Photoshop Tutorials

Article Index
Digital Display
Convert Image into a Grid of Circles
Create Outlines
Final Results
All Pages

Turn an image into a high-tech digital art. From a distance, it will look like a LED display image but viewing up close will reveal the tiny details. Note: Make sure that the image is in RGB color mode. To switch to RGB color mode, click on RGB Color under the Image> Mode menu.

Prepare the Image

1. Step 1

   Open an image you would like to edit. Or, you may use the image used in this tutorial (from iStockPhoto). Using a low-resolution image is fine.

   

   Step 2

   If you're using a low resolution image, use the Image Size tool to increase the dimensions. We recommend at least 2000 pixels wide and tall for better clarity in the final result.

   Tip: Ensure that the "Resample Image" checkbox is checked to allow scaling the actual pixel dimensions.

   

   
   

   Convert Image into a Grid of Circles

   Step 3

   Add a Mosaic filter (Filter> Pixelate> Mosaic) with a cell size of 8 square.

   

   Step 4

   Apply a Find Edges filter (Filter> Stylize> Find Edges)

   

   Step 5

   To warp the edges into circles, we'll use the Median filter. Apply a Median filter (Filter> Noise> Median) with radius of 2 pixels.

   

   Step 6

   Select the Magic Wand tool (W) and apply these settings:
   Tolerance: 8
   Anti-Alias: Checked
   Contiguous: Checked

   

   Step 7

   Use the Magic Wand tool to click on a white area. Inverse the selection (Select> Inverse or Shift+Ctrl+I)

   Step 8

   Apply another Median filter (Filter> Noise> Median) but with a Radius of 3 pixels.

   

   Step 9

   Deselect (Select> Deselect or Ctrl+D) and apply an Auto Levels (Image> Adjustments> Auto Levels or Shift+Ctrl+L)

   

   Step 10

   Invert the current layer (Image> Adjustments> Invert or Ctrl+I)

   

   Step 11

   Duplicate the current layer (Layer> Duplicate Layer or Ctrl+J), change the blending mode of the new layer to Overlay, then Merge the layers (Layer> Merge Layers or Ctrl+E).

   
   

   Create Outlines

   Step 12

   Duplicate the background current layer (Layer> Duplicate Layer) and change the blending mode of the new layer to Screen.

   

   Step 13

   Apply a Find Edges filter (Filter> Stylize> Find Edges).

   

   Step 14

   Invert the current layer (Image> Adjustments> Invert or Ctrl+I).

   

   Colorize

   Step 15

   Add a new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer (Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Hue/Saturation). For this step, I will use these settings:
   Colorize: Checked
   Hue: 100
   Saturation: 100

   Tip: This step is optional and may be skipped if you do not want to colorize the image.

   

   
   

   Final Results

   Multicolor version

   Rollover the image below to see the before and after effect.

   

   100% crop

   

   Colorized Version

   Rollover the image below to see the before and after effect.

   

   Image when printed

    

   use the Median filter. Apply a Median filter (Filter> Noise> Median) with radius of 2 pixels.
   {mosimage}
   
2. Select the Magic Wand tool (W) and apply these settings:
   Tolerance: 8
   Anti-Alias: Checked
   Contiguous: Checked
   {mosimage}
   
3. Use the Magic Wand tool to click on a white area. Inverse the selection (Select> Inverse or Shift+Ctrl+I)
   
4. Apply another Median filter (Filter> Noise> Median) but with a Radius of 3 pixels.
   {mosimage}
   
5. Deselect (Select> Deselect or Ctrl+D) and apply an Auto Levels (Image> Adjustments> Auto Levels or Shift+Ctrl+L)
   {mosimage}
6. Invert the current layer (Image> Adjustments> Invert or Ctrl+I) {mosimage}
7. Duplicate the current layer (Layer> Duplicate Layer or Ctrl+J), change the blending mode of the new layer to Overlay, then Merge the layers (Layer> Merge Layers or Ctrl+E).

{mospagebreak title=Create Outlines}

Create Outlines

1. Duplicate the background current layer (Layer> Duplicate Layer) and change the blending mode of the new layer to Screen.
   {mosimage}
   
2. Apply a Find Edges filter (Filter> Stylize> Find Edges).
   {mosimage}
   
3. Invert the current layer (Image> Adjustments> Invert or Ctrl+I).
   {mosimage}

Colorize

1. Add a new Hue/Saturation adjustment layer (Layer> New Adjustment Layer> Hue/Saturation). For this step, I will use these settings:
   Colorize: Checked
   Hue: 100
   Saturation: 100
   {mostip image=tipon}This step is optional and may be skipped if you do not want to colorize the image. {/mostip} {mosimage}

{mospagebreak title=Final Results}

Final Results