With so many film adaptations of comic book characters hitting the big screen, comic book styles and cartoons have never been more fashionable.
Turn your photographs into cool comic book creations and more, with these Photoshop comic book effects and resources from Envato Elements, where you can get unlimited resources for a monthly subscription.
1. Retro Comic Book Photoshop Action Kit (ATN, PAT, PSD)
Looking to achieve a realistic Photoshop comic book effect? The retro comic book Photoshop action kit is for you! This is a really cool pack for turning images into realistic, retro hand-drawn comic pages. Here’s what it includes:
- 15 vector speech bubbles
- 15 vector comic elements
- 12 vector comic sound effects
- 5 comic book frame templates
- 2 premium comic book mockup templates
- 10 overall color presets
2. Halftone Photoshop Actions (ATN)
Halftone is the method of simulating a continuous tone through dots. You can mimic this look with Halftone Photoshop Actions, which includes four variations and a further ten duotone options. Make cool Photoshop comic art with these actions!
3. Vintage Photoshop Comic Art Creator (ASL, PAT, PSD)
With an extensive selection of layer styles, patterns, and overlays, the Vintage Photoshop Comic Art Creator is perfect for making authentic-looking comic book designs. Just add text and images to the overlay PSD and then apply styles in one click!
4. Cartoon Melted Drips Action (ATN)
Create a cool, vibrant melted look with this trippy Photoshop cartoon effect action. There’s a link to a detailed video tutorial in the download in case you get stuck. For a more pop-inspired alternative, also try Splash FX Graphic Action.
5. Painting & Comic Effect Photoshop Actions (ATN)
12 professional Painting & Comic Effect Photoshop Actions await you with this download, perfect for both photographers and graphic designers. If you’re looking for a comic book filter Photoshop add-on, check this one out!
6. Mafia Painting Art Photoshop Cartoon Effect (ABR, ATN, PNG)
Cartoon styles inspired by popular games like Grand Theft Auto are fun and highly desirable. You can achieve that cartoon effect in Photoshop quickly and easily with the Mafia Painting Photoshop cartoon effect download, which includes patterns, actions, and overlays.
7. Comic Oil Paint Photoshop Actions (ATN)
Comic Oil Paint Photoshop Actions are a collection of ten different comic book filter Photoshop add-ons to transform your photographs into something fun and funky. The cartoon filter Photoshop actions work non-destructively, so they won’t affect your original image layer.
8. Rocking Retro PS Text Effects (PSD)
These three text effects have shades of retro TV and games, reminiscent of Miami Vice, Stranger Things, and Tron! Prepare to be transported back to the 80s with this cool Photoshop effect. Making a poster? Try the 80s Retro Poster Photoshop Action too.
9. Comic Book Custom Shapes (EPS, CSH)
Custom shapes are a quick and easy way to add elements to your designs, and Comic Book Custom Shapes can be scaled and coloured without any loss of quality, so you’ll get a great comic and cartoon effect in Photoshop.
10. 21 Pixel Art Photoshop Actions (ATN)
Pixel art is so much fun, but it can take a long time to create from scratch. That’s where this cartoon filter Photoshop action comes in. 21 Pixel Art Actions turns your photographs into retro pixel art in just a few clicks. There are 21 colour palettes and 11 pixel sizes to choose from.
5 Tips to Make the Best Photoshop Comic Art
Next up, we’ll share some tips about comic book art to make the best of these comic book filter Photoshop add-ons!
1. Start With the Basics of Comic Art
If you’ve ever felt drawn to comic books and you’d like to learn about comic book art, it’s a good idea to start from the beginning. The Photoshop comic book effects we just shared will help you to quickly make digital illustrations. But comic book art actually has three pillars: human anatomy, perspective, and visual storytelling, says comic book artist and instructor Phillip Sevy.
If you’d like to start with human anatomy drawing, we’ve got some amazing drawing tutorials you can check out:
Human AnatomyHuman Anatomy Fundamentals: Basic Body Proportions- DrawingHow to Draw People
- ComicsCartoon Fundamentals: How to Draw a Cartoon Face Correctly
2. Storytelling Is Key
“What makes one comic artist stand out over another is the ability to communicate a story easily,” explains Andy Schmidt, former Marvel Comics editor.
So you’ve got to learn to tell a story. Even if it’s just for fun, try to convey a message with your images. Here are some cool tutorials you can read on storytelling and storyboards:
- ComicsCreate a Comic: How to Plan and Lay Out Your Comic
- StoryboardingHow to Storyboard: A Basic Guide for Aspiring Artists
- Drawing TheoryArt Therapy: How to Draw a Stick-Figure Comic
3. Practice Your Photoshop Skills
This tip is about honing your Photoshop skills. When you’re ready to take your comic book designs to the digital world, comic effect Photoshop add-ons aren’t the only resources you’ll need. If you’re a beginner Photoshop user, we’ve got a fantastic free video course you can watch, and don’t forget to explore the Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel for even more tutorials!
4. The Best Images Make the Best Photoshop Comic Art
To make the best comic and cartoon effects in Photoshop, you need to use good images as a starting point. Choose pictures that show emotion or drama—a pretty landscape probably won’t convert to a cartoon very effectively.
Need a source of stock images as inspiration or as a base? Check out the Envato Elements photo library to find thousands of emotional images.
5. And Finally: Have Fun!
Don’t approach comic book design as a task, or it will lose all the enjoyment! Have fun with it, and try mixing and matching some of these comic effect Photoshop resources to create something really different. You’re the artist, so try out all of these tips, resources, and tutorials to come up with the best Photoshop comic art!
More Great Comic Resources
You’ve seen some of the best Photoshop cartoon effects and Photoshop comic book effects from Envato Elements. You’ve also got some tips for making Photoshop comic art yourself. Hungry for more? Envato Tuts+ has many amazing comic tutorials you can check out:
50+ Insane Comic-Book Style Photoshop Effects and Cartoon Filters
How to Turn a Photo Into Comic Book Art in Adobe Photoshop
30 Best Cartoon Photo Effects & Comic Text Photoshop Actions
How to Create Inking and Comic Brushes for Procreate
How to Create Speech Bubbles in Photoshop
How to Make a Comic Book Cover
How to Create Halftone Effects in Adobe Illustrator
How to Add Retro Comic Book Effect Styles in Photoshop Fast
How to Create a Cool 3D Comic Text Effect in Photoshop
How to Create a Photo to Cartoon Effect in Photoshop
Editorial Note: This post has been updated with contributions from Maria Villanueva. Maria is the Associate Editor of the Tuts+ Design channel.
