Banknote-style line engraving from a photo
The portrait on a banknote isn't shaded — it's drawn with lines whose weight thickens in shadow and thins to nothing in the light. This tool recreates that: horizontal contour lines whose thickness tracks your photo's tones, so the face is sculpted by the lines rather than smudged over with them.
It blurs the source for clean tone, thickens each line where the image darkens, and adds cross-hatching only in the shadows for depth. Control line spacing, weight, contour depth and contrast.
Working the controls
- Upload a clear portrait with readable light and shadow.
- Set line spacing for how dense the engraving is.
- Use Line weight and Contrast to control how strongly the lines sculpt the form.
- Add Cross hatch for shadow depth, then export.
Put it to work
- premium packaging and label portraits
- editorial and spot illustration
- certificate, ticket and stamp aesthetics
- luxury brand and bottle art
FAQ
The lines look abstract and I can't see the face.
Use a higher-contrast portrait and push the Contrast slider up. The effect needs clear light/shadow separation; an evenly-lit or low-contrast photo gives wavy noise instead of structure.
How dense should the lines be?
Tighter spacing captures more detail but can get busy; looser spacing reads bolder and more graphic. Match it to the size you'll display at.
What does cross-hatch do here?
It lays diagonal lines only in the darkest areas, the way an engraver deepens a shadow — so it adds depth without muddying the lit parts of the face.
Related tools
Pair it with a related generator.