Advanced Photoshop // Depth Waves Scan Effect

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will explore how to create a waveform depth scan effect in Photoshop. This effect is inspired by the iconic Joy Division album cover and can be used to produce visually striking images that represent light and dark values in your source pictures. We will achieve this by setting up a Photoshop action that automates the process, allowing for quick and easy application to various images.

Chapter 1: Understanding the Displace Filter

• The goal is to create rows of white pixels and distort them based on the light and dark values of the source image.
• The instinct may be to use the Displace filter directly, but it’s important to understand how it works:
  • The Displace filter moves pixels based on a displacement map, which can sometimes lead to unintended visual results.
  • Instead of shifting individual pixels, we will create a more controlled approach to achieve smooth waveforms.

Chapter 2: Document Setup

1. Create a new document in Photoshop with a height of 2,000 pixels.
2. Set up the following layers:
   • Depth Layer: This controls the height of the waveforms. Use "Render Clouds" as a starting point.
   • Color Layer: This determines the color of the waveforms (could be white or any color).
   • Black Layer: Fill this layer with solid black (use Option-Delete if black is your foreground color).
   • White Stripe Layer: Select a single row using the Marquee tool and fill it with white (use Command-Delete if white is your background color).
3. Save your document as WaveTemplate.psd.

Chapter 3: Creating the Action

1. Open the Actions panel and create a new action named Depth Waves.
2. Start recording the action and perform the following steps carefully:
   • Solo the white stripe layer by Alt/Option-clicking the eye icon.
   • Use Image > Trim to crop the image to just the single row.
   • Solo the Depth layer by Alt/Option-clicking the eye icon again.
   • Save the image with Command/Control-S.
   • Open the History panel and go back two steps to restore the previous visibility.
   • Un-solo the white stripe layer.
   • Copy the white stripe layer with Command/Control-C.
   • Apply the color from the Color layer using Image > Apply Image and ensure "Preserve Transparency" is checked.
   • Use the Displace filter with the following settings:
     • Horizontal: 0
     • Vertical: 100
     • Set "Stretch to Fit" and use WaveTemplate.psd as the displacement map.
   • Merge the new wave down onto the solid black layer with Command/Control-E.
   • Paste the copied white stripe back in place with Command/Control-Shift-V.
   • Move the stripe down by 30 pixels using Command/Control-T, adjusting the Y-axis.
3. Stop the action recording.

Chapter 4: Testing the Action

• Hit the play button on the action to generate the first wave.
• Continue clicking play to add additional rows of waves.
• Observe how each play creates a new row, effectively building your waveform depth scan.

Chapter 5: Applying the Effect to Different Images

1. To apply this effect to a new image, replace the Depth and Color layers with your desired images.
2. Reset the black layer by filling it again with solid black.
3. Position your white stripe layer at the top and run the action to see the scan effect applied to your new image.

Chapter 6: Creating Depth Maps

• A depth map visually represents distance, with lighter areas indicating objects closer to the viewer.
• To create a depth map in Photoshop:
  1. Select your image layer and go to the Neural Filters menu.
  2. Enable Depth Blur and make sure "Output Depth Map Only" is checked.
  3. Invert the depth map to represent proximity correctly.
  4. Save this depth map as your Depth layer for further actions.

Conclusion

By following this tutorial, you have learned how to set up a Photoshop action to create a waveform depth scan effect. You can experiment with different images and depth maps to produce unique visual representations. Don't hesitate to play around with colors, effects, and additional elements to enhance your designs. Happy editing!