How to Draw on Photos and Add Illustrations to Your Images
Sometimes all it takes is a few hand-drawn details or graphic elements to transform an ordinary photo into something completely unique. Squiggly lines can create movement and energy, while graphic elements can help reinforce a theme, highlight a subject, or add visual storytelling.
This mixed media approach has become increasingly popular across social media, marketing materials, moodboards, and personal creative projects. By combining photography with illustrations, you can create images that feel more expressive, artistic, and memorable than a standalone photo.
Whether you want to draw on photos by hand or add professionally designed illustrations, BeFunky's Photo Editor makes it easy. With tools like Paint Brush and an extensive Graphics library, you can create custom artwork directly on top of your images in just a few clicks.
In this tutorial, we'll show you two simple ways to add drawings to photos and achieve your own creative mixed media look.
Method 1: Draw on Photos With the Paint Brush Tool
If you want complete creative freedom, the Paint Brush tool makes it easy to draw directly onto your images. Add freehand illustrations, handwritten notes, doodles, outlines, or any other artistic details to bring your vision to life.
Step 1: Open Your Photo
Start by opening your photo in the Photo Editor. Then, navigate to the Touch Up tab and select Paint Brush. This will open the Paint Brush settings panel, where you can customize the look of your brush strokes before you begin drawing.
Step 2: Draw Directly on Your Photo
Choose your preferred paint color by selecting the color swatch. You can choose a color from the Color Picker, enter a HEX code, or use the Eyedropper to sample colors directly from your image.
You can also adjust settings such as:
- Brush Size for thicker or thinner lines
- Brush Hardness for softer or sharper edges
- Opacity for a more transparent effect
- Strength for greater color intensity
Use your cursor to draw on your image. Try outlining your subject, adding decorative elements like stars or arrows, creating handwritten captions, or incorporating playful doodles around key focal points. Because you're drawing freehand, every design becomes completely unique!
When you're happy with your mixed media photo, click Apply. Then, save your image in your desired format and location.
Final Results: Floral Illustrations for Added Flair
Using the Paint Brush tool, your photo drawings can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like! Don’t be afraid to layer different colors and opacity to build even greater interest within your design.
Method 2: Add Illustrations to Photos With Graphics
If you don't feel confident drawing freehand or simply prefer a more polished look, our Graphics library offers thousands of ready-made illustrations that can be added to any photo.
This method is perfect for creating professional-looking designs quickly while still achieving a creative mixed media aesthetic.
Step 1: Select and Add Illustrations to Your Photo
Open your image in the Photo Editor, then select the Graphics tab from the main menu.
Click Search Graphics to browse our collection of illustrations. You can explore curated categories, browse popular tags, or search for specific elements that fit your project.
Whether you're looking for hand-drawn accents, abstract shapes, floral illustrations, speech bubbles, arrows, or decorative icons, you'll find plenty of options to choose from.
Alternatively, you can upload graphics from your own files by clicking Computer.
Once you've selected your graphics, drag and drop them onto your photo.
You can resize, rotate, and reposition each graphic to create the exact look you're after. Layering multiple elements together can also help create more complex illustrated photo effects.
Want to layer your graphics behind your subject, as we’ve done here? Our handy Detach Subject tool will help you do that!
Step 2: Customize the Illustrations' Colors and Effects
You also have the option to customize your graphic elements' appearance using the Graphic Properties toolbar.
You can adjust options such as:
- Color overlay
- Tint
- Opacity
- Blending and layering effects
One of the easiest ways to create a cohesive design is by using the Eyedropper tool to sample colors directly from your image. This allows your illustrations to match the existing color palette and feel like a natural extension of the photo.
Once you've finished adding doodles, lines, shapes, or other artistic elements to your photo, it's time to save your work.
Final Results: Line Elements That Add Movement
All it took was a few minutes to add these ready-made illustrations to our photo. Not only do they add intrigue to this image, but the lines and their arrangement also add a sense of rhythm and movement – which is perfect for this dancing duo.
Create Your Own Illustrated Photo Effects With BeFunky
Whether you're sketching freehand with the Paint Brush or enhancing your images with ready-made graphics, BeFunky gives you everything you need to create custom illustrated photo effects in minutes.
From playful photo doodles and creative annotations to fully realized mixed media artwork, drawing on photos is one of the easiest ways to transform everyday images into something more expressive and engaging. Open the Photo Editor and start experimenting with illustrations to discover just how creative your photos can become.
