Pixel sorting comes from glitch art; the artist Kim Asendorf published the best-known version in 2010. Rows of pixels are put in order of brightness, but only within a chosen range, so parts of the photo stay intact and other parts melt into smooth streaks.
The two brightness sliders decide what gets sorted. A narrow range gives a few streaks falling from the highlights. A wide range dissolves most of the picture. Switch to columns for the dripping look.
How to use the Pixel Sort Effect tool
- Choose a photo.
- Set the brightness range, and choose rows or columns.
- Download the picture.
Popular uses
- Album covers and posters
- Glitch-style portraits
- Abstract textures from landscapes and skies
Tips for the best result
- Photos with a clear light source, like a sunset or neon signs, sort beautifully.
- Sort down the columns for streaks that look like melting.
Quick facts
| Price | Free |
|---|---|
| Works with | JPG, PNG, WebP |
| Where it runs | In your browser, on your device |
| Account | Not needed |