How to Turn a Photo into a Cartoon Online and on Your Phone with AI

Okay, be honest—have you ever looked at a photo and thought, “WOW! It’d make a pretty awesome cartoon!”

And then instantly wondered, how to turn a photo into a cartoon?

Well, we have all been there!

Let us tell you, you do not need to be a graphic designer who needs to know their way around Photoshop to make it happen. 

These days, there are tons of online AI tools and apps available to help you cartoonize a photo automatically in seconds. You can turn a photo into a cute, quirky, or any other cartoon version you want to share on social media or just for fun.

In this blog post, we will take you through a detailed and easy step-by-step process of converting pictures into cartoons online and on your phone. 

So, ready to make a photo look like it’s straight out of a comic book?

Keep scrolling to know how!

How do you turn a picture into a cartoon? Try with AI in LightX!

Glad you asked!

We are so thrilled to share!

You can cartoonize your photo, your pet’s picture, a landscape, or any other using AI in LightX. 

It’s super simple and fun. No fancy software installation! No complicated editing skills!

And the best part? You can cartoonify photos online and on your iPhone or Android smartphone. Join in the fun as per your convenience!

Let us now take a look at the steps for the both ahead: 

How to turn a photo into a cartoon online?

With LightX’s AI-powered cartoon filters, cartoonize any photo in just seconds. 

Here are the steps: 

Step 1: Visit the LightX website in your browser and log in or sign up. Then on the dashboard, hover over “Learn,” go to “AI Editor,” and select the “AI Filter.” 

Step 2: Now, once you are on the AI Filter page, click the “Apply AI Filter Now” button to upload the photo that you want to cartoonize.

Step 3: Choose from a vast collection of preset AI cartoon filters. Apply any of your choice with just a click and select the “Generate via Style” button at the bottom of the panel.

Step 4: Alternatively, you can enter a text prompt describing your custom cartoon style. Click the “Generate” button at the bottom of the panel for the AI to bring it to life in your uploaded picture.

Step 5: Preview your AI cartoon image. Hover over it to explore other editing options, such as AI image upscale, AI expand, AI cleanup picture, add text to photo, and more. You can also generate the cartoon variations by clicking “Generate More.”

Step 6: Finally, if you want to proceed with saving your image directly, click the download icon on the image preview. It will be saved in a JPEG format on your device. Or select all the generated images and click the “Download” button at the top left to download them all together. 

Related post: How to make Studio Ghibli AI art

How to make cartoon pics on iPhone and Android using an app?

Nothing’s better than the ease of your phone, right?

Cartoonify photos anytime, anywhere!

Here are the steps: 

Step 1: Download the LightX iOS or Android app on your device. 

Step 2: Now, open the app, navigate to the “AI Tools,” and tap “AI Filter.”

Step 3: Upload the picture that you want to convert into a cartoon from your device. 

Step 4: Explore a range of cartoon filters and tap any you like to apply it. On iOS devices, you also have the option to enter a text prompt to generate your own cartoon filter.

Step 5: Once your cartoon AI photo is generated, tap the done icon at the top left to apply the changes and keep editing the photo further. 

Step 6: Finally, if you wish to proceed with downloading your AI image directly, tap the “Save” button at the top left to export in your preferred format and resolution. By tapping the “Share” button, you can directly post or send the image on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, etc. 

Related post: How to make AI art

And there you go!

You now know how to turn your picture into a cartoon successfully!

It doesn’t end here; you can do more!

Generate your AI cartoon avatar for social profiles. Cartoonize your pet with AI for their truly adorable and charming version. Explore AI-generated cartoon characters from your photos—transform into popular or OCs (original characters) for gaming profiles. Even make AI political cartoons for social media, blogs, or presentations. 

Further, discover AI anime filters to transform your photos into a beautiful Japanese aesthetic. Try the AI caricature generator and have fun creating humorous caricatures of yourself or your friends. 

Related post: Best anime AI art generators

Further, turn a sketch into an image, a photo into a line drawing, and so much more—possibilities are endless. 

