Which is the best line art generation technique?

[Chris P. Bacon]

I have tried tracing, to find edges, and pencil actions so far.

Is there any other method to isolate all contour lines from the image?

Finding edges comes the closest to line art, but it's not consistent, there will be parts of the image that will be missing.

I need it to create this type of line and wash watercolor:

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I want to create line & wash illustrations out of my photos.

So I have to print the generated line art, then transfer the lines with graphite paper into watercolor paper.

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

Hi @Chris P. Bacon there are number of preset actions you can download to create various sketch results.

This for example was one promoted on Adobe's site:

https://creativecloud.adobe.com/cc/discover/article/turn-photos-into-illustrations-with-a-free-photo...

[Chris P. Bacon]

Thanks.

Meanwhile I realized the best way to do this is to trace over the very low opacity image, digitally, by hand, with a digital ink pen.

Then print that, and trace over it again with graphite paper, then trace again on the watercolor paper with a fine liner pen. So you have 3 stages to get the final line art transfered onto the watercolor paper.

So no need to create digital line art, and you get the hand drawn effect too.