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Transform Photos Into Paintings

Linearity Curve turns pixels into brushstrokes.

Linearity Curve Graphic Design

Vectornator Vector Illustrator

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Linearity Curve’s Auto Trace feature turns any photo into a painting-like vector image—one that you can make as big as you want without any lost details. Blow it up to make a beautiful desktop background, or have it printed on a huge canvas to hang on your wall.

To get started, click Import in the app’s sidebar, then add a photo by clicking Photo and choosing from your library, or by dragging an image into the window. Then select the entire image (press Commmand-A), ensure Auto Trace Mode (in the sidebar) is set to Photography, and click the Auto Trace button.

Start with a photo with lots of contrast and defined transitions (left) for great results (right).

The default settings are just a starting point; you can get a dramatically different look by making a few tweaks. Here are a few to try:

1. Embrace the abstract

Before clicking Auto Trace, decrease the Complexity setting for a more abstract effect, or increase the level for additional detail in the trace.

2. Tweak your tones

Every patch of color in the resulting image can be customized. For example, change the opacity or shift the shade of a color to make your “painting” more vibrant or more muted.

It may look like a physical painting, but you can tweak any color in seconds.

3. Be bold

Create a more striking piece of art by adding an outline stroke to every shape: Select everything (press Command-A), click the Stroke color swatch, and choose black. Experiment with the Stroke Width to get just the right effect.

Subtle outlines can give your illustration definition.