Digital Display

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.

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).