TheXcoder Artool

Artool

Squint a photo into clear shapes you can paint.

Controls

Simplification Strong

Merges detail into bigger shapes.

Tonal steps 5 tones

How many values are left to paint. The right end is the full range.

Softness Slight

Rounds the edges between shapes.

Contrast Gentle

Opens the value range and holds the highlights back a little.

Study

Black & white Color

Grid Lines

Show grid on

Equal divisions for placing the big shapes.

Proportions

Click two points on the reference or the study. The first line equals the value below. Every later line is measured against it. Show on both keeps each line on both pictures.

Value

Color

Load a photo, then draw on either picture.

Each file includes the grid and the lines on that picture.

How to use

Drop a photo on the box, or click it. JPG and PNG are the most reliable, in Firefox or Chrome.
Simplification pulls the picture into masses, the way squinting does. Tonal steps decides how many of those values remain.
Black & white is the value study. Color keeps the hues and only simplifies the light.
Choose a grid and where it shows: the reference, the study, or both. Save reference, save study, or save both. The file includes the grid and the lines on that picture.
Hold Cmd or Alt and scroll to zoom the picture under the pointer. A trackpad pinch does the same. Drag a zoomed picture to move it. Turn Reference or Study off when you only need one.
Proportions: draw a line on the reference or the study and give it a value, such as 1. Later lines show how they compare. Rename a line and the name is drawn on it. Turn on Show on both to see every line on both pictures, and turn it off to keep a line where you drew it. Esc cancels a point before the line is finished.
Click either picture for fullscreen. Press Esc to come back.
The photo and these settings stay in this browser, so a reload brings them back.

A long edge around 1500–3000 px is plenty. Larger photos are scaled down for speed.
Smaller photos stay at their own size, and the smoothing stays lighter so they are not over-blurred.
Move tonal steps to the right, Full range, when you want soft grays without hard bands.

This browser remembers the photo and the settings. Nothing is uploaded.