Scraperboard / Etching effect – trying something different: #5from7photo

I occasionally come up with an idea that I wish to apply to my photos. The inspiration for this effect came from some ‘sketches’ in a book I was reading: Gavin Pretor Pinney ‘The Cloudspotter’s Guide’. The illustrator was Bill Sanderson and you can see some of the illustrations here: https://www.billsandersonart.com/CloudSpottersGuide.php

To do this (and I haven’t seen this effect in Photoshop) I wrote my own image manipulation program. Here are a few examples of the effect:

Scraperboard effect in monochrome for Powis Castle Gardens
Colour scraperboard effect for Powis Castle Gardens

Below is a side-by-side slider to compare both images with each other


Mono Effect
Colour effect

This next set includes a blend with the original image:

Monochrome scraperboard effect showing Biddulph Grange Gardens
Colour scraperboard effect showing Biddulph Grange Gardens
This version is the monochrome scraperboard effect blended with the original image

Below are 2 comparison pairs using the above 3 images:


Mono Effect
Colour effect

Mono Effect
Blended effect

Even though I developed the tool I am still learning how to use it for the best effect.

Author: Paul L.G. Morris

I am an amateur photographer whose photography is mostly of gardens, nature and the rural environment. My specialities are close-ups, panoramic views, or a combination of both that I call 'Nearscapes'. I work mostly for my own interest having closed my business PM Studios Ltd.