Caricature Effects

There are four primary different Caricature effects you can utilize to create endless variations of image warping and rendering. You can select a large area such as the entire face, or a smaller area such as an eye. Pull, tug, twist, squeeze and expand the facial areas to create funny facial expressions.

  Learn how to use the caricature effects by viewing the tutorial videos! Click the video icon on the toolbar to visit the video tutorial section. Please note that you must have internet access to view the videos. 

The Putty Effect

Just like real putty, this effect allows you to pull and push areas of the image at will. Use the Size slider to reduce or enlarge the effect area for different results. Use the Effect slider to increase or decrease the degree of the effect. The defaults settings are a good place to start and will produce great results. To begin, click and hold the left mouse button and drag the image in any direction. For instance, here we'll pull the corner of the mouth outward to create a funny grin. Then, we'll pull the eyes inward for even more effect.

The Warp effect

The Warp effect pinches in or expands out an area of the image.

Use the right mouse button to expand the selected area outward. Use the left mouse button to pinch the selected area inward. Note: For best results do not continually hold down the mouse button when expanding an area. Doing so may create a "hole" in the center of the image. Hold down for about 1 to 2 seconds, then release. Repeat to expand the area more.

The selection area and size is represented by the white circle.

 You can create funny caricatures of your pets, just like the popular greeting cards you find at the store! Example:

The Twirl Effect

Use this effect to twist the selected area in a circular motion. Like the Putty effect you may select the size and level of the effect.

Use the right mouse button to twist the selected area clockwise. Use the left mouse button to twist the area counter-clockwise. Below is an example. Here, the effect was applied to the entire head area to illustrate the effect, however you can decrease the size of the selection area (circle) to apply the effect to smaller areas, such as eyes, mouth, etc.

The Comic Filter

The Comic Filter creates a "comic book" style rendering of your image by flattening colors and outlining key areas with black lines. Below is an example. The first image is the original. The second image has been altered with the Comic Filter.

When selecting the Comic Filter, there are four options available within the function window that will affect how the image is rendered:

Radius Of Mask: Affects the degree of filter applied by moving the slider left or right. With the radius at 100% (far right), solid areas are more textured. With the radius at 5% (far left), the image is lightly outlined but the solid areas are not altered.

Percent Black: Affects how much of the image is rendered with black outline by moving the slider left or right. With the percentage at 100% (far right), more areas of the image are outlined in black. With the percentage at 5% (far left), the outlined is more confined to hard edges, such as the outside perimeter of the image.

Line Width: Affects the broadness of the line for areas that are outlined.

Posterize: Affects the amount of color transtion that is applied to solid colors by moving the slider left or right. With the percentage at 100% (far right), the solid areas are almost completey washed out. With the percentage at 25%, shaded areas are converted into solid colors.

  Note that it is not necessary to change the sliders. The default settings are applied when the filter is invoked, and are designed to acheive a good overall comic effect. The image example above was created by applying the default settings.