Learn Photo Editor Tutorials

The Easiest Way to Cartoonize Your Pet Online

By Melanie Doncas | Photo Editor Tutorials

Pet portraits are the perfect way to celebrate your furry friend. But have you ever thought about turning your favorite photo of your pet into a cartoon-inspired masterpiece? We know what you’re thinking though: drawing cartoons takes time, resources, and most of all, advanced drawing skills. Or at least, it used to.

So, how do you turn your pet photo into a cartoon? By using our Cartoonizer™ – the best pet photo to cartoon app! By using our Cartoonizer™ effects, it's easy to transform regular photos of your pet into cartoon-like images with ease and creativity. There’s a wide range of looks to choose from, whether you want a bold comic-inspired look or something softer and more sketch-like.

You can even simplify the process even further with our Smart Templates, which are pre-designed with pet-friendly styles ready to go. These templates offer a simple drag-and-drop experience, making it easy to create an Artsy pet portrait in seconds – no need to start from scratch or fine-tune every detail yourself.

Here’s everything you need to know to get started!

Why Cartoonize Your Pet With BeFunky?

BeFunky makes turning your pet portrait into a cartoon quick, fun, and incredibly easy. With just a few clicks, you can transform any photo of your furry friend into a playful and professional-quality cartoon that’s completely unique. There’s a wide variety of styles to choose from, so you can match your pet’s personality – from dramatic and high-contrast to soft and whimsical.

It’s also a cost-effective way to create a custom pet portrait without the need for professional artists or expensive software. Plus, our Cartoon effects work seamlessly with BeFunky’s other tools, allowing you to further personalize your cartoon by adding vibrant backgrounds, text, or graphics. The result? A standout pet portrait that’s sure to bring a smile to anyone who sees it.

How to Turn a Pet Photo Into a Cartoon

Ready to turn your pet into a cartoon? First, we recommend using a pet photo that’s appropriately sized for printing (such as one with an aspect ratio of 4x6 or 5x7, for example). If you need to, use the Crop and Resize tools first. Then, follow the steps below!

Step 1: Remove and Replace the Background

Head to the Photo Editor and open your pet portrait. Then, locate the Background Remover in the Edit tab.

Using background remover tool to create a cartoon pet portrait

Click Change Background > Color. This will replace the existing background in your pet image with a solid color of your choice.

Changing the background color of a pet portrait

Select one of the existing color swatches or click the first swatch to choose a new shade from the Color Picker.

Adding a solid colored background to a pet portrait

Then, head back to the main menu and click Apply.

Step 2: Cartoonize Your Pet

With your pet photo’s new colored background in place, it’s now time to add a Cartoon effect to your pet.

Click on Artsy in the main menu, then scroll down to locate Cartoon.

Locating the Cartoon effects in the Artsy menu

When you click on an effect, you can view a sample of how it looks on your pet portrait. You can adjust the strength of the cartoon filter using the corresponding slider or apply it as-is by clicking on the checkmark icon.

Previewing a cartoon effect on a pet portrait in BeFunky

If you want your colored background to remain unaffected by the effect, click the left-most icon to open the Settings menu. Switch to the Select tab and underneath “Apply to:” select Foreground. Finally, click Apply.

Adding cartoon effect to pet portrait foreground only

Step 3: Add Your Pet’s Name

Now, it’s time to add your pet’s name to your cartoon portrait. Click Text in the main menu and choose from one of our curated text patches or click Add Text to add a new text box.

Adding text to custom pet portrait cartoon

Double-click the textbox and type your pet’s name (or any other text you want your cartoonized pet to feature). Any time you have a textbox selected, a Text Properties menu will appear on the left. This is where you’re able to change the font, font color, letter spacing, and so much more.

Text properties creating a cartoon pet portrait

Step 4: Save Your Pet Cartoon

Once you’ve finished turning your pet into a cartoon, click the Save button at the top of the page, then select your desired save location and file type. With BeFunky’s handy print integration, you can even print your custom pet cartoon as a poster, canvas, or framed masterpiece in seconds. Just click Print Products > Send to Zazzle, then follow the prompts.

Saving a custom pet portrait cartoon in BeFunky

Final Results: A Pet Portrait Turned Cartoon in Seconds

Wasn’t that easy? In just a few simple steps, you can turn a pet photo into a cartoon online. Think of it as your very own pet photo to cartoon app!

Cartoon pet portrait before and after

Cartoon Pet Portrait Inspiration

Need some more ideas for your own pet portrait? Below, we’ve included three more of our favorite ways to turn your pet into a cartoon-inspired drawing!

Graphic Novel GFX

Graphic Novel GFX is a unique way to transform your pet portraits into bold, comic-inspired artwork. With its high-contrast details and striking illustrated style, this effect gives your pet’s image a fun, storytelling vibe – almost as if they’ve leaped off the pages of a graphic novel! It’s perfect for pet owners who want to add a dramatic and artistic twist to their fur baby’s portraits.

graphic novel applied to cat portrait

Vintage Comic GFX

Vintage Comic GFX is perfect for turning your pet portraits into retro, comic book-style masterpieces. With its halftone textures, bold outlines, and vibrant colors, this effect brings a nostalgic and playful energy to your pet’s image. It’s an ideal choice for pet lovers wanting to make their furry friend the star of their very own classic comic strip!

vintage comic applied to pet portrait

Cartoonizer GFX 2

Cartoonizer GFX 2 applies a modern and polished cartoon style to your pet portraits. This effect transforms your furry friend’s photo into a smooth, vibrant cartoon while maintaining just the right amount of detail. With its bold outlines, rich colors, and sleek finish, Cartoonizer GFX 2 is perfect for anyone who wants a clean and contemporary cartoon look.

cartoonizer gfx2 applied to bunny portrait

Comic Noir GFX

Seen in our Cornelius Smart Template, Comic Noir GFX delivers a moody, cinematic take on pet portraits. With deep shadows and a noir-inspired aesthetic, it’s a great choice if you want something bolder and more stylized.

Comic noir pet portrait made using BeFunky

Ready to Turn Your Pet Photo Into a Cartoon?

Wondering “How can I cartoonize my pet online?” Our Photo Editor is home to so many Artsy effects to choose from, allowing you to create your most realistic pet cartoon portrait yet!

Check out BeFunky’s Cartoonizer™ now to see just how incredible it is!

Turn Your Photo Into a Cartoon


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