{"id":431,"date":"2012-10-02T17:31:21","date_gmt":"2012-10-02T17:31:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.photoshopessentials.com\/photoshopessentials_wp\/?p=431"},"modified":"2019-04-13T13:00:34","modified_gmt":"2019-04-13T17:00:34","slug":"color-dots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.photoshopessentials.com\/newsite\/photo-effects\/color-dots\/","title":{"rendered":"Photo To Colored Dot Pattern With Photoshop"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside><style type=\"text\/css\">\n.adslot-2 { display: inline-block; width:300px; float:right; margin: 6px 0px 12px 30px; }\n@media (max-width: 767px) { .adslot-2 { display: none; } }\n<\/style><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script>\n<!-- 300x250 photo effects top responsive -->\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle adslot-2\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-6601556224092982\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"2740208297\"\n     data-ad-format=\"rectangle\"><\/ins>\n<script>\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/aside>\n<section>\n<div id=\"author\">Written by Steve Patterson.<\/div>\n<p>In this <strong>Photoshop tutorial<\/strong>, we'll learn how to turn a photo into a pattern of colored dots using one of Photoshop's filters, a layer mask and a simple repeating pattern we'll be creating from scratch. I'll be using Photoshop CS5 here but any recent version will work. However, Photoshop CS6 and CC (Creative Cloud) users will want to check out the fully updated <a href=\"\/photo-effects\/turn-a-photo-into-a-pattern-of-colored-dots\/\">Turn A Photo Into A Pattern of Colored Dots<\/a> tutorial. <\/p>\n<p style=\"clear:both;\">Here's the image I'll be starting with:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/original-photo.jpg\" alt=\"The original photo. Image licensed from iStockphoto by Photoshop Essentials.\" width=\"483\" height=\"500\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The original photo.<\/div>\n<p>And here's what it will look like when we're done:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/photo-to-color-dots-effect.jpg\" alt=\"Photoshop photo to colored dots effect.\" width=\"483\" height=\"500\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The final result.<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<aside> <style type=\"text\/css\">\n.ads-middle { display: inline-block; width:300px; margin:6px 0px 24px 0px; padding-top: 16px; padding-bottom: 16px; }\n@media (max-width: 515px) { .ads-middle { margin:20px 0; } }\n@media (max-width: 480px) { .ads-middle { margin:20px 0; } }\n<\/style><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-6601556224092982\"\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\n<!-- photo effects 300x250 middle responsive -->\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle ads-middle\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-6601556224092982\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"4216941496\"\n     data-ad-format=\"rectangle\"\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script> <\/aside>\n<aside>\n<p>This tutorial is from our <a href=\"\/photo-effects\/\" title=\"Learn Photoshop effects\">Photo Effects<\/a> series. Let's get started!<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<aside><p class=\"members-ad-top\"><a href=\"\/print-ready-pdfs\/\">Download all of our Photoshop tutorials as PDFs!<\/a><\/p><\/aside>\n<section>\n<h2 class=\"sub\">How To Create A Colored Dot Pattern From A Photo<\/h2>\n<h3><span>Step 1:<\/span> Duplicate The Background Layer<\/h3>\n<p>With the photo newly opened in Photoshop, if we look in the <a href=\"\/basics\/layers\/layers-panel\/\">Layers panel<\/a>, we see that we currently have  one layer - the <a href=\"\/basics\/layers\/background-layer\/\">Background layer<\/a> - which is the layer our image is sitting on:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/photoshop-background-layer.gif\" alt=\"The Background layer in the Layers panel in Photoshop.\" width=\"271\" height=\"225\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The original image sits on the Background layer in the Layers panel.<\/div>\n<p>Click on the Background layer and, with your mouse button held down, drag the layer down onto the <strong>New Layer<\/strong> icon at the bottom of the Layers panel (it's the icon directly to the left of the Trash Bin):<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/duplicate-background-layer.gif\" alt=\"Duplicating the Background layer in the Layers panel.\" width=\"272\" height=\"233\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Click and drag the Background layer down onto the New Layer icon.<\/div>\n<p>Release your mouse button when the hand cursor is over the New Layer icon. This makes a copy of the Background layer which Photoshop places above the original:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/background-copy-layer.gif\" alt=\"A copy of the Background layer appears above the original in the Layers panel.\" width=\"271\" height=\"243\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">A copy of the Background layer appears above the original.<\/div>\n<h3>Step 2: Add A New Blank Layer Between The Two Existing Layers<\/h3>\n<p>Hold down your <strong>Ctrl<\/strong> (Win) \/ <strong>Command<\/strong> (Mac) key and click on the <strong>New Layer<\/strong> icon at the bottom of the Layers panel (the same icon we used in the previous step):<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/photoshop-new-layer-icon.gif\" alt=\"Clicking the New Layer icon in the Layers panel in Photoshop.\" width=\"271\" height=\"168\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Hold down Ctrl (Win) \/ Command (Mac) and click on the New Layer icon.<\/div>\n<p>This adds a new blank layer to the document. Normally, Photoshop places new layers above the layer that's currently selected (which in our case was the Background copy layer), but by holding down the Ctrl (Win) \/ Command (Mac) key while clicking the New Layer icon, we told Photoshop to place the new layer <strong>below<\/strong> it instead. We can see in the Layers panel that we now have a new blank layer named Layer 1 sitting between the Background and Background copy layers:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/new-layer-1.gif\" alt=\"A new blank layer is added to the document.\" width=\"271\" height=\"247\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The new layer appears between the two previous layers.<\/div>\n<h3>Step 3: Fill The New Layer With Black<\/h3>\n<p>Let's fill the new layer with black which will become the background color for the effect. Go up to the <strong>Edit<\/strong> menu in the Menu Bar along the top of the screen and choose <strong>Fill<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/edit-fill.gif\" alt=\"Selecting the Fill command from the Edit menu in Photoshop.\" width=\"264\" height=\"125\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Go to Edit &gt; Fill.<\/div>\n<p>This opens Photoshop's Fill dialog box. Change the <strong>Use<\/strong> option at the top of the dialog box to <strong>Black<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/photoshop-fill-dialog-box.gif\" alt=\"The Fill dialog box in Photoshop.\" width=\"370\" height=\"257\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Change the Use option to Black.<\/div>\n<p>Click OK when you're done to close out of the dialog box. Nothing will seem to have happened in the document window because the image on the Background copy layer is currently blