REFERENCE IMAGES
Turn a photo into a cartoon in the style you have in mind
"Cartoon" means very different things: a bold-outlined comic strip face, a soft rounded children's book look, a flat vector mascot or an exaggerated caricature. Getting a good result starts with naming which one you want. Upload the photo to ImageQuarry, describe the cartoon look, the level of exaggeration and the details to keep, and refine the version until the person or pet is clearly themselves, just drawn.
Pick one cartoon look, decide how much to exaggerate, and list the features that carry the likeness.
Last updated October 2026
How to make a cartoon version with ImageQuarry
- 01
Upload your photo
Bring the photo as your starting image. You can begin from an upload and describe how the cartoon version should differ from it.
- 02
Describe the look and what to keep
Choose the cartoon family first: thick outlines and flat colors, soft shapes with gentle shading, or minimal geometric shapes. Then say how much exaggeration you want, from almost none to playful, and name the features that identify the subject, such as a big smile, freckles, a beard or a hat.
- 03
Compare, refine and download
Every change you ask for becomes its own version. Line up the cartoon versions side by side, keep refining the best one, and download it when it works.
Requests to try for a cartoon version
Example requests for a cartoon version, each one something to ask for that produces a new version you review.
A friendly avatar
Avatars need to read clearly at small sizes.
A family cartoon for a card
Family scenes work in a soft, rounded style.
A pet mascot
Mascots favor simple shapes and a strong silhouette.
Matching cartoons for coworkers
Office cartoon sets need one consistent style.
A kid's birthday scene
Bright, playful cartoons suit party invitations.
What makes a cartoon version work
Shapes before detail
Cartoons reduce a face to a few strong shapes: head, hair mass, eyes, mouth. Asking for simple, rounded shapes gives a friendlier look than traced photo detail.
Outline weight sets the tone
Thick even outlines read bold and graphic; thin or no outlines read soft and illustrative. Specify which you prefer.
Exaggeration is a dial
A slight enlargement of the head and eyes is charming; strong exaggeration becomes caricature. Say how far to go.
Flat color with one shadow
Most cartoon styles use flat fills with a single shadow tone, which keeps the image clean at small sizes.
Every cartoon version kept
Each change to the cartoon version produces a new version, and the earlier ones are preserved with the prompts and references that made them.
Words drive the cartoon version
You select a version and describe the change; each request builds on the cartoon version you chose instead of starting over.
Cartoon looks and how to ask for each
| Cartoon look | Traits | How to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Bold comic strip | Thick outlines, flat colors | Ask for thick black outlines and flat fills |
| Storybook | Soft shapes, gentle shading | Ask for rounded shapes, soft shading, warm palette |
| Flat vector mascot | Geometric shapes, no texture | Ask for a flat vector look with simple shapes |
| Retro cartoon | Rubber-hose limbs, limited color | Ask for a retro cartoon look with a limited palette |
| Light caricature | Gentle exaggeration of features | Ask for slightly exaggerated features, keeping it kind |
| Line-only cartoon | Outlines without color | Ask for black outlines only on white |
What does photo to cartoon mean?
It means redrawing a photograph as a cartoon: simplified shapes, outlines, flat color and some exaggeration, in a cartoon style you choose, while keeping the subject recognizable.
It is not the same as anime, which has its own conventions for eyes, hair and shading, or caricature, where exaggeration of distinctive features is the point.
Cartoon version questions
My cartoon looks too much like a traced photo. What should I change?
Ask for simpler shapes, fewer wrinkles and details, and flat colors with one shadow tone. Tracing keeps photo detail; cartooning removes most of it.
How do I keep the cartoon recognizable?
Name the features that identify the person: hairstyle, facial hair, glasses, a smile or freckles. Those survive simplification and carry the likeness.
Can I make several matching cartoons?
Yes. Describe the same outline weight, shading and palette for each one, and compare versions side by side to keep them consistent.
Can I put the cartoon on a plain background for printing?
Ask for a plain white or single-color background so the cartoon is easy to place on a card, mug or sticker design.
Which model should I use for a cartoon version?
For a cartoon version you can stay with the default, Nano Banana 2.1, or pick Nano Banana Pro, GPT Image 2.5 Flare or GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst when you want a different result for the same request.
Can I keep parts of my photo the same in the cartoon version?
In the request for your cartoon version, say what to keep as well as what to change, such as the face, the pose or the crop, then review the new version to see how closely it followed that.
Related reference ideas
Create an image. Edit it with words. Keep refining.
Get the cartoon that still looks like them
Upload the photo, choose the look, and refine the shapes and colors version by version.
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