How to Turn any Photo into a Watercolor (no art skills required)!
See how easy it is to turn any photo into a watercolor! Absolutely no art skills are needed and it takes only seconds to completely transform the look of your photographs.
UPDATE: Don’t miss my latest post – How to Turn any Photo into an Oil Painting HERE.
I’m obsessed.
I took watercolor in art class and my works of “art” always turned into a runny mess.
Now I can give Georgia O’Keeffe a run for her watercolor making money.
From this before photo …
to this watercolor art …
How to Turn any Photo into a Watercolor
1) Download the Waterlogue app (it’s only available for iPhone)
2) Go into Waterlogue app and upload a photo from your camera
Note: If your photo isn’t on your phone, you can email a photo to yourself and then take a screenshot by pressing the home and sleep button at the same time. If you take a screenshot, your photo will probably need to be cropped after you create your Waterlogue photo – use a free online editing site like PicMonkey for that.
3) Choose the setting you want (you can experiment to see which effect you love most)
4) Click the heart icon to share or email the photo to yourself where you can print it out on any paper (watercolor paper would be fun)! You can even enlarge it – how fun would a giant poster be?
From this photo …
to this beautiful watercolor …
Let’s paint the town with Waterlogue!
If you like this, you’ll love my latest discovery …
How to Turn any Photo into an Oil Painting here.
What do you think of these quick and easy ways to jazz up your photos? I think it would be fun to create a gallery wall of “painted” family portraits or vacation memories.
Enjoy playing around with the different ways to make your photos really pop!
That’s cool!
DarnI wish I had a IPHONE . I am going to try and research this issue I’ post anything I find out wish me luck
I have an android, isthere an app for watercolor for us?
Try Adobe Paintcan for Android!
I really love this!! How does one print the picture to continue that professional appearance?
You can print it on quality photo paper at home or take it to an office supply store like Staples and ask them to print it.
Looks awesome, Kelly! Do they have an app for Samsung phones pls? TY Elaine
Sorry I don’t know of an app for Samsung. Try googling “watercolor painting apps” and see if you find something that you like!
Wow! Now that’s cool! Thanks for sharing…I have several great shots that are perfect for this app! 🙂
i guess watercolor will probably replace the chalkboard fad now. love this. you should order the print of your house in watercolor.
I love Waterlouge! It’s so addicting!
That looks like fun!
Ok this is just totally awesome!!!!!!! Thank you for telling us of it!
I know I’m ridiculously behind the times but I don’t even have a cell phone! I love this watercolor app but not enough to give in and get one. Wish it was available on a laptop. 🙂
Well ”no art skills required” but you need a lot of teck skills. Too many for me! I thought you just took a picture & turned it into a watercolor! Too bad.
That’s exactly what this app does – turns a photo into a watercolor with the click of a button.
Hello Jane – I have the same problem and found a program called FotoSketcher. You upload a picture and play with varying techniques from watercolour, oils, sketches and stuff in between. Hope this helps.
Thanks for the tip Stephanie!
LOve that app
That is so cool! I can’t wait to see what I can do with it. Thanks for sharing!
This is beautiful! Do you know if you can do this without a cell phone – maybe on a home computer? I don’t own a cell.
Hi Jen – this app is only available on the iPhone or iPad – maybe they will make it available for other devices soon.
Kelly
Would that include an ipod then?
Yes – you can downlown Waterlogue on your ipod!
Yes. Photoshop does this and has nearly a hundred filters to use. I’ve been teaching both digital and traditional fine and commercial art for 30 years. And it’s amazing the tools available now. Check out fractal painter too it’s got a quick anamation option. The filters in photoshop can also be combined for very interesting textures. I taught a 100 step channel procedure to create pewter. That was way back Photoshop 2.0. And then when layers were introduced so so much more to create images etc. Good Luck
To bad it’s only available for I phone. Looks like a great way to learn more ways to paint.
Wow Kelly!
I love this app!! I’m going to have so much fun with it
Thank you
This is such a great share! I can’t wait to try it out! Thanks
Kelly, thanks for the info, I pinned this. It is amazing how cool this looks. Pat
Love it! I don’t have an i phone so I will need to try the Paint.net or wait until this is available on computers. Thank you so much.
MK I don’t have an I Phone either. I sure hope they have it soon for pcs. It is so pretty. We can wait it out together.
Thanks! cant wait to play watercolor!
You can do this also in Corel Draw if you don’t have an iphone. Another use is to print it out on transfer paper and heat press on a shirt or a house on a pillow would be cool.
how do you do it?I have illustrator, is it also possibile?
How fun! Thanks for sharing. Kari
Waterlogued will also take photos from dropbox, so you can load pictures from your computer to your dropbox. Then you can save the pictures on your phone via dropbox so you can upload them to a photo printing website (kinda long process, but gets real pics to prints!)
Thank you so much for passing this on. I see a custom header in my future with this possibly… Take care – Dawn @ We Call It Junkin.com
History & Home link party, Tue-Fri, weekly, join us!
Loving this app……thanks for sharing!!
Perhaps someone has already said as much, but the watercolor effect can be done in any photo altering software, PS for instance. It’s a fun effect to use once in a while.
Since Facebook is notorious for not letting page owners know when I tag them, I thought I would stop by myself and let you know I featured this post and my readers loved it! https://www.facebook.com/CraftsbyAmanda/photos/a.353593675216.349539.323548680216/10153917291150217/?type=1&stream_ref=10
I downloaded this app about a week ago and I cannot wait to print some of the watercolors I “created” and frame and hang up on the wall! Each photo turned out so unique! Love this app!
