Handy Guide: How to Sketch a Face from a Photo in 2025？
Want to sketch a face from a photo but worried you lack drawing skills?
In 2025, even with zero experience, you can easily learn how to create realistic portrait sketches. Today, our guide introduces three latest tools and takes you step by step through the process of turning a photo into a vivid hand-drawn artwork, no professional training needed. Start your artistic journey today!
Is it possible to sketch a face from a photo without any drawing skills?
For an artist, sketching a face from a photo may be effortless, but for beginners with no drawing skills, how can they sketch a face from a photo? Is it even possible?
The answer is definitely yes. In fact, with the help of AI, even without any drawing experience, you can easily create a face sketch from a photo. What's more, AI allows you to draw anything you like from a photo with ease.
Sketch a Female Face from a Photo
Sketch a Male from a Photo
Sketch a Kid from a Photo
How to Sketch a Face from a Photo in 2025 – Three Free Online Tools
Live3D – Free Image to Sketch Converter
Live3D is a professional platform for VTubers, but it also offers a standout AI tool: the Photo to Sketch Converter. This free tool lets you sketch a face from a photo with ease, making it a fun and creative way to express yourself.
How to Sketch a Face from a Photo on Live3D ？
- Step 1: Click on "FREE AI TOOLs" in Live3D, then select "Photo to Sketch."
- Step 2: Upload your photo.
- Step 3: Click on "Generate" to get your no watermark result.
Pros & Cons of Live3D
Pros:
- Fast conversion speed: Within seconds, you can effortlessly sketch a face from a photo.
- 100% free: You can freely sketch a face from a photo at no cost.
- No sign up: No registration or Steam download is required—you can sketch a face from a photo directly online.
- No watermark: Live3D's Image to Sketch Converter lets you download the result in high quality, completely free of watermarks.
Cons:
- Inaccurate recognition: Sometimes, the tool doesn't capture certain details like wrinkles in clothing very well.
PixNova AI – Free Photo to Sketch Converter
PixNova AI is an all-in-one AI platform offering a range of fun and useful tools, including AI photo tools like AI Photo to Sketch and fun tools like AI Face Cut Out, all focused on photo editing and generation. If you want to get a sketch of the entire image, you can directly use PixNova AI's AI Photo to Sketch. If you only want to sketch a face, you can first use the AI Face Cut Out tool to crop the image, then use AI Photo to Sketch to convert it.
How to Sketch a Face from a Photo on PixNova AI ？
Sketch the Entire Image:
- Step1: Click on PixNova AI's "AI FUN TOOLS" and select the AI Photo to Sketch option.
- Step2: Upload the image you want to sketch, making sure it's high-resolution to avoid blurriness.
- Step3: Click on "Generate" and wait patiently for a few seconds.
Sketch Only a Face:
Step1: Click on PixNova AI's "AI PHOTO TOOLS" and select the AI Face Cut Out
Step2: Download the cropped face, then click on AI Photo to Sketch
Step3: Upload your cropped face and click "Generate"
Pros & Cons of PixNova AI
Pros
- Completely free: All the tools on PixNova AI, including sketching a face from a photo, are completely free. Even advanced features like video face swap are entirely free to use.
- No sign up: PixNova AI requires no login, allowing you to complete one-click conversions online. Plus, your images will be completely deleted after two days, ensuring convenience and peace of mind.
- No watermark: You can download the sketch result for free without a watermark.
- Accurate recognition: PixNova AI is highly accurate in recognizing image details, effortlessly identifying and replicating even the text on a wall, perfectly restoring your photo.
Cons
- Limited usage: The free usage is limited to 100 times per day, but this is sufficient for most users' needs.
ColorifyAI – Turn Your Photo into Sketch Online
ColorifyAI is an educational platform primarily focused on generating coloring pages for children. However, it also excels at sketching a face from a photo. Plus, you can color the sketches you create, adding an extra layer of fun to the experience.
How to Sketch a Face from a Photo on ColorifyAI？
- Click "PHOTO TO COLORING PAGES"
- Upload your photo and click "Generate"
Pros & Cons of ColorifyAI
Pros
- All-in-one features: It not only supports sketching a face from a photo, but also offers automatic and manual coloring options. You can even transform your sketch into a trending Ghibli-style artwork.
- Easy to use: All you need to do is upload your image, and ColorifyAI will take care of the rest automatically. It's extremely beginner-friendly.
- 100% free and no limits: Sketching a face from a photo with ColorifyAI is entirely free and comes with no usage limits, making it perfect for unlimited creativity.
- No sign up: No account registration is needed, simply upload your image and convert it with one click. You can also jump straight to coloring your sketch with a single tap
Cons
- Simplified linework: Tailored for children’s coloring activities, the sketch lines are bold and less intricate — perfect for fun, though less realistic than traditional sketches.
A Comparison of Three Tools for Sketching a Face from a Photo
| Live3D | PixNova AI | ColorifyAI | |
| Free | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| No sign up | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| No watermark | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Waiting time | 3s | 3s | 5s |
Result 
|
 |
 |
 |
Most Sketch-Like Tool: PixNova AI
Its results beautifully capture the natural feel of pencil drawing.
Most Detail-Oriented Tool: ColorifyAI
It renders hair strands with impressive precision and handles light and shadow beautifully for a more realistic sketch.
Final Thoughts
Now you can easily sketch a face from a photo using Live3D, PixNova AI, or ColorifyAI. Based on our tests, PixNova AI's Photo to Sketch Converter performed exceptionally well, but try them all and choose your favorite based on your personal preference and needs. Just start creating your perfect sketch today!
