Glitch effects are pretty impressive. Not only do they catch the eye, but they also make a real statement. Of course, trying to make any aspect of this kind of effect on your own is daunting. That’s why it’s such a great idea to use a Photoshop action instead.
What you’ll find here is that each of these glitch effect Photoshop actions brings its own unique style to the table. Feel free to experiment with different actions to achieve different effects. Play around with their settings and intensity until you come across a finished product you can be proud of.
The VHS Glitch Effect Photoshop PSD Actions set creates a really cool corrupted effect on your photos. It comes with ten glitch effects, all combined into one PSD file. These effects add static, slices, and retro-inspired glitches to any photo you choose to process. It also comes with a helpful Readme file.
Another great option is the SoGlitch Photoshop Action. This one adds a glitch effect to your images with just one click. It comes with six different effects that you can combine to create truly customized looks. You can sharpen the effects, change colors, and contrast to suit your liking. Layers are well organized and grouped, and the effects are non-destructive, so your original photos remain intact.
Grunge Glitch Photo FX is another great option for your photos. The effect here is super intense and can be used on photographs, illustrations, or even logos. It comes with a video and written tutorial, 21 glitch effects, ten textures, and 7 RGB color effects. The effect is also non-destructive, so your original photos stay intact.
You may also wish to consider the set of Futuristic Glitch Photoshop Actions. This set adds all sorts of glitches to your editing repertoire, including lines, errors, double exposure, and more. This set comes with 14 glitch Photoshop actions as well as full instructions that make getting started easy.
The VHS Photoshop Action is a super easy-to-use action that adds a glitch effect to your photos. Once you hit play on the action, it will appear as though your photo has been hit with the tracking feature on old VCRs. The tracking lines across the screen distort and warp the image and create a vintage effect.
Here’s another fantastic glitch effect option. Once applied to your photos, it creates a blurred look as though your eyes are slightly out of focus or like you’re looking at a 3D image without 3D glasses. It comes with ten glitch effects that can be applied through Smart Objects and 14 Photoshop actions. Each gives a sense of motion to your images.
The Anaglygh Glitch Photo FX action is super easy to apply to your photos. It comes with a default template and an online video tutorial, so you’ll know exactly how to use it. The finished effect makes it appear as though parts of your image have been shifted to one side or the other via blocks or lines.
Give your photos a dark edge with the Distorted Glitch Photoshop Action. It works on high-resolution photos best and can be added with a single click. It features organized layers and separate elements that make it easy to make adjustments and customizations as you see fit. The end result is an edgy, techno look that can be accented with hints of color.
Here’s another great choice. The Animated Glitch Photoshop Action gives your photos a look that’s simultaneously gritty and technology-inspired. It comes with 12 color options, and well-organized layers, and you can export these effects in images, animated GIFs, or videos. It comes with a text and video walkthrough guide as well.
The Digital Glitch Effect Photoshop Actions set is another easy-to-use option. It comes with 11 additional actions that boost the glitch effect. This one is a great way to add a film artifact look to your images. It gives a grungy, digital look. This set comes with adjustable layers, full instructions, and more.
The Geometric Glitch Photoshop Action adds a glitched-out shift to your photos. It makes it appear as though parts of your image have broken off and displaced into geometric shapes. It comes with an action file, a brush file, a pattern file, and a help file. It also has fully editable layers, colors, and elements and comes with a video tutorial.
This is such a fun one! This glitch effect comes with three PSF files that you can use to create a glitch effect on your image or on a series of images to create a GIF. It comes with a full tutorial, and all layers are editable and customizable so you can achieve the precise look you want.
The Twitch Glitch Photoshop Action is another fun one to add to your photos. It comes with 20 color presets and can be used on a wide variety of materials, including those for print or for the web. It also comes with a video guide and a help file, both of which make getting started with this action easy as can be.
If you want to add a glitch effect to text in your photo composites, this action is a great choice. Once you’ve made a design, add it to a smart object. The glitch effect will work on this object. Or you can glitch your background instead — it’s up to you. This action set comes with ten styles, organized layers, full customization, and a PDF help file.
This set of Glitch Art Photoshop Actions is another great choice for editing your photos. It works by adding colorful, glitchy effects to your images. The end result is abstract art. This set comes with ten effects that are fully editable and create non-destructive layers. It also comes with full instructions and can be used on any high-resolution image.
Glitch Effects with Animated GIF Creator is another way to add glitch effects to your photos with the added benefit of people able to add glitches to GIFs, too! It comes with a single PSD file, smart object support, and a drag-and-drop template. It comes with eight different glitch effects you can choose from, or you can combine them to create a unique look. It comes with a full tutorial as well.
Give your images a dark and distorted look with the Glitch 2 Photoshop Action. This effect works best on high-resolution pictures and works as a one-click action. You can make an adjustment to the settings as you see fit. It has well-organized layers and elements for easier customization as well. Plus, it comes with full documentation.
You may also want to consider the GIF Glitch Animated Photoshop Action. This one provides a template that can be used in a number of ways for creating GIF or animated video sequences out of photos, text, or illustrations. All you have to do is add your photo to a smart object. It comes with a full PDF instruction manual as well.
Still another eye-catching choice is the Face Glitch FX action. As its name would suggest, this effect works best on photos of faces and includes a written and video tutorial for proper use. The end result is an image that is as haunting as it is interesting, with the face of the subject appearing as though it has been smeared.
Last on our list is this Glitch Photoshop PSD Template, which works to distort photos in a stylistic way with just a couple of clicks. It’s super easy to use and comes with ten color settings, ten glitch layers, and 11 free actions for creating additional distortion effects. This set also comes with full instructions and a PDF tip guide.
How to Install Photoshop Actions
- Download and unzip the action file
- Launch Photoshop
- Go to Window > Actions
- Select Load Actions from the menu and go to the folder where you saved the unzipped action file to select it
- The Action will now be installed
- To use the newly installed action, locate it in the Action panel
- Click the triangle to the left of the action name to see the list of available actions
- Click the action you want to play and press the play button at the bottom of the Actions panel
Whether you want to add some visual interest to your photographs or you want to achieve a specific, distorted look, these glitch effect Photoshop action sets are all excellent choices and would serve your next project well. Don’t be afraid to experiment a little. And most of all, have fun!