Sketch filters and effects


    Commands in the Sketch submenu in the Filter or Effect menu add texture to images, often for a three-dimensional effect. The filters are also useful for creating a fine-arts or hand-drawn look. Many of the Sketch filters use black and white colors to redraw the image. These filters and effects aren't available for documents in CMYK color mode.

    Note: The Sketch effects are raster-based and use the document's raster effects settings whenever you apply the effect to a vector graphic. (See Specifying raster effects settings.)

    Tip iconIf you apply these commands from the Effect menu, you can use the Appearance palette to modify or remove the effects from your object. (See Modifying and removing appearance attributes.)

    Bas Relief

    Transforms an image to appear carved in low relief and lit to accent the surface variations. Dark areas of the image are colored black; light colors are colored white.

    Chalk & Charcoal

    Redraws an image's highlights and midtones with a solid midtone gray background drawn in coarse chalk. Shadow areas are replaced with diagonal charcoal lines. The charcoal is drawn in black, the chalk in white.

    Charcoal

    Redraws an image to create a posterized, smudged effect. Major edges are drawn boldly while midtones are sketched using a diagonal stroke. Charcoal is colored black; the paper is colored white.

    Chrome

    Treats the image as if it were a polished chrome surface. Highlights are high points and shadows are low points in the reflecting surface.

    Conté Crayon

    Replicates the texture of dense dark and pure white Conté crayons on an image. The Conté Crayon filter uses black for dark areas and the white for light areas.

    Graphic Pen

    Uses fine, linear ink strokes to capture the details in the original image. The filter replaces color in the original image using black for ink and white for paper. This command is especially striking with scanned images.

    Halftone Pattern

    Simulates the effect of a halftone screen while maintaining the continuous range of tones.

    Note Paper

    Creates an image that appears to be constructed of handmade paper. The filter simplifies an image, and combines the effect of the Grain command (Texture submenu) with an embossed appearance. Dark areas of the image appear as holes in the top layer of paper surrounded by white.

    Photocopy

    Simulates the effect of photocopying an image. Large areas of darkness tend to copy only around their edges; midtones fall away to either solid black or white.

    Plaster

    Molds an image as if from plaster, and then colorizes the result using black and white. Dark areas are raised; light areas are sunken.

    Reticulation

    Simulates the controlled shrinking and distorting of film emulsion to create an image that appears clumped in the shadow areas and lightly grained in the highlights.

    Stamp

    Simplifies the image to appear stamped with a rubber or wood stamp. This command is best used with black-and-white images.

    Torn Edges

    Reconstructs the image as ragged, torn pieces of paper, and then colorizes the image using black and white. This command is particularly useful for images consisting of text or high-contrast objects.

    Water Paper

    Uses blotchy daubs that appear painted onto fibrous, damp paper, causing the colors to flow and blend.