tools necessary to perform simple morphing. To implement more complex morphing using a wider range of program features, you will need to switch to Normal Mode. Morphing results can be saved as Shockwave, Flash, Animated GIF, AVI, JPEG, etc.

The process of creating a caricature here, just like in any other morphing editor, consists of three stages: loading the same photo as the source and destination images, setting match points and creating a morph with saving intermediate morph frames in graphic files. As a result, you will get a series of graphic files, the last of which, if the morphing is successful, will be a caricature.

Today it is difficult to name the sphere of design and graphics, where graphic applications are not used. And this is quite understandable, because they allow you to create an unusual photo montage or an intricate collage almost in the blink of an eye, turn a photo into a real work of art by successfully adding some interesting effects or creating an image based on an ordinary picture that resembles traditional graphics or painting. In graphic applications, you can simulate smoke and fire, sky and water, the texture of metal, fabric and other natural surfaces. With their help, it is easy to depict various natural phenomena: snow, rain, wind, waves; amazing results can be obtained by adjusting the lighting, etc.

Graphic applications can also be used to create cartoons and caricatures. Both of them, as before, quite often accompany a variety of news information, having a socially critical orientation and ridiculing any social, socio-political, everyday phenomena, real persons or characteristic types of people, or are purely amateur in nature and are an original way of depicting friends, relatives and acquaintances. By the way, many art studios offer the service of creating cartoons and caricatures today, and it is in constant demand.

Note that it is not necessary to create caricatures and cartoons from scratch, drawing all the elements of the image, because it will take more than one hour. Considering that real people and animals often serve as prototypes for caricatures and cartoons, it is much faster and easier to create them based on ordinary photographs. In this case, three paths open before users, each of which we will consider further.

Creating caricatures and cartoons using universal graphic applications

To create cartoons and cartoons, you can use popular universal graphics applications in one form or another, the corresponding capabilities are available in a variety of packages. For example, Adobe Photoshop has a built-in Liquify module (fluidity), called by the Filter=>Liquify command and designed to distort images. Jasc Paint Shop Pro has a warp brush that allows you to stretch parts of an image or create the effect of enlarging individual sections of it. In the Adobe Illustrator package, a whole group of tools is intended for this purpose. Liquify Tools, with which you can instantly distort the image and quickly achieve bizarre deformations that are not achievable in other ways. The possibilities of universal graphic applications in terms of image deformation to obtain one or another caricature effect are very wide. In addition, in many packages, after achieving the desired distortion effect, thanks to the presence of appropriate filters, it is easy to turn a photo into a pencil drawing or a brush drawing and, if necessary, correct it by hand and finish the background elements and the cartoon or caricature is ready. True, there is one drawback all universal graphic applications are quite voluminous and require a lot of time to master. However, they are chosen by professionals.

Let's try to use Adobe Photoshop and Jasc Paint Shop Pro to create a friendly cartoon. Let's take the photograph shown in Fig. 1, this picture, due to the comical and enthusiastic expression of the face, is ideal for the intended caricature. We will carry out the necessary operations for color correction of the image and remove all unnecessary elements that will significantly complicate the creation of a caricature (Fig. 2).

and removing redundant elements

After that, we proceed directly to creating a caricature from the picture. Load the built-in module Liquify(fluidity) called by the command Filter=>Liquify take a tool Bloat(Inflation), adjust the parameters of the brush and start experimenting: make the nose bigger, make the cheeks plumper, etc., trying to emphasize the characteristic features of the person depicted in the picture. Then we will continue to work with other tools in this example, the tools were used Pucker(Compression) and Warp(Distort), each time adjusting the brush settings as needed. The final result is shown in Fig. 4.

Now you need to turn the photo into a drawing let's focus on the black and white pencil drawing. It is more convenient and much easier to do this in Paint Shop Pro. To do this, first create a duplicate of the background layer with the command Layers=>Duplicate e (Layers => Duplicate) and change the blending mode of the duplicate layer, in relation to which all further actions will be performed, to Color. Make an image negative using the command Adjust=>Negative Image(Adjust => Image Negative), and then turn the color image into black and white with the command Image=>Greyscale(Image=>Grayscale). Call the layer properties window again and change the blending mode to Dodge As a result, only the darkest details of the image will be visible, and the resulting version will not much resemble a finished pencil drawing, rather, only its individual outlines. Therefore, reduce the layer opacity to an acceptable value for each image it will be different, in this example the opacity was set to 94%. As a result, the photo will look better (Fig. 5). Merge both layers with command Layer=>Merge=>Merge All(Layer=>Merge=>Merge All). Now you can copy the person's face into a new image and draw other elements of the cartoon (Fig. 6) in this example, we simply used the caricature background of one of the cartoons of the art studio ART presented on the Internet.

into a pencil drawing

Creation of cartoons and cartoons in specialized packages

You can use software products specifically designed for creating cartoons and caricatures. They are easy to learn just like in universal graphics applications, the deformation in them is carried out using visual deformation tools, and therefore they are designed for amateurs who do not have experience with graphic applications, but at the same time want to try themselves as an artist - cartoonist. It should be noted that the programs of this group, despite their external simplicity, can have very good opportunities and often allow achieving no less professional results, and with minimal effort and time.

