
Next, I try out a few textured overlays by swiping the bottom layer of swatches towards the right and selecting each one until I find a texture that compliments the image. I then reduce the opacity of this layer by moving that layer’s opacity slider down about three quarters of the way until I feel it has the right balance. It’s a bit dark and heavy, so I tone this down by tapping the adjustment tool (the icon on the right of the group of three at the base of the image). The last swatch gives you the option to buy additional overlay texture packs.įor my image, I select the “FanTome” filter which applies a distressed vignette to the edges of the photo. Swipe right to view the choice of swatches and tap each one to see how it would affect the image. Some use bright colors, some more muted tones, some with vignettes, and others with vibrant colored patterns. Next, I apply a color overlay to the photo of which there are several to choose from. I then move the photo so it’s more central, and adjust one of the corners so my son is in the middle of the image and tap “Done.” To correct this I tap “Constrain” at the bottom of the screen and select the “Square” option. I can see from the rule of thirds guidelines that he’s not centrally placed within the frame and that the image isn’t square. I select a photo of my son running across a heather covered field. To do this tap the camera icon in the top left and select an image from your camera roll. To begin with we need to select the photo that we want to start working with. How To Use Distressed FX To Create Mobile Art So, let’s take a walk through the process of using Distressed FX to create a painterly inspired image from an ordinary looking photograph. By swiping all the way to the right of each of these layers you then have the option of buying extra color/texture packs to further broaden the app’s creative potential. The top layer of swatches applies a color overlay to the image, while the lower layer applies a textured overlay. At the bottom of this section you’ll find three icons that allow you to do things such as add and adjust the amount of blur applied to a photo, select an object overlay of birds in flight, and adjust the brightness, contrast and saturation levels of the image.Īt the very bottom of the screen are two rows of small color/pattern swatches. The main portion of the screen is devoted to the image itself. At the top of the screen you’ll find a number of icons that enable you to access your camera roll, undo editing steps, zoom into the image to examine it in more detail, as well as share your images to different social platforms. The first thing you’ll notice about the Distressed FX interface is that it has a simple layout. If you’re not familiar with Distressed FX then let’s take a dive into the app, its layout, and how you can use it to create your own unique piece of art. I find it so much more user-friendly than other apps which produce similar effects. I personally like the updates and think Cheryl Tarrant and her team have done an excellent job of incorporating user feedback and taking the app to another level. It’s this ability to transform photos into something else that gives mobile photography and art its uniqueness and versatility.ĭistressed FX has grown in popularity since its launch back in 2012 and since then has undergone some significant updates. These elements can then be adjusted so their strength and opacity transform the image into something that resembles a painting. A color layer can then be applied, along with a textured layer, as well as objects such as birds in flight or trees. Users of Distressed FX will find it super easy to import their photos. It layers color filters and textures over an image, enabling you too quickly and easily create beautiful imagery that have a lovely distressed, painterly effect.ĭistressed FX was the brainchild of Cheryl Tarrant, a digital texture artist from Tennessee, USA. The app is a photo editing app for iPhone and iPad users, which, as this Distressed FX tutorial will demonstrate, is simple to use. If you’re looking for an iPhone app to help inject a distressed and textured look to your photos, then Distressed FX is one such app worth checking out. For those with the talent, creativity and vision, there’s the potential to create some truly amazing mobile art. One of the unique and defining things about iphone photography is the vast array of creative photo apps available in the app stores.
