Scanlines in Photoshop

In this tutorial we take a look at creating the ever so useful and popular scanlines that you can use in designs and compositions.

Step 1

Create a new document (File > New) that is 5×5px at 72ppi as the image above shows. It’s important that the document has a transparent background. After that, click Cmd + the plus key (PC: Ctrl + the plus key) to zoom into the max possible (1600% or 3200%).

Step 2

Step 2 - Scanline Pattern

Hit the ”D” key on the keyboard to set the colours to their default of black and white. Go to the Pencil Tool (grouped with the Brush Tool) and set it to a 1px brush. With it, click in the top left corner and paint in a black square. Then while holding down the shift key, click in the bottom right corner to make a perfectly diagonal line between the edges

Step 3

Now it is time to define this as a pattern. Go to Edit > Define Pattern and give it a good name. This will place it in the currently loaded patterns library.

Step 4

Really, you know have a scanline pattern done. If you want to fill an area with it, go to Edit > Fill. Choose ”Pattern” from the drop-down menu and choose the one we just created.