How to Create an Architectural Drawing From a Photo

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What You’ll Be Creating

Architects are highly skilled professionals who create extraordinary technical drawings of buildings and interior designs. And you can achieve that blueprint look with a Photoshop Sketch . In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to turn a photo into an architectural drawing using an action.


Looking to save ? Browse the massive selection of Photoshop Actions from Envato Elements to transform your photos into architectural landscape sketches instantly. 

For example, here are the Photoshop actions for automatically creating architecture drawings from a photo with easy methods:

What You’ll Learn

  • How to use Photoshop to load sketch actions
  • How to use the Brush tool before playing an action

How to Turn a Photo Into an Architectural Drawing in Photoshop (Easy Method)

You’ll start to convert your building photo to a sketch by opening your image in Photoshop. Here I’ll be using this interior design from Pixabay.

Interior Architecture StockInterior Architecture StockInterior Architecture Stock
Interior Stock via Pixabay.

Then go to Window > Actions and select the Load Actions option to load the pencil sketch Photoshop action you desire.

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any instructions thoroughly before applying the effect. This will ensure that your landscape architecture sketches come out correctly. Create a New Layer and use the Brush Tool (B) to brush over the areas where you would like to concentrate the drawing. Then press Play.

Brush Over the Stock with the Brush ToolBrush Over the Stock with the Brush ToolBrush Over the Stock with the Brush Tool

Depending on how intricate the action is, it may take a few minutes to fully load. When you’re finished making the Photoshop illustration, keep the result as is or continue modifying the effect by playing additional actions.

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Here is the final result of the Photoshop illustration action:

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Converting that building photo to a sketch was easy. You can make all types of architectural landscape sketches the same . Check out the video above to see this lesson at work!

Pencil Sketch Photoshop Actions From Envato Elements

If you want more ways to convert a building photo into an architectural sketch, we’ve got more Photoshop actions for you! Here are just five of the hundreds of Photoshop sketch actions available on Envato Elements.

1. Arquitectura: Architecture Sketch Photoshop Action (ATN, ABR, PAT)

Arquitectura - Architecture Sketch Photoshop ActionArquitectura - Architecture Sketch Photoshop ActionArquitectura - Architecture Sketch Photoshop Action

This action was made specifically to turn your photos into architectural drawings. It can take any photo you have of architecture and create some stunning results. The process is simple and lets you make a Photoshop illustration with little effort on your end.

2. 10 AI Architecture Sketch Photoshop Actions (ATN)

10 AI Architecture Sketch Photoshop Actions10 AI Architecture Sketch Photoshop Actions10 AI Architecture Sketch Photoshop Actions

Here’s another Photoshop illustration action that will turn your photo into an architectural sketch. The range in this download is wide, generating ten effects for you in a single click. It’s a top option if you want a Photoshop sketch action to create landscape architecture sketches.

3. Pencil Sketch Effect Photoshop Action (PSD)

Sketch Effect PhotoshopSketch Effect PhotoshopSketch Effect Photoshop

Making architecture drawings has never been this easy. Just load your photo and apply the effect in Photoshop. It’s a simple way to turn photos into architectural landscape sketches. You can also use this effect with interiors, so you can convert any building photo into an architectural sketch.

4. Digital Pencil Sketch Photoshop Action (ATN, ABR, PAT)

Digital Sketch Photoshop ActionDigital Sketch Photoshop ActionDigital Sketch Photoshop Action

This Photoshop sketch action works for but can also turn your photos into architectural drawings. You’ll get an action, a brush, and a pattern in this download, as well as a link to the video tutorial. All of this means making architecture drawings is easy.

5. Architecture Pencil Sketch Photoshop Action (PSD)

Architecture Sketch - Photoshop ActionArchitecture Sketch - Photoshop ActionArchitecture Sketch - Photoshop Action

If you want to make landscape architecture sketches, you’ll want a Photoshop sketch action like this one at the ready. Its effect is unique, with decorations that add to the aesthetic. There’s no doubt this is one of the best actions for Photoshop if you want to make illustrations like this for architecture.

Explore More Tutorials and Resources

Did you enjoy learning how to make landscape architecture sketches? Well, there’s even more to learn from our Photoshop experts. Check out the following tutorials below: