Scribble Effect

Apply Scribble to images and videos online

Give a photograph a rough, scribbled surface with uneven edges and reduced colors. Scribble combines texture-driven blur and distortion with dithering for a deliberately restless drawing-like finish.

Original image before applying Scribble effect Before
Image with Scribble effect applied After

Ideas for using the effect

Expressive portraits

Use a close face as the foundation for a loose, textured illustration.

Art-school posters

Build an irregular image treatment to contrast with large, straightforward typography.

Sketchbook collages

Connect found images through the same rough surface and reduced palette.

Experimental video

Let live-action movement carry the scribble treatment through a short clip.

Use Scribble 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 Scribble online?

Open the Scribble preset, add your image or video, and adjust the loaded effect layers to suit your source. Preview the result before exporting.

How is the Scribble effect constructed?

It combines Texture Blur, Dither, two Texture Displacement layers, and a texture overlay. The result comes from shifting and texturing the source rather than drawing new objects.

How can I reduce the distortion?

Lower the displacement amounts one layer at a time. Then adjust Texture Blur radius if the image remains too soft. Keeping the dither and overlay preserves the rough surface while restoring more recognizable contours.

Can I change the palette?

Yes. Dither controls the limited-color treatment. Try another palette or revise its color count, then check the interaction with the final texture layer before settling on the result.

Which subjects work best?

Strong silhouettes and close portraits survive the irregular texture well. Fine product labels and detailed screenshots are harder to read. For animated framing around a subject, compare Scribble Frames.

Try Scribble now