How to Make a Cartoon Pet Portrait Using DesignScape and Pixascape

In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to make a cartoon pet portrait using DesignScape and Pixascape. After you’ve created and exported the image, you can get it printed to hang in your house. They also make for great gifts!

DesignScape is a great alternative to Illustrator/Photoshop for Gold Plus Members, while Pixascape is photo editing software available to Silver and Gold Plus Members. Both DesignScape and Pixascape are browser-based, and you can even use Pixascape on your phone! Are you interested but not a Plus Member yet? Sign up for a free 30-day trial of the Gold Plus Membership today!

For this tutorial, we’ll be using our very own pet photo. If you don’t have any pictures of pets, we have a wide selection of awesome animal photos for you to choose from.

Pixascape

Before starting the actual tutorial, upload a picture of your pet to Pixascape.

Step 1 - Apply a Cartoon Effect

We will apply a cartoon effect to the photo to give your pet even more personality. Click on the Effects icon on the left that looks like a wand, and select Cartoonizer from the list.

Pick a cartoon effect from the list that you like. FX015, FX004, or FX001 are some good options. Adjust the basic and advanced settings, then click Apply when you’re happy with how your pet looks.

Step 2 - Save Image

We’ll now save the image so we can use it in DesigsScape. Click Save at the top and pick your save location.

Enter a Filename and select the PNG tab. Make sure the Quality is set to 100, and click the blue Save button.

Now we will open DesignScape to finish the cartoon pet portrait.

DesignScape

When starting a new project, enter 300 for the DPI. If you know the size you want your finished product to be, you can enter the dimensions or pick a preset from the options below.

Step 1 - Open Image Using the Open & Place Function

Click on File > Open & Place, then locate and open the image you saved earlier.

Step 2 - Edit Image

Scale Image

Without deselecting the image, click + drag the bottom right corner handle while holding Shift to scale the image. Then click + drag the image to re-center your pet.

Mirror Image if Needed

If for any reason, you would prefer for your pet to be facing the other direction, you can simply mirror the image. Select the image layer, go to Edit > Transform, and click Flip Horizontally.

Step 3 - Zoom In on Image

We’ll want to zoom in a bit for the next step. Click on the Zoom Tool (Z) near the bottom of the left toolbar. Make sure the zoom-in option is selected in the top toolbar. It’s the circle with the plus sign. Then click on the image to zoom in.

Note: the magnifying glass in the top menu is not the Zoom Tool.

You can use the Hand Tool (H), found above the Zoom Tool, to move the image if needed. The Hand Tool will move the whole project, not the image layer itself.

Step 4 - Create a Selection of Your Pet

Make the Selection Using the Magnetic Lasso Select Tool

We want to get rid of the background, so we’ll first make a selection of our pet. Right-click on the Lasso Select tool in the left toolbar and select Magnetic Lasso Select (L).

Click on the image where you want to start the selection. You’ll see that as you move your cursor along the edge of your pet, the path will snap to the edge, and it’ll sometimes automatically add control points. Make your way around your pet, and don’t worry if it’s not perfect. We’ll clean it up later.

In areas where there may be a sharp corner or the colors of your pet blend in with the background, you can manually click to add control points to guide the path.

It may be a little hard to see, but as shown below, the path wants to go around the little leaf piece that’s sticking out from behind our pet. To counter this, we will manually add control points.

If you make a mistake or the tool automatically places a control point where you don’t want one, simply press Delete to remove the last control point. Delete as many control points as you need.

Once you’ve made your way around your pet, click the starting control point or press Enter to close the selection. At this point, you should see a dashed line around your pet.

Click the Add Raster Mask button at the bottom of the Layers panel.

Your original image now has a raster mask attached to it, as seen in the Layers panel.

Clean Up and Soften the Edges Using the Brush Tool

Now, we will clean up the edges of the raster mask using the Brush Tool. At the same time, we'll use the Brush Tool to soften the edges. Zoom in as much as you need.

Lower Mask Density

We’ll lower the density of the mask so we can see what areas we need to add back or remove.

Double-click on the mask thumbnail to open the Properties panel. Click on Mask and lower the Density until you can slightly see the original image.

Select the Brush Tool

With the mask thumbnail selected, click the Brush Tool (B) from the left toolbar. Change the brush Size to fit whatever area you’re working on and lower the Hardness for a soft brush.

Brush Over the Edges

Click the mini Default Colors icon at the top right of the Foreground and Background color icons. This will reset the Foreground and Background colors back to default, which is white and black.

Using white as the Foreground color, the areas you paint will be visible/added back, while using black as the Foreground color, the areas you paint will be removed. Press X to quickly switch back and forth between white and black. This is an easy task, but it may take a little bit of time.

Watch below to better understand what using white or black as the Foreground color will do.

Step 5 - Change Background Color

Pet portraits look great on a white background, but the background can be any color you want.

Unlock Background Layer

Click the padlock icon on the Background layer to unlock it.

Change Background Color Using the Paint Bucket Tool

Make sure the Background layer is selected. If you don't see the Paint Bucket Tool, right-click on the Gradient Tool in the left toolbar, and select the Paint Bucket Tool (G).

Click the Foreground color icon and pick the color you want the background to be. Then simply click on the canvas to fill the Background layer with the new color.

We chose to go with black for our background. After changing the background color, you may need to go back in with the Brush Tool again. If you do, remember to click the mask thumbnail first.

Step 6 - Save and Export

Save Project

You can save your project and continue working on it later. Click File > Save as PSD, go to your save location, enter a filename, and click Save.

Export Image

To export your image, go to File > Export as, and pick whatever file type you want your final image to be. Change any settings if needed and click Save. Your pet portrait will be downloaded onto your computer with the same name as the project.

You have finished creating a cartoon pet portrait using both Pixascape and DesignScape! Not only can you hang it in your house, but you can also hide the Background layer, save the image as a transparent PNG, and create a sublimation design that you can apply to shirts, bags, mugs, and many more!