Apply High-tech Low-Life to images and videos online
Turn photographic detail into layered characters and uneven softness. High-tech Low-Life combines two ASCII passes with texture-controlled blur for a dense, degraded terminal-style image.
Before
After
Ideas for using the effect
Cyberpunk portrait art
Rebuild a clear face through character grids and selective blur.
Electronic release imagery
Create a textural photographic base for an experimental cover or visual loop.
Fictional terminal graphics
Use the treated image as an atmospheric panel inside a larger screen design.
Digital collage studies
Combine the character treatment with cleaner photographs or strong typography.
Made with this effect
More inspiration on Instagram @effect_app
Use High-tech Low-Life in Photoshop, Figma or on your desktop
One account, the same effect everywhere.
In Photoshop
Apply it to a layer in Photoshop 2022 and later, on macOS or Windows. The plugin renders on your own GPU and hands the result back as pixels on a new layer.
get the Photoshop plugin →In Figma
Run it on images and frames without leaving the canvas. The Figma plugin is this same editor, pointed at whatever you have selected.
get the Figma plugin →On desktop
Install the macOS or Windows app when you want a window of its own, with your account and your presets already there.
download the desktop app →Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply High-tech Low-Life online?
Open the High-tech Low-Life preset, add your image or video, and adjust the loaded effect layers to suit your source. Preview the result before exporting.
How does the preset create the layered text?
An ASCII pass is followed by Texture Blur, Gaussian Blur, another ASCII pass, and Curves. The two character grids use different densities, producing overlapping scales of detail.
How can I keep the subject recognizable?
Reduce Texture Blur radius, then adjust each ASCII layer's contrast and dark/light cutoffs. Start with a close crop so important features occupy enough character cells.
Can I change the character appearance?
Yes. Adjust character sets, grid density, aspect, and colors in the ASCII layers. Change one layer first so you can see how it interacts with the other.
Does it output editable text?
The preset produces rendered images or video with a character-based appearance. It does not turn the entire result into an editable text document or a plain-text ASCII file.