Love this idea. Featured you on my blog today!
sooooooooooooooo disappointed, I don’t have an iphone, and I can’t download this to my computer? I’d do that in a heartbeat if I could. I don’t have a Mac, either, just an old XP
boohoooooooooooooooooo
Thanx for the inspiration; I just downloaded it!
My printer won’t let me print on the watercolor paper – I’m guessing because it’s so thick? Anyone else have this problem? I called kinkos to see if they could print it for me and they said no. I’m stuck!
I don’t think regular printers will work with the thick watercolor paper – you may need to google printers for this purpose – or try to find an online source that can print on the thick paper. Good luck Mandy!
I can’t use this app, either, but could textured cardstock work in your printers? It seens to me that watercolor paper comes in various thicknesses. Check out watercolor tablets or better quality artist papers.
Great idea – and since heavier card stock works in printers – watercolor paper might too
Oh I love this ~ thank you! I’ve been playing around with it on my iPad and love the results. Can’t wait to print a few out. Such a great way to use travel photos as art in different spots!
I didn’t even know how much I needed this. Thank you. I’m actually moved to pay for an app and what a deal!
FYI The pictures look really good on regular computer paper. Can always make a copy on a heavier paper;
Also, there are very similar APPS for smart phones other than Apple products. Search Photo in the app store. This is my favorite but I have both apple (ipad) and another brand smart phone.
I am a watercolour artist and have to say, this is a great app. My style is slightly different that the choices but the look is very effective. Thanks for sharing. I might never have come across this.
I have been able to print directly from my iphone to a wireless printer. I am still working on higher quality paper. I have some heavy “resume” linen stock paper and I’m going to give that one a try. Really fun app with excellent personal product. I like my pets and kids in watercolour.
Your watercolors are beautiful! I love this app. After my parents passed away we sold the home they had lived in for over 45 years. I took some pictures and used this app to make some really pretty watercolors for my siblings and all the grandchildren.
What a great idea Kim – and I’m sorry for your loss.
Hello , i downloaded the app the price is$3.99 ( not $2.99)
I wrote this post awhile ago – looks like the price increased – enjoy the app!
Love it!
Technology is replacing everything in our lives that’s real and has worth. I’m an artist , and I believe in the”real” thing.
Lucky you to have such artistic abilities – this is perfect for those that don’t! Happy day
THANK YOU!!! I’ve seen this done before but had no idea what the app was!
Wow, that’s super cool. I’m going to try it, also great gifts.
Yes, a framed photo would be the perfect gift!
Oh..please make this available to Androids as well !!
Cannot wait to use this app! Kate
Will this be available for droid phones any time soon?
I don’t know Yvonne
What if I don’t have anything iPhone
Well, this is a disappointment! I actually paint watercolor, but not the best. No Iphone, etc. Looks like cheating to me!
There is nothing like an original painting but this is a great option for people who don’t have that skill.
I do watercolors as well. It’s great on some pictures but not all. I like it.
I saw waterlogue a year or so ago.
It’s way cool!! Too bad they don’t make the app for my Note 8.
That stinks – it’s such a fun app!
Es curioso que sólo pueda disfrutarse con un IPhone. A los que no tenemos esas “máquinas”…que nos den “morcillas”!!! Gracias!!
That doesn’t mean there aren’t downsides, though.
I think you have a really good viewpoint however and I like the angl you came
from oon this.
Is this app still available? Is there a way this technique can be used with a digital camera and a laptop? I don’t have an I Phone, just a simple flip phone. Your help would be greatly appreciated. I do original water colors but the ability to turn personal photos into WC look-a-likes would be handy.
Not that I know of Jill.
Why dont you have a watercolor app for Android phones?
I wish they made one!
I bought this and it’s fun! Some come out amazing, others not so great. I am pleased.
Agree!
Omg I love this app! Thanks for sharing. Now if I could figure out how to print them on cards, it would be the best!
Glad you like it! Download the pics and then use a service like Shutterfly to print them on cards!
As a watercolor artist who has spent a lifetime learning my craft seeing the photos you changed on Waterlogue depresses me. I love the results but hate the means.
What do advise me?
Nothing can replace an original piece of art!
Thanks, this is awesome
My pleasure Merrilyn! Enjoy the app!
Thank you for sharing this…love this app!
Enjoy it!
Wah! I have an android phone… I wonder if there’s something similar?
I am not sure Chelsea
Waterlogue is now available for Mac iOS, and iPad. Go to your Apple App Store to learn more.
Thanks for the info!
Had heard this watercolor app was no longer available. Is there anything similar that can be done on a laptop? I do watercolors but this is such a neat look and would be great thing to do for a quick project or multiples from one’s own photos. If you have any info would love to hear.
Sorry Jill but I don’t know
Hi, Can you print it on printer paper then try to paint it on watercolor paper free hand or using a grid?
No idea Janet – this is an app that actually changes your photo into a watercolor so you don’t have to paint it
Can’t wait to try the watercolor app.. wish me luck. Thanks for sharing
Good Luck Kelley!
You didn’t mention it costs I believe $4.99
The price went up! I think it was $1.99 when I wrote this post.
Love this app. Made several birthday and xmas presents using it. So creative.
It’s the best Margaret!
Are there people that I can pay to do this for me
So, the only way to learn is if you have an iphone for this specific app?
Lois Glenn
Im disappointed that this process can only be done with an iphone.
Wow! Gonna give it a try! Thanks!