Torn Photo Effect

Apply Torn Photo to images and videos online

Break a photograph into rough paper strips with film-inspired color and scanned texture. Torn Photo combines a physical collage look with changing cutout shapes and stepped motion.

Original image before applying Torn Photo effect Before
After

Ideas for using the effect

Music release artwork

Fragment a band portrait into torn strips for cover art and short release loops.

Scrapbook portraits

Give a digital photograph the uneven edges and small misalignments of a pasted memory.

Editorial openers

Use the changing paper pieces as an animated introduction to a fashion or culture story.

Travel collages

Build a souvenir-print mood from street scenes, landscapes, or holiday snapshots.

Use Torn Photo 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 Torn Photo online?

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

What is included in Torn Photo?

The preset layers Classic Film, Hue Curves, framing, contrast, Paper Scan, Paper Cutout, and Frame Drop. Its saved cutout layout starts with three columns and one row.

Can a still photo become animated?

Yes. Saved keyframes change the Paper Cutout seed, rearranging the tears over time. Frame Drop holds the results in visible steps, creating a stop-motion-like rhythm even with a still source.

How do I change the tears without changing the color?

Adjust Paper Cutout's rows, columns, tear size, and roughness. The film and color layers remain separately editable, so you can keep the grade while changing the collage geometry.

How is this different from Mixed Media?

Torn Photo emphasizes a few vertical photo strips. Mixed Media combines a halftone print surface with multiple horizontal pieces and animated missing sections. Choose according to the shape and density of the collage.

Try Torn Photo now