by JuliannaKunstler.com
Watercolors are one of the hardest media to master. However, you can mimic the look of an actual watercolor painting by applying a number of filters to a photograph.
Depending on the picture you use, the settings might vary.
Below are two images: the original photo and the same photo with a watercolor effect.
Open the file in Photoshop.
Duplicate the layer
Name it "sketch"
Filter > Stylize > Find Edges
Remove all colors:
Image > Adjustments > Desaturate
Duplicate the original layer
Drag it on the top of the layers.
Name it "color wash"
Select "color wash" layer
Filter > Noise > Median
Set radius to 3
Click OK
Depending on your original photo, you might want to use Fresco or Watercolor filter (try them both).
I chose Watercolor filter.
Change Blending modes for "color wash" and "sketch" layers
to Soft Light:
