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Vector/Vexel Art in Photoshop

Before we start I just want to make clear this is not true vector. Vectors are mathematical curves that can be zoomed into & not loose quality. You can make true vector in Photoshop but not the way we do in this tutorial. No matter what program or method you use to make true vector, the moment you convert it to a .jpg or .gif, it is no longer true vector, so there isn't much point if it is just a normal graphic. Vexel is a new word for "Vector Art" so as not to confuse people!

The most important thing is choosing the right picture . When starting out, don't make it difficult for yourself. The type of picture that is easiest is one of a female, not too much facial expression (eg. not smiling) and no unusual features (eg. Paris Hilton and Mischa Barton have unusual lips, that makes it tough). Once you've got your vectoring under hand you can venture out into the more interesting photos and poses.
Keep the lighting in mind, too many dark shadows and it will be hard to work with, too much brightness/no shadows and it will be even harder.

We will be using this image of Kate Beckinsale, she is extremely versatile. Save the image and open it in photoshop.

Create a New Layer (click for full view)
Set your foreground color to #D9BA8D. This is a fairly neutral skin tone. You can find skin color palettes on sites but it gets boring seeing vectors with the exact same colors, so I pick a new one each time. You can either get lucky and use the eye dropper tool to pick a color from your image (although you will usually get an usual purple/pink color which won't work well) or I just randomly click around the top left area of the orange colors in my color palette.
Select the Pen Tool. We are going to outline her skin. If you are familar with using the pen tool, great. If you've never used it before, it takes a little getting use to, here is how I do it: Click where you want to start your path, I'm starting in her elbow pit. Click again just a little above but hold your mouse button down! Hold your mouse button down and move it ever so slightly so the curve is similar to that of her arm and then let go. You need a new click for each time the curve changes direction.
Here is what it should look like (note. I am zoomed in at 200%).
Next click near the top of her arm, around her wrist area. If you need to make a sharp corner (like where her wrist attaches to her hand) you need to hold down alt and click on that spot before clicking the next spot. Normally, it will keep the curve from your last click, this is great to make smooth curves but sometimes (like with her hand) you want more definite angles.

This is my path so far. Keep going around her arm and body until you arrive back at her elbow where you started. You will see some of her fingers are lost in her hair, you can either try to draw them in yourself or do what I did and make stumps with the intention of doing the hair later.
The outline around her clothes are not important as we'll be putting the clothes on top anyway. Also, keep her face seperate, do not do that with the rest of the body. You'll find out why shortly!

When your path is completed and you've clicked on your original square to close it, right click and select "Fill Path".
Here is what mine looks like, As I said previously the area around her clothing/face doesn't matter right now!
Create a New Layer.
Now we are going to do her face. Simply outline her face as you did with her body and fill it the same way. If you cannot see her whole face because the body section you just made covers it (like mine does), click the eye next to that layer on the layers palette, this makes it invisible. I usually use a slightly lighter shade for the face, just to make it easier to see, try #E2C59B.
Here is what mine looks like now.
Create a New Layer.

Next, the dress. You can make it green or orange or pink or whatever color you fancy. I'm going to make it green, just to be easy. I'm using the base color of #196339. You can use pretty much any color you like however if you're going with a really light color like white or yellow, your base color needs to be a tad darker so you can add highlights. Same when using black, you need to be able to add shadows so use a slightly ligher shade of black.

Outline the dress as you have with the body and face. Fill it with you choice of color.
My progress is to the left.
Last base layer is the hair. The hair takes a lot of work and for now, we're just going to do a basic outline. By the time we're finished there will be whispier bits around edges so it doesn't look so flat, but for now we will just do as we have been doing.
I'm using #784234 for the base color of the hair. If you want to make her blonde, start with a light brown, never start with yellow. Even the lightest blondes have some brown shadows and undertones.
Again, here is my progress. I had to go back and fill in some gaps around neck and finger area. Just remember to do it on the right layer!