Ok, I will be brave here and I realize this may start a "Holy War" but here goes. Does, or has, anyone ever used software to convert their photos to Sketches or Paintings?

I have been playing around with this and it is a lot of fun. I know, there are purists photographers and purists artists who condemn contamination of their art by non "Professionals" but I am not saying to do one or the other; just try them. Some photos that you are thinking of putting in the trash may be quite nice as a sketch or painting.

I have been using Akvis programs and they work very well. My only bone to pick with them is that they use an assault rifle picture in their tutorial for their sketch program. I have written to their support and suggested they use something else because to me, assault weapons are not what most photographers and artists hold dear to their heart. They don't seem to be anxious to reply to my wishes or even address them. Too bad, because I think their software is decent. I know, you can do the same type of things with other software but I have found the others to be lacking.