Photo to cartoon, drawn by a real cartoonist

What photo to cartoon means at De Cartoonist

Photo to cartoon is the process of turning an ordinary picture of a person, couple, family or pet into a drawn cartoon that still clearly looks like them. Online you will find plenty of apps that cartoonize a photo in seconds. They apply one filter to every face, so the result is often generic, slightly off in the eyes or smile, and marked with a watermark unless you pay for a subscription.

Here a person makes the choices. Hans Esser looks at what makes your face recognisable, decides what to exaggerate and what to leave alone, and finishes the details by hand. AI helps with speed and consistency; the likeness, the expression and the final polish come from the cartoonist. That is the difference between a picture to cartoon filter and a cartoon someone actually drew for you.

How to turn a photo into a cartoon in four steps

There is no upload form or account. Everything runs through a normal conversation, which keeps it personal and simple:

1. Send your photo. Share one or more photos via WhatsApp or info@decartoonist.com. Mention who is in it and what the cartoon is for.
2. Choose a style and pay. Pick one of the styles below, or describe a scene you have in mind. Once the price is confirmed, you pay in advance via a Tikkie on WhatsApp.
3. Check the proof. Within 3 days of payment you receive a preview, so you can see whether the likeness and mood are right.
4. Get the final file. After one revision round you receive your cartoon digitally, in high resolution and without a watermark.

Want the details on photo tips, proofs and file formats? Read the step-by-step process.

AI photo to cartoon, finished by hand

Is this an AI cartoon generator? Partly, and honestly so. Hans uses AI tools where they help, for example to explore a pose or a colour palette quickly. He then redraws and corrects the parts that software tends to get wrong: the shape of the eyes, the smile, hands, hair, glasses and the small features that make someone unmistakably themselves.

So you do not get a pure AI filter, and you do not get a months-long painting either. You get a cartoon with a human eye behind every decision, made at the pace of modern tools.

• AI helps with: fast sketches, style exploration, clean colour and backgrounds.
• The cartoonist decides: likeness, exaggeration, expression, composition and the final details.
• You approve: nothing is final until you have seen the proof.

Which photo gives the best cartoon

The better the photo, the better the likeness. You do not need a professional shoot; a sharp phone picture is fine. Keep these tips in mind:

• Use daylight or soft light, without hard shadows across the face.
• Face the camera or turn slightly to the side; both eyes visible works best.
• Avoid heavy filters, sunglasses and very small faces in a group shot.
• Sending a group or family? One clear photo per person is often better than one crowded picture.
• Add a second photo if a feature matters, such as a hairstyle, a hat or a favourite jumper.

Pick the cartoon style that suits your plan

Every style has its own strengths. A big-eyed anime filter look suits fans and gamers. A soft, rounded 3D cartoon avatar in an animated-film look feels friendly and modern. A caricature maker for gifts and farewells is the classic choice for birthdays and colleagues. With a comic book photo effect with speech bubbles you become the hero of your own panel.

Animal lovers often choose a pet to cartoon portrait of your dog or cat. For socials and gaming there is the cartoon profile picture for socials, and if you prefer something quieter, try photo to drawing in pencil or line art. Comparing free apps? Read why a paid cartoon maker has no watermark.

Want more than one still picture? Your cartoon can also move: a short animated cartoon video from your photo brings it to life in up to 9 seconds, from €250. Or tell a whole story with a custom comic book about your pet, family or loved one, also from €250. A single cartoon in any of the styles above starts from €150.

What people use a cartoon of themselves for

Because you receive a high-resolution file, a cartoon works both on screen and on paper. Popular uses include:

• A personal gift for a birthday, anniversary, retirement or wedding.
• A profile picture or avatar for Instagram, TikTok, Discord, LinkedIn or a team page.
• Prints, posters, cards and invitations.
• A mug, T-shirt or tote bag, printed by a print shop of your choice.
• A custom scene: you and your family in a place that means something to you.

Want to use a cartoon for a business, a logo or marketing? That is possible, but agree on commercial use beforehand. The terms of use for your cartoon explain why.

Who draws your cartoon

De Cartoonist is the studio of cartoonist Hans Esser from Baarn, in the province of Utrecht in the Netherlands, where he works at Paleis Soestdijk. He spent a long career in the graphic arts and now specialises in personal cartoons, including memorial cartoons of pets. Because the whole process runs online, he works for people all over the world, in English and in Dutch.

Hans likes to put himself in his own work: flying over Manhattan in a propeller cap, or dressed as a footman drawing a caricature in a palace hallway. You can see those scenes in the videos below, and more on the page with example cartoons and short videos. Read more about Hans Esser and his studio, or check what determines the price of a cartoon before you get in touch.