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Make a Vector Art Effect in Photoshop (Reusable, Plus True Vector Export)

You’ll create a high‑impact vector‑art style in Photoshop using a Smart Object and a stack of filters for crisp, posterized tones. The setup becomes a reusable PSD: just replace the Smart Object to apply the effect to any image. Finally, learn how to convert the result to true vector in Illustrator and bring it back to Photoshop as editable shape layers.

Step-by-step instructions

1

Create the document and prepare the Smart Object

  • File → New: 4500 × 3000 px, 300 ppi, RGB. Click Create.

  • File → Place Embedded to import your photo. Resize and center.

  • Select All (Ctrl/Cmd+A) then duplicate selection to a new layer (Ctrl/Cmd+J) to crop to canvas, delete the old layer.

  • Right‑click the new layer → Convert to Smart Object.

2

Build the vector‑art filter stack

  • Filter → Sharpen → Unsharp Mask: Amount 250%, Radius 6 px, Threshold 15. OK.

  • Filter → Stylize → Oil Paint: 5, 3, 0.1, 0; uncheck Lighting. OK.

  • Filter → Filter Gallery → Artistic → Cutout: 8, 5, 1. OK. Then double‑click the filter’s Blending Options icon and set Opacity to 50%. OK.

  • Filter → Blur → Surface Blur: Radius 25, Threshold 10. OK.

  • Filter → Sharpen → Unsharp Mask: 80, 6, 0. OK. Alt/Option‑drag the Filter Gallery entry to duplicate it to the top of the stack, then Filter → Sharpen → Smart Sharpen: Amount 100, Radius 1.5, Reduce Noise 0. OK.

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3

Add a color‑correction layer for edge fixes

  • Rename the Smart Object layer “Effect.” Duplicate it (Ctrl/Cmd+J).

  • Right‑click the duplicate’s Smart Filters → Clear Smart Filters. Rename it “Correct Colors.”

  • Right‑click → Create Clipping Mask (clip to “Effect”).

  • Filter → Blur → Gaussian Blur: Radius 7–8 px. Change the layer’s Blend Mode to Color.

4

Remove the background inside the Smart Object

  • Double‑click the “Effect” Smart Object thumbnail to open it.

  • Use Object Selection Tool → Select → Subject (or any selection method), then Layer → Layer Mask → Reveal Selection to hide background.

  • Press Ctrl/Cmd+S to save and update the main document.

5

Add a decorative background and global Levels

  • Select the Background layer, then File → Place Embedded to add a decorative shape. Position and press Enter/Return.

  • Double‑click the shape layer → Color Overlay to recolor as desired. OK.

  • Add Layer → New Adjustment Layer → Levels at the top to adjust overall brightness/contrast.

6

Reuse the effect with a single update

  • Double‑click the “Effect” Smart Object to open it.

  • Place Embedded a new photo, position, and create a mask as before. Hide the previous layer.

  • Press Ctrl/Cmd+S, return to the main file, and if you see mis‑colored areas, toggle “Correct Colors” visible.

7

Optional: Convert the result to TRUE vector in Illustrator

  • Hide the decorative shape/background and export the subject (File → Export → Quick Export as PNG).

  • Open the PNG in Illustrator. Window → Image Trace.

  • Preset: Low Fidelity Photo. Reduce Colors to ~9–10, then click Expand to convert to vector.

8

Optional: Paste vector back into Photoshop as layers (CC 2022+)

  • In Illustrator, select the vector artwork and copy (Ctrl/Cmd+C).

  • In Photoshop, File → New, then paste (Ctrl/Cmd+V) and choose “Layers.”

  • Edit vector shape colors by double‑clicking shape thumbnails; scale the document freely to massive sizes without quality loss.