Hi I'm Dana, I mostly just tool around with friends, play RPGs, and listen to podcasts, but I've also been known to make podcasts at SuperIdols! RPG and I've written a couple of short rpgs at my itch page and on twitter.

💕@wordbending

This user is transgenderrific!



ditey
@ditey

Hey! here's a tutorial for how to make Cool Images on the Computer look Even Cooler AND a bit eye-strain-y! wow !! the technique is called Chromatic Aberration, though it's also reminiscent of VHS/80s and 90s TV Aesthetic Edits of characters you might see folks doing!


First things first, you're gonna want to take all the layers in an illustration, and combine them into a single folder, and collapse it. Like so: An image of CSP layers, showing a folder containing the illustration

Then you're gonna copy that folder, like so: CSP Layer Folder, with a Copy of the same Layer Folder on top

And then you're gonna right click on that Copied Folder, and Merge all the layers within (however your program handles that in its respective menu). Copy and paste that merged layer two more times, for a total of three identical layers. The end result should look something like this A series of three identical layers on top of the layer folder containing a flattened illustration

Create three blank layers between each copy of your flattened illustration, with the blank layers on top of its respective illustration layer. Like this

Once you've done that, open up your Color Picker to RGB Sliders. On each blank layer fill the entire layer with 100%/255 of one of the three primaries (The order doesn't matter, really, it's a matter of personal preference) Example one Example two Example three

Set *all of your RGB Color Layers to the Multiply Blending Mode like so

Once you've done that, merge the Multiply Layer with the Layer directly below it, the new layer should adjust to a Normal Blending Mode by default, but if not you can change it manually. If you've done it right, your canvas should look a little something like this: Wow that's a lot of blue

Next, you're gonna set two of your three layers to the Screen Blending Mode, and leave the layer that is not set to Screen on the bottom of your stack of three layers. This ensures that the colors you chose in the creation of your image stay as accurate as possible when the the other two blending modes apply together. The way it works is pretty magical tbh! Your Layer Menu should resemble this when you're done Whoagh Layers

Then, all that's left to do is select a layer, and offset it slightly. The more you offset the layer, the weirder your image is gonna look, and the fuzzier/harder to make out it will be. If you have lined artwork you can also do a very slight Guassian Blur Layer Effect on a Layer to soften up the linework and get that retro feel to your image. The RGB Layer you choose to move will also effect the color of your Chromatic Aberration due to the way things blend. one last example

(PS. If you want, take the rectangle select tool, and move pieces of a layer or two around to make a fun glitchy effect too, it's neat to play with layers like this! Glitchy Wow


You must log in to comment.