If you've ever wondered how you'd look as a comic book character, GIMP offers you the tools to find the answer. While it may take a bit longer than using an online tool, the results will be worth your time.

Here, we'll show you how to use GIMP to get a cartoon effect on your photos.

Use the Cartoon Filter

GIMP comes with a built-in Cartoon filter, and using it is the easiest and fastest method to cartoonify your photos.

Here is how you can use GIMP's cartoon effect:

  1. Open the Filters menu, and then head to Artistic > Cartoon.
  2. Use the Cartoon window to set the Mask radius and Percent black values.
  3. Check the Preview box, and adjust the values until you're satisfied.
  4. Check the Split view box to compare the original image with the edited one.
  5. Once you are happy with the image's appearance, click OK.
    Cartoon filter settings in GIMP

If you want to enhance the filter's effect, readjust the Mask radius and Percent black values or open the Filters menu and select Repeat Cartoon.

Here's a look at what our image looked like before using the Cartoon filter (left), and after (right).

Cartoon filter before and after

Related: Funny Photoshop Ideas You May Not Have Thought Of

Use the Threshold Tool

While this method is a bit more complicated, using the Threshold tool gives you more control over the final outcome. Follow these steps to get started:

  1. Duplicate the layer you want to edit. To do this, right-click the layer and select the Duplicate Layer option. Alternatively, use the Shift + Ctrl + D (Shift + Cmd + D on Mac) keyboard shortcut.
  2. Open the Colors menu and click Threshold.
  3. In the Threshold window, set Channel to Value and use the sliders to set the threshold level. You can use the default settings for the right indicator, and only adjust the left indicator for better results.
    Threshold tool settings in GIMP
  4. Click OK when finished.

Now, highlight the colors of the original image by changing the active layer’s mode. To select a new mode, head to Mode and open the dropdown menu. HSV Value is a great mode for achieving a cartoon effect. However, you can experiment with other modes such as Overlay, Soft Light, or Burn.

Here's how our image turned out.

Threshold GIMP example

Use the Edge-Detect Tool

This method isn’t complicated but works better for images of objects or landscapes. We've tried it for portraits and didn’t get the best results.

  1. Right-click the layer and select Duplicate.
  2. Open the Filters menu, then click Edge-Detect > Edge.
  3. In the Edge Detection window, set Algorithm to Sobel, Amount to 2, and Border Behavior to Black.
  4. Click OK.
    Edge Detect settings in GIMP

Your image should be now composed of dark tones. To finish the editing process, click Colors > Invert. Then, change the layer mode. Modes that are a good fit are Vivid Light, Burn, Overlay, or Darken Only. However, you can experiment using other layer modes until you find one that gives you the desired effect.

Below, you'll see our unedited picture (left), and the edited photo (right).

Edge-detect sunflowers

Related: The Best GIMP Plugins and How to Install Them

Use the Value Propagate Filter

To get a cartoon effect, you can also try applying the Value Propagate filter. Here's how to do this:

  1. Duplicate the layer.
  2. Set the layer mode to Dodge.
  3. Select the duplicated layer, then invert its colors by clicking Colors > Invert.
  4. Apply the Value Propagate filter. To do this, open the Filters menu, and then click Distort > Value Propagate.
  5. In the Value Propagate window, extend the Mode dropdown menu, and select More black (smaller value).
    Value propagate settings in GIMP
  6. Check the preview and click OK when you are done.

Here's a look at the before and after versions of the image.

Propagate filter GIMP

If you'd like to take this a step further, you can also use the Desaturate tool on both layers to make your photo look like a sketch drawn in black and white. To do this, follow the steps we've outlined above, and then continue with these steps:

  1. Head to Colors, then select Desaturate > Desaturate.
  2. In the Desaturate popup window, you can leave the default settings, or you can experiment with Lightness or Luminosity.
  3. Next, click OK and save your work.

Your final result should look something like the rightmost image below.

Sketch effect GIMP

Achieve a Cartoon Effect With GIMP

You can try cartoonifying your photo at any time since GIMP is user-friendly and free to download. After a little editing, you can easily turn your image into a picture that looks like it came out of a comic book.