GIMP: Photo Portrait Effect
by TheOuterLinux (https://theouterlinux.gitlab.io)
Last updated: 2025/05/27

GIMP 2.10
G'MIC-Qt 3.5.5 for GIMP 2.10

Use the following steps to make a photo or image look like an old
portrait painting but still be photo-like or close to the image as
there are no paint-stroke filters being used.

The average results of this method remind me off portraits found in
older video games or remakes of those games, such as in the "Resident
Evil" series.


GIMP

    1. Open the photo or image

G'MIC

    2. Hard Sketch filter
	
           Amplitude:  4000
           Density:    31.4
           Smoothness: 0
           Opacity:    0.039
           Edge:       0
        
           Fast Approximation: False
        
           Color Model: Color on White
           
           CLICK OK

   
GIMP

    3. Select by Color Tool (SHIFT+O)
    
           Click a white pixel and drag the mouse left or right to adjust
           the threshold, taking care to have the tool select as many white
           (or close) pixels as possible.
        
    4. Use the brush or pencil tool to fill in the selected pixels
       around the main focus of the portrait image. Make sure that the 
       color you choose is close to an average color of the background.
       When in doubt, something close to #243036 or darker seems to be
       good for older portrait paintings.

    
G'MIC

    5. Canvas Texture filter
           
           Amplitude:   20.22
           Fibrousness: 3.7
           Emboss:      0.691
           
           CLICK APPLY
           
    6. Frame [Painting] filter
    
           Size (%):   10
           Contrast:   0.4
           Smoothness: 6
           Color:      #664400
           
           Vignette Size:     2
           Vignette Contrast: 400
           
           Defects Contrast:   11.78
           Defects Density:    100
           Defects Size:       0.23
           Defects Smoothness: 0
           
           Serial Number: 123456
           
           Frame as new layer: True (or False; up to you)
           
           CLICK OK