Scanlines: The Basics

Before you can delve deep into the potential of scanlines, you've got to learn the basics. Let's get started. Here's the image I'll be using for both this and the expert scanlines tutorial:

Let's start with the linear variety of scanlines first, starting with simple horizontal scanlines. Make a new document 1x2 pixels. Create a new layer so you can delete the layer titled "Background." Now pull out the Pencil tool from the Tools menu and change the brush tool size to 1px. Zoom in to 1600% and color the top pixel black:

Good. Now define it as a pattern and switch to your original image. Make a new layer and fill it with your new pattern. Lower the layer's opacity until you are happy, or switch it to 'Soft Light.'

Every image is different, so unlike most tutorials, I'll tell you not to use the same values every time. For this, I simply turned the opacity down to 30% and left it at that.

Vertical scanlines are the exact same business, just switch it from 1x2 to 2x1 and color the left pixel, so I won't go over them. Let's go for diagonal now. Make a new document 3x3 pixels. Repeat the steps from above to get rid of the background layer, but now, use the pencil tool to color it like this:

Define as pattern like before, and repeat the whole pasting-and-experimenting process. Scanlines are really a boring rinse-and-repeat kind of thing until the more advanced stuff comes in.

I simply set it to 'Soft Light' for this and called it done. Remember to experiment to get different results and see what looks best to you. Now before we move on to more interesting scanlines, let's try one more thing: Go for two pixels instead of one and see how that looks:

I set it to 15%. Personally, I like this effect better than one pixel. Anyways, let's get into the non-linear designs. Let's start with dots.

Make a new document 3x3 pixels and do the standard routine. Then make a dot in the very center like so:

Now define as a pattern, then re-do that, but this time, make it 5x5 pixels (we'll use in the advanced scanlines tutorial) and try that out (hover over the image to see the difference):

Pretty dramatic change. Now try it with squares; same deal, just this time, the new document needs to be a bit bigger- I'll use 10x10. Now use the pencil tool to draw a square, but make sure it is centered both vertically and horizontally before you make it into a pattern. Try it out:

Always experiment for each image. Anyways, to conclude this tutorial, let's try out circles, then call it a day. Now, making just regular circles like we have for squares and stuff would be boring, so I'll give you a tip: Be creative. We're going to add a little somethin'-somethin' here.

10x10 pixel document, then use the Elliptical Marquee Tool to draw a perfect circle in the center of the document. Now use the Pencil and draw a big X through the circle like this:

Good job. Now try it out in your image, mess with the settings, etc.

See that? Much more interesting than if it were just regular old circles. To wrap this up, here's a couple tips. Experiment! Experiment! Experiment! I can't stress it enough. Scanlines get a bad rap because everyone just does basic linear ones with no extra effects. Think wild; think crazy; think potential.

Continue to Scanlines: Expert Circuit