[Andy8]

Is there any Mac friendly application or filter I can use to convert a normal looking portrait into something that looks like it was done in Flash? (matte/blurred finish)

[bluedog]

Without any idea what you want from any style or example, here's an idea.

Photoshop would be a great choice, but it is NOT for the faint of heart and more expensive than you would pay for just doing a simple effect.

Seashore is an app that may do it with the blur, and posterize effects.
Seashore 0.1.9 - MacUpdate

GIMP certainly could do something like you desire with a larger learning curve or more features available to you.
Gimp.app 2.4rc3 - MacUpdate

While I'm most comfortable in Photoshop, here is an example of something done in Seashore.

[Cold Warrior]

looks like the Predator's targeting sight.

[Andy8]

Here is a sample of what type of effect i am looking for.

[bluedog]

From that sample, I'd suggest using Illustrator CS2 or CS3 and its 'live trace' feature which would make it really quite simple to create such an image. Since you mentioned you wanted to find an application that would make the effect like it was from Flash, I'm guessing you want a less expensive option. I'll keep an eye out for something that may be opensource or free.

But for the best effect in that style of image, hand-drawn or edited images in a vector-based application like Illustrator or Flash produce the best results. If you are interested in hand drawing from a photo you may be able to use the free vector application named Inkscape. Inkscape 0.45.1 - MacUpdate

Below is an example closer to the style you clarified that I created in Illustrator and made into a small JPG for the web. If I remember correctly, I did a posterized a photo and then brought it into Illustrator to hand create the shapes I wanted (and didn't precisely follow the posterizing).

[bluedog]

Inkscape 0.45.1 - MacUpdate Just note if you are running Leopard the current version of Inkscape software may need some patching to function properly. You will also need the X11 environment installed.

[Andy8]

bluedog - thanks for the tips, i have Illustrator and Photoshop CS2 versions. I was hoping their was some filters i could apply to stock photos to give the output like you have done above, instead of redrawing each image by hand, but I can have a play around with both options I guess.

[red rocket]

VectorMagic, a free online tracing app, does a pretty good job, in my opinion. They have comparisons with Adobe Live Trace and Corel PowerTRACE on the site, and VectorMagic delivers better looking results throughout.

Here's a picture of Steve Jobs I threw at it and vectorised at the lowest quality setting. Only took like a minute.




Not blurred, obviously, but that's a matter of seconds.

[Andy8]

red rocket - excellent tool, it is exactly what I am looking for!