And the steps?

Simply upload a photo, make a preset selection, or enter a prompt, and you’re all ready to download!

Easy-peasy!

Now, with the steps covered, let us tell you about some useful tips for getting the best results when turning photos into cartoons. 

Best tips to transform a picture into a cartoon perfectly

Okay, so, before you start to cartoonify every photo in your camera roll, here are a few tips that give you the best-looking results. 

Trust us—they can make a huge difference. 

1. Start with a clear and high-quality photo: Of course blurry or low-light photos won’t give you those crisp, clean cartoon lines, right? Well-lit, sharp images are the way to go. 

2. Go for photos with simple backgrounds: You see, photos with busy or messy backgrounds can confuse the filters. Pick photos with clean, plain, and simple backgrounds to make your photo’s cartoon version pop.

3. Play around with different styles: Try out a few styles to see which vibe you like the best. Have a shot at a bold, comic-style cartoon or a soft, dreamy one.  

4. Do not over-edit: While it’s absolutely tempting to add effects, stickers, filters, and many other edits, avoid it. Less is more! Let the cartoon filter itself shine.

Related post: Best AI photo filters

And that’s it!

Easy yet effective tips, right?

Moving on, how about some popular ideas for cartoonizing photos?

Let’s take a look.

Popular ideas for cartoonizing photos with AI 

So, now that you know how to make a cartoon out of a photo, along with the tips for getting the best results, it is time for some ideas. 

You can get super creative here!

There are so many popular ideas that everyone is trying:

1. Cartoon style profile pictures

Give your usual profile photo a fresh and playful look by turning it into a cartoon. 

Stand out on Instagram, Facebook, Discord, or your gaming profiles!

Related post: Best Instagram filters for photos

2. Pet cartoons

Turn your furry friend into a cute cartoon version with expressive features.

3. Best friend cartoons

Take a picture with your best friend and cartoonify it. It makes a unique social media post. 

4. Couple cartoons

Convert your photo with your partner into a cartoon and use it as a phone wallpaper. 

5. Food cartoons

Yep, cartoonize food! Take a picture of a burger, pizza, bubble tea, or anything else and turn it into an animated-style photo. 

6. Travel and adventure cartoons

Make an image look like a cartoon for all those epic travel or adventure moments! Beaches, city streets, mountains, a café corner—anything! 

7. Special occasion moments cartoons

Birthday selfies, graduation day photos, festive holiday pics—give all those memories a cartoon makeover. 

And there you have it!

Get ready for some cool cartoon versions!

Wrapping it up!

Congratulations! You now know it all about turning photos into cartoons. 

The best part? You don’t need any fancy tools or editing skills. With AI, you can cartoonize any photo online or on your phone in just a few clicks.

So go ahead! Trust us, once you start, you’ll be hooked!

Frequently asked questions

1. Is it safe to upload personal photos to the AI cartoon tool?

Yes, it is safe to upload your photos to LightX’s AI tool for cartoon generation. It has robust privacy measures in place. The platform does not retain any uploaded images on the system after editing and processing. This ensures a safe and secure environment for the users. 

2. How can I make a picture look like a cartoon for a group photo?

To turn a group photo into a cartoon in LightX, you first need to upload the picture to its AI Filter tool. Next, choose from a range of one-click, preset cartoon filters or enter a text prompt to apply your own cartoon style. The AI will apply the cartoon effect automatically. You can then download the final image to your device.

3. How do I ensure the filter doesn’t overly exaggerate my image?

LightX’s AI filters for cartoons transform your photos authentically in a balanced manner. The AI intelligently adjusts the cartoonization to ensure the effect enhances your image without excessive exaggeration. 

4. Can I create an animated video of my cartoonized photo?

Yes, you can use LightX’s Image to Video AI to animate your cartoon photo. Start by uploading the photo to the tool. Then, enter a prompt describing your desired animation. You can also include what you don’t want in the result with a negative prompt. Finally, generate and download.