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Turn Any Photo Into a Comic With BeFunky

By Sarah Foster | Featured Photo Editor Tutorials

Comics have always been a quintessential part of growing up, sparking our imaginations and providing endless entertainment. Many of us fondly remember the joy of flipping through comic books, eagerly following the adventures of our favorite characters, or grabbing the latest comic strip from the newspaper. These vibrant illustrations and captivating stories hold a special place in our hearts, evoking a deep sense of nostalgia.

comic book plants

Thanks to BeFunky’s innovative Cartoonizer™, you can recapture that nostalgic comic book look and feel with ease. BeFunky’s Cartoonizer™ offers a variety of unique cartoon filters that can transform your ordinary photos into extraordinary comic-style images. Whether you want to create a single comic panel or an entire comic book, BeFunky’s intuitive interface makes it simple and fun. With just a few clicks, you can see your image morph into a vivid, stylized illustration that looks like it has leaped straight off the pages of your favorite comic book.

How to Create Your Comic

Whether you're a seasoned artist or just looking for some creative fun, you'll have your images leaping off the page in no time!

Step 1: Apply a Cartoonizer™ Effect

Start in the Cartoonizer™ section of the Artsy tab, where you can drag and drop your image onto the canvas. 

cartoon effects in artsy

Next, click on the Cartoonizer™ effect that you want to use. For this tutorial, we will be using Cartoonizer™ GFX 1. This effect uses advanced AI technology to automatically apply a cartoon effect to your image, analyzing it to ensure that all details are preserved. Use the slider to adjust the intensity of the effect, customizing your photo to achieve the perfect cartoon look.

comic effect applied to coffee

For further customization of your final results, click on the Settings box. This will open a menu where you can adjust the fidelity, sharpness, and variation of the Cartoonizer™ effect. Whether you prefer a high-fidelity look that closely resembles the original photo or a more abstract variation, the Cartoonizer™ tool uses AI to provide flexibility and control over your artistic output. Once you're satisfied with the effect, be sure to click the Apply button. 

settings menu for comic effect

Step 2: Customize It

Next, here are some targeted edits to make our cartoonized photo look even more like a comic!

Apply a Sunburst Effect

We're going to add a sunburst effect to give your image a vintage-style action comic look. To do this, select the Effects tab on the left-hand side, then choose the Sunburst category. For this tutorial, we'll be using Sunburst 2. You can adjust the intensity of the effect using the slider. You can also fine-tune the effect under the settings box. To make our subjects stand out more, we'll remove the Sunburst effect from them specifically. However, feel free to keep the effect on them if that aligns with your desired outcome. To do this, click on the Settings icon, then select the Select option. Choose the specific areas where you want the effect to be removed. 

sunburst effect in effects tab

Incorporate Speech Bubbles

If you want to make your subject speak, navigate to the Graphics tab and type "speech bubble" in the search box to find the perfect comic book speech bubble for your image.

To add the graphic to your comic, you can double-click or drag and drop it into your canvas and position it where you want it to be. You can make adjustments to your graphics by using the blue dots in the corners of the graphic to make it smaller or larger. You can also use the lines on the sides and the top and bottom to adjust the proportions of the graphic. 

add a speech bubble graphic

To add text to the speech bubbles, go to the Text tab and click on Add Text.

A text box will appear, allowing you to write whatever best fits your comic panel. In this example, we are using the font Comic Sans to achieve an authentic comic book feel, but feel free to choose the font that best fits your aesthetic. Center the text within the box so it fits perfectly within the speech bubble. You can also move the text around to ensure it fits within the bubble and tells your story effectively!

text tab for speech bubble

Add a Classic Border

Adding a border to your image will make it look more like a page from your favorite comic book. First, select the Frames tab and choose the Border effect. For this tutorial, we used white for the outer border and black for the inner border. We set the inner border thickness to 4%, but you can adjust the thickness to suit your comic panel. 

add a border to comic

Step 3: Save Your Comic 

Once you’ve finished perfecting your comic, it’s time to save your work. Click on Save at the top of the canvas, then choose your preferred save location and file type.

save comic book art

Create Comic Art From Any Photo

Transforming your favorite photos into a comic is quick and easy. In just a few minutes, you can see how we layered effects, added graphics, and more to turn a special memory into a fun comic. The final results make your photo look like it was pulled straight from your favorite comic book.

final comic book results

You can achieve this with photos of pets, family, or anything in between! Start transforming your photos into comics with BeFunky’s Cartoonizer ™ and a variety of photo effects. For an added touch, create multi-paneled comics using our Collage Maker

Go From Photo to Art in One Click


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