But there are very few packages with such capabilities, so there is not much to choose from, and a significant part of them have not been updated for a long time. Perhaps the most famous and popular application in the world from this group is the SuperGOO program from the once famous company Metacreations. Unfortunately, the company no longer exists, there are no new versions of SuperGOO, but if you really want to, you can find the application, and it works fine under Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000. And of the specialized applications currently sold by developers, the clear leader is the Deformer 2.0 program from the Russian company STOIK Imaging.

Deformer 2.0

Developer: STOIK Imaging

Distribution size: 5.58 MB

Distribution method: shareware

Price:$29

Work under control: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP

Deformer is currently the best program for quickly creating funny cartoons and animations, aimed at a wide range of users. A friendly, although not quite familiar interface, combined with extremely simple working methods, makes it the best solution for home users who, in a matter of minutes, can use it to create funny caricatures and caricatures of their friends and acquaintances, having only a good photo in their arsenal. .

The program supports a very large set of visual deformation tools, for convenience, combined into groups Catastrophe, Toolkit, Global, Shrink, Plain and Grow and allowing you to perform various manipulations with image fragments captured by the mouse: compression, stretching, twisting, etc. (Fig. 7 ). The deformation process is carried out by simply moving the mouse over the image. After a few manipulations, you can quickly transform a photo into a caricature, emphasizing the characteristic features of a person in a caricature. All transformations are carried out in real time and displayed on the screen, while at any time you can abandon the resulting caricature and return to the original image.

Any images can be used as initial ones, both available on the disk and loaded from TWAIN devices. The results of the work are saved in TIFF, BMP, PCX, TARGA, JPEG, GIF and PNG formats, image optimization is possible. The created deformations can be included in the video track to create an animated video in AVI or animated GIF formats.

A Russian-language version of the Deformer 2.0 program is available for sale Reformer + (publisher: Novy disk (http://www.nd.ru/), price: $4.5, fig. 8). It additionally contains a built-in database of photos of politicians that can be transformed as you wish, and is intended for everyone who loves funny jokes and pranks and feels the hidden talent of a cartoonist. As already noted, the program interface is extremely simple, and tips that pop up during operation make it easier to master the application. Thanks to this, Reformer + can be mastered even by children, and it can be useful for them for two reasons: Reformer + is suitable for teaching the nuances of graphic transformation and at the same time allows you to get acquainted with the art of creating cartoons and caricatures in an easy and fun way.

cartoonist 1.0

Developer: VicMan Software

Distribution size: 3.15 MB

Distribution method: shareware

Price:$19.95

Work under control: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003

This compact and easy-to-use program allows you to quickly create caricatures based on photos by deforming their individual fragments. Cartoonist has a simple and intuitive interface, allows you to see the results of transformations in real time and supports a phased rollback or full return to the original image in case of an unsuccessful operation. Created cartoon images can be saved in BMP, JPG, and PNG formats. If desired, in JPG format, it is easy to determine the quality of the saved images and save the EXIF ​​data.

While Cartoonist has only one distorting brush in its arsenal, the brush size and background color can be adjusted. However, the program is currently under active development (its last version appeared at the end of 2004), so there is every reason to believe that Cartoonist will support a wider range of deforming tools in the near future.

Using morph editors

Theoretically, there is a third way to create caricatures based on pictures deformation of a photo using morphing editors. The term "morphing" comes from the word metamorphosing, which means "transformation", and refers to an animation technique in which one image is gradually transformed into another. Thus, the main task of morph editors is to create animations, but they can also be useful when making cartoons. An ordinary photograph can also act as a source, and the final result will be presented as a series of generated intermediate frames that provide a smooth transition from the initial image to the final one. As a rule, frames can be saved not only as a whole as animation, but also individually in popular graphic formats JPG, GIF, etc., which can be used.

The deformation technology in morphing editors is fundamentally different from the deformation methods discussed above and lies in the fact that it is necessary to manually compare the correspondence points on the source and final images. The more points you place on the images, the better the morphing result will be. For best results, dots should be placed in all key areas of the images. In this case, in the case of creating a caricature, the role of the source and destination images will be played by the same photograph. Note that to achieve a good result by choosing this method is much more difficult than in the case of deformation of photos using visual deformation tools, you will need some knowledge about morphing technology and the ability to work in morphing editors. Also, creating a caricature this way will take a lot more time, and placing match points is a very tedious process.

As for editors for creating morphs, there are a lot of them. For example, consider one of the most popular and at the same time quite simple ACD Morpheus Photo Animator. This program comes in two editions: standard Morpheus Photo Animator and professional Morpheus Photo Animator Pro. To create caricatures and cartoons, the standard version is enough.

ACD Morpheus Photo Animator 1.85

Developer: ACDsystems

Distribution size: 3 MB

Distribution method: shareware

Price:$29.95

Work under control: Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP

ACD Morpheus Photo Animator is an internationally recognized photo morphing program that allows you to add dynamics and emotions to your photos and is a plug-in for the ACDSee package. The program is a convenient, fast and even fun tool for both beginners and experts.

It supports beginner modes ( Beginner Mode) and for qualified users ( normal mode) and features a user-friendly and intuitive interface. In Beginner Mode, almost all tuning tools are hidden from the user, except for the minimum set of tools necessary to perform simple morphing. To implement more complex morphing using a wider range of program features, you will need to switch to Normal Mode. Morphing results can be saved as Shockwave, Flash, Animated GIF, AVI, JPEG, etc.

The process of creating a caricature here, just like in any other morphing editor, consists of three stages: loading the same photo as the source and destination images, setting match points and creating a morph with saving intermediate morph frames in graphic files. As a result, you will get a series of graphic files, the last of which, if the morphing is successful, will be a caricature.

The excellent MomentCam Android editor allows you to turn any portrait into a funny caricature, comic book character or friendly caricature.

As a rule, a modern user has countless accounts in various social networks and services. Therefore, for each site it is simply impossible to pick up some special photo.

For many in a similar situation, the only helper is an avatar. Happy owners of Android tablets and smartphones can create original images using hundreds of different utilities and applications. Today, few people can be surprised by creating their own animation, with likeness and caricatures. One such application is momentcam- an interesting, and most importantly, incredibly convenient generator of unusual avatars.

At first glance, there is nothing remarkable about MomentCam. However, a closer examination of the possibilities will immediately fill you with mixed feelings. To create cartoons, the program provides two options: animation or comics.

There is a standard set of template sketches, as well as a library extension that allows you to download new themes (for now only for comics). It is worth noting that in each update of the application, the developer replenishes the basic set of sketches. As a result, there are hundreds of template options and dozens of themes.

Of course, the convenience of MomentCam in work is much more important for an inquisitive user. Let's consider this option in more detail. Despite the lack of a Russian translation, using the editor is quite easy. Having launched the application, we immediately proceed to the choice of the type of caricature: comics or animation. Next, we take a picture or select a ready-made photo from the device gallery.

This concludes the preparatory part. Creativity begins! The application provides several tools that will ensure the original design of your caricature.

The face editor provides templates for changing the shape and design (eyebrows, hair style, mustache and beard). These thematic templates, presented as a set of sketches (group or single cartoons), will help to make the avatar special. Styles will allow you to change the background of the picture and apply color substitution. Any element can be stretched, corrected and moved using the touch screen of the device.

Photolamus - exclusive caricatures for your photos from real artists

Photolamus is a very interesting and rather funny application for Andorid devices, which is designed to order a funny caricature of your photos or a friend from professional artists in just a couple of clicks. In addition, in the application you can see the most interesting cartoons, as well as having the ability to draw, take part in the competition for the best caricature.

Interface and features

With its interface, the application may remind us of the very popular Instagram application. The functionality of the key located in the middle of the program, by analogy with the above application, is responsible for the photo. Before you take a photo or upload an image from the gallery, you should decide on the parameters of the future caricature. The options are styles, of which there are three: bright, digital and linear styles. A few words about each of the styles. Bright is a caricature rich in color with a huge variety of elements. The digital style is the most expensive, but also the highest quality, since every little thing is drawn here and the artist spends a lot of time creating a caricature. Linear is a caricature drawn in black and white with little shading in pencil.

Also, the final cost of a painted masterpiece will depend not only on the style you choose, but also on the number of people depicted on it. As for the deadlines for completing the task, there are two options: the first is the standard deadlines, which are about 84 hours, the second is accelerated drawing in 12 hours, but with an increase in the fee for the caricature almost twice. In addition, you have the opportunity to add a beautiful inscription to the resulting caricature, which will mean a pleasant completion of the efforts of the authors. If you are a lucky person in life, then you have the opportunity to win a free caricature from the artist by participating in the lottery, which can be found in the order menu.

Key features of Photolamus:

• Simple and clear interface;
• The speed of ordering a caricature directly from the device;
• Caricatures are drawn not only from new photos, but also from uploaded ones;
• Several drawing styles to choose from;
• Ability to add a signature.

The team of this service consists of several artists. This is noticeable in the works that appear in the news feed. In most cases, the cartoons turn out to be very good, and users leave only positive reviews, but there are also extremely unsuccessful ones.