What does the Scratchboard effect change?

Scratchboard converts edges and tone into cut or incised linework, using directional mark density to reproduce form with a printmaking character. The strength control determines how much of that treatment replaces the unedited appearance.

Which photos work best with Scratchboard?

Choose Scratchboard for landscapes with strong contours, portrait line art, or poster and zine graphics when the source has clear detail and balanced exposure. Start with a lighter setting if it contains very noisy photos, low-resolution faces, or scenes whose subject and background have almost no edge contrast.

Scratchboard applied to the same source image — The same source image before and after applying Scratchboard.

Original source image before Scratchboard — The same source image before and after applying Scratchboard.

Scratchboard Drawing Effect Online

Scratchboard creates linework whose direction and density follow the photograph instead of sitting above it as a generic overlay; tune the strength before exporting the finished image.

Upload a photo for the Scratchboard effect

Upload an image

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Supported formats include JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP, SVG, HEIC, AVIF, TIFF, RAW, PSD. Maximum file size: 11 MB.

What you can do with the Scratchboard effect

Review the available effect capabilities before you begin.

Apply the Scratchboard effect to any photo
Fine-tune the effect strength to taste
Preview your photo live as you edit
Download your edited photo in high quality
Apply Scratchboard to many photos at once

Use this effect

About the Scratchboard effect

Scratchboard derives marks from local edges and brightness before controlling their spacing, weight, and direction. Its intensity control blends the processed output with the uploaded pixels, so the edit can remain restrained or become the dominant look.

How to use Scratchboard

Upload a photo, adjust the Scratchboard intensity, compare its processed preview with the source, and download the finished result.

Why use the Scratchboard effect?

Scratchboard, tuned to your photo

Use the intensity control to balance the Scratchboard treatment with the detail and character of your original photo.

A fast Scratchboard workflow

A reduced Scratchboard preview keeps adjustments responsive. Free downloads are clean and web-size; Premium or a credit unlocks the original resolution.

Secure Scratchboard processing

Scratchboard uploads are processed on secure servers and automatically removed under the normal Pixoate retention policy.

How it works

Processing

Scratchboard runs as a classic image effect and does not use an AI action.

Best for

Scratchboard works best for landscapes with strong contours, portrait line art, and poster and zine graphics, especially when the source is sharp and well exposed.

Less suited to: Scratchboard is less reliable on very noisy photos, low-resolution faces, or scenes whose subject and background have almost no edge contrast.

Ways to use Scratchboard

Build landscapes with strong contours with the Scratchboard effect.
Use Scratchboard to prepare portrait line art.
Try a lower-strength Scratchboard treatment for poster and zine graphics.

Scratchboard questions

What does the Scratchboard effect change?: Scratchboard converts edges and tone into cut or incised linework, using directional mark density to reproduce form with a printmaking character. The strength control determines how much of that treatment replaces the unedited appearance.
Which photos work best with Scratchboard?: Choose Scratchboard for landscapes with strong contours, portrait line art, or poster and zine graphics when the source has clear detail and balanced exposure. Start with a lighter setting if it contains very noisy photos, low-resolution faces, or scenes whose subject and background have almost no edge contrast.