Tutorial: Creating TV Scan Lines In Photoshop

17 posted on April 17, 2009

POSTED IN: Blog Posts, Creativity

Creating TV scan lines is a useful Photoshop effect. I use it any time I create a blog post header that features video content (like here or here). To create this effect you’ll create a pattern in Photoshop that you can then save and re-use in future projects. Here’s how:

Step 1: Create A New Document

The first step is to prepare the lines that we’ll use in the scan line pattern. Create a new document 2 X 4 pixels at 72dpi and set the Background Content to transparent.

(Note: this effect is designed to be used for web-resolution images at 72dpi. If you plan on using this effect for images larger than 72dpi you’ll need to double or triple the sizes of the document to accomplish a similar effect)

Step 2: Create The Pattern

Since the document size is so small it helps to zoom in all the way (3200%). Then, with the foreground color set to black, use the Rectagle Tool and draw a box covering the top half of the image.

Step 3: Define Pattern

Next, you’ll need to select the pattern you created by selecting Select>All from the menu or press Cntrl/Cmd +A. Then define the pattern by selecting Edit>Define pattern from the menu.

A box similar to this should come up in all versions of Photoshop later than 6.0. Name and save the pattern to your pattern library so it can be used in the future.

Step 4: Open The Image You Wish To Apply The Effect to

Open the image you want to add the scan lines to (you can also make a selection if you don’t want to apply the effect to the entire image). In this case I’ve chosen an image that I took a screen grab of from a video.

Step 5: Create A New Layer

Create a new blank layer above the image by going to Layer>New>Layer from the menu.

Step 6: Fill Layer With Pattern

Select Edit>Fill (or Shift+Delete on the Mac) to open the fill dialog box. Choose Pattern from the dropdown if it isn’t already selected and then locate the Custom Pattern you previously created. Then, under the Blending options choose Overlay.

Step 7: Adjust Pattern Layer Opacity

Adjust the layer opacity of the pattern layer until it looks right. Each image will require different opacity levels depending on the color and light balance of the image.

Completed Image Effect

And there ya have it! If you’ve found this tutorial useful or use this effect on your site I’d love to know. Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

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This entry was posted on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 9:15 am and is filed under Blog Posts, Creativity. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

13 Comments

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April 17, 2009

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1 sTim said:

Still a fan of Kate Micucci, I take it? She was a guest on another show this week, but no musical performance on this one.
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April 17, 2009

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2 Jeff Honnold said:

Thanks for the tips – I’ve just started playing around with editing pictures with layers.

Question – I’m a PC guy that can’t afford Photoshop yet. Does anyone have any recommendations for free or less expensive software that will let you edit images with layers? Something I can use to “get my feet wet” and make sure I really have the desire to get into this?

Jeff Honnold’s last blog post..Remarkable!
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April 17, 2009

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3 Phillip said:

check out The Gimp

http://www.gimp.org

Phillip’s last blog post..Custom isn’t just for the container…
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April 17, 2009

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4 Nick said:

@Jeff – Photoshop elements is a lot cheaper than the full version of photoshop. Sometimes you can get great deal on it and it is great for beginners.

Nick’s last blog post..Augusta Georgia Tea Party
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April 17, 2009

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5 Kiel said:

Yeah, Nick and Phillip have great suggestions.

I used Paint Shop Pro for years, it was owned by JASC and then purchased by Corel. Now I’ve switched to Photoshop, it was a small learning curve, but worth it.

Kiel’s last blog post..(Almost) Daily Ramblings #66
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April 17, 2009

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6 Kiel said:

P.S. Brad, aren’t scanlines going to be obsolete with HDTV? Your kids are going to grow up and go, “scanlines? What are those?” Ha ha!

Kiel’s last blog post..(Almost) Daily Ramblings #66
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April 17, 2009

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7 Brad Ruggles said:

@Kiel – Ha ha, touché! I don’t know, for some reason, nothing says “video” like scan lines.
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April 17, 2009

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8 Matthew said:

While scan lines will be as obsolete as crank windows soon…I love learning new things in Photoshop.

Thanks for the TUT!

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April 17, 2009

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9 Jason Ruggles said:

Great stuff, Brad.
Yeah, gonna be obsolete, but we love to take great images and destroy them! Can anyone say Polaroid? or “old movie” footage?

Jason Ruggles’s last blog post..Transformation Stations
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April 20, 2009

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10 ryan guard said:

I’m still working with good ol PAINT! the spraypaint feature is my fave.

ryan guard’s last blog post..Miss California on Gay Marriage
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April 21, 2009

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11 Brad Bretz said:

Love it.
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April 22, 2009

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12 Seth Goldsmith said:

Hi Brad,

I’m here at exponential too. I saw your post at: http://www.mattpayneonline.com and followed it here.

Good tip. I’m a church planter in our third year in Sebastian, FL and I’m a project manager/ tech support geek for a medium size custom editable website company http://www.pdgo.com

Drop me a line via email if you get the chance or comment back. I’d love to hear about you and where you’re at in the church planting story.
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February 11, 2011

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13 Natasja said:

After using the rectangle tool, I was unable to press the ‘Define Pattern’ button. Any ideas why?