- Sans Serif
382
- Calligraphy
49
- Display
535
- Bold
332
- Script
165
- Serif
287
- Retro
- Graffiti
66
- Y2K
67
- Elegant
- Western
74
- Gothic
74
- Futuristic
97
- Bubble
- Playful
162
- Art Deco
52
- Wedding
102
- Sports
60
- Brush
137
- Pixel
90
- Groovy
69
- Signature
88
- Cartoon
91
- Medieval
- Typewriter
54
- Blackletter
- Marker
81
- Grunge
- Monoline
51
- Handwriting
299
Scan Effects Photoshop
Scan effects reproduce what a flatbed scanner or photocopier does to artwork: toner streaks, dust, uneven exposure, crushed contrast and paper texture. The collection covers dirty scanner passes, photocopy and toner degradation, color copier shifts, scanner glitches, and folded originals with edge shadows.
Scan effects: reproduction damage from scanners and copiers
Scan effects reproduce what happens to artwork when it is copied by machine. A flatbed scanner moves a sensor across the glass in a single pass, recording whatever lies on that surface along with the original: dust, fingerprints, scratches in the glass and uneven illumination from the lamp. A photocopier adds a second layer of degradation, reproducing tone through a coarse screen with toner that clumps, streaks and drops out where the drum is worn.
The characteristic damage is directional. Both machines move along one axis, so streaks, banding and misfeeds run consistently in one direction across the page. This is the detail most often missed in applied effects, where marks are distributed randomly and the result loses its physical logic.
Repeated copying compounds the damage. Contrast increases with each generation, midtones collapse toward black or white, fine detail fills in or disappears, and marks from earlier copies are reproduced alongside new ones. This accumulation is why heavily copied material looks so distinct from a single clean scan.
Types of reproduction damage
- Dirty scanner: dust, hair, glass marks and uneven lamp exposure.
- Photocopy and toner: crushed contrast, clogged shadows, streaking and dropout.
- Color copier: heavy saturation shifts and separation drift between toners.
- Scanner glitch: banding, displaced rows and interrupted passes.
- Print and halftone scans: screen structure captured from already-printed material.
- Folded and handled originals: creases, shadows and edge shadows from lifted paper.
Practical notes
Legibility needs checking at final size. Heavy copy degradation closes the counters in letterforms and removes fine logo detail, so text and marks should be tested at output dimensions before the treatment is finalized. Large, bold shapes survive the process; small type generally does not.
Flat vector artwork shows toner breakup clearly, which makes logos and typography good candidates where legibility allows. Photographs lose midtone separation, so images with strong contrast between subject and background hold up better than evenly lit ones.
Adding a soft shadow at the edge of the sheet, and keeping a slight rotation relative to the page, completes the impression of a physical document placed on glass.
Where scan effects are used
- Zines and independent publishing: the production method the aesthetic originates from.
- Gig posters and flyers: punk, hardcore and DIY event promotion.
- Album artwork: releases referencing underground distribution.
- Streetwear graphics: prints built on photocopied source material.
- Editorial design: features on analog media, archives and pre-digital publishing.
A scan effect reproduces what happens when artwork is copied on a flatbed scanner or photocopier: toner streaks, dust, uneven exposure, crushed contrast, color shifts, and paper texture. The photo is replaced through a Smart Object and the copy damage rebuilds around it.
A scanner reads an original and records dust, glass marks, and lighting unevenness. A photocopier reproduces it with toner, losing midtones and clogging shadows. Scan effects cover both, with photocopy versions showing heavier contrast loss and visible toner texture.
Photocopiers reproduce tone through a coarse screen with a limited response curve, so values in the middle range collapse toward black or drop out to white. Repeated copying compounds this, which is why generation-loss effects push contrast progressively harder.
Keep the damage consistent in one direction, since a scanner head and a copier drum both move across the page on one axis. Random marks in every direction look applied. Adding slight paper texture and a soft edge shadow completes the impression of a physical copy.
Yes, and it suits them well, as flat vector shapes show toner breakup clearly. Check legibility at the final size, since heavy copy degradation closes up small counters in letterforms and can make fine logo details disappear.
Scan and photocopy effects are standard in zine design, punk and DIY posters, album artwork, streetwear graphics, and editorial layouts referencing analog reproduction, photocopied flyers, and pre-digital publishing.