Vectorize A Person
This tutorial shows you how you get from an image to a vector of that image. I can't really say much as to what to do, because really it just takes some getting used to but I'll do my best. If you don't already have some knowledge of the pen tool, go look at that tutorial first :)
Step 1
Pick a photo, specifically a large photo. It's very hard to do a vector on something that's small because then it's working with tiny vectors. I got mine off the official site for The Dark Knight, wasn't the greatest quality but it doesn't need to be for a vector. As long as you can see the different colors and the shapes, it works.
Step 2
I personally don't do this, but I did when I first stared vectorizing. It's hard to figure out how to make the different chapes. If you scroll down and look, you see his cheek is more than one shape because it's showing depth and shading. A trick I learned is to duplicate the original image. Then go to Image> Adjustments> and Posterize... Put it at about 8 or 9, and if you look it kind of outlines the shapes to vectorize.
HOWEVER, you should keep both the posterized version AND the regular one, because when you extract colors you need to use it from the original however you can use the posterized one to guide you on the shape of your vectors.
Step 3
Alright so I can't really show you how to do it, you just have to play with it. You should always start with the smaller details first. Don't outline a giant face because then you're blocking out the image. When I work I start with the eyes first, then do the highlights in the hair, then maybe the nose and eye brows. It's up do you. Another thing is when making vectors it's good to do the smaller details first because then you can make a vector UNDER that one.
Take the eye for example. You make the eye and you start doing the skin around it. If you make just a vector (shaped however you want) below it then you don't have to worry about making the vectors fit like puzzle pieces.
Step 4
Another thing is, zoom in if one of your vector shapes are small, it helps. If you do work zoomed in a lot, as I do, make sure you zoom out every little bit to make sure it looks right. Also, it's not going to look like what you're making immediately. Don't freak out :) When I worked on my first one I was going crazy because she looked like a one-eyed alien. By the time I finished, though, it looked pretty decent :) So at first it's going to look just like a jumble of shapes and just weird, but it comes together in the end.
Step 5
Colors. Alright so for whatever shape I'm doing, I extract the color from that same spot on the photo with the eye dropper tool. Also know that you can change the color of the vector after you've made it by double clicking in the 'layers' the color to the left of the preview of your images. Know that it won't always look right because remember you're extracting color from one tiny area and using it for a portion of their face or whatever. Double click the color of the vector and change it to what looks right, darker or lighter, or whatever. I always stay with the same basic color that's in the photo, but I do change the darkness to fit the whole picture better.
Don't drive yourself crazy with the colors as you're doing it. Fix it up a bit as you go but mainly just wait until you get to the end and then you can change the vector shapes' colors as they need to be.
Step 6
Patience. If you don't have it, don't attempt it. It takes a lot of patience. It get's frustrating and annoying but they do look pretty cool in the end. Take breaks, walk away, watch some tv, or even better, go look at the site :D. It'll take a bit before you're great at it or maybe you'll be a natural. I'm still getting better. You can see the timeline in my vectors :D If you do start, finish. Like I said before when you're working on it, it sometimes looks off and awkward, but it comes together in the end. Also, make sure you're comfortable with the pen tool first. Practice vectorizing simple things first so you can understand shading, depth, and lighting. Like the card over his face casts a shadow, can't just leave it out, it'd look wrong :) Always refer back to the original photo to make sure lighting and the shapes look right. It helps.
Once you're done, you can delete the original image behind it (and the posterized version if you had one) and all that will be left is your vector to do with as you please.
Step 7
So hopefully you've tried it out, and it's come out nice. However, I know it's difficult when I can't physically show you how to make it. So, I have a psd version of part of the face. You can download it, see how I made the shapes with each layer, etc. Hopefully that'll help more than me explaining it. Anyways, just keep trying and it'll happen :) (you can also find this vector under the Movie Desktops section. You should make it your wallpaper, Joker is fantastic.)
Click to download the PSD
(this is only to use as a tutorial, please don't run off with my half a face and call it your own :D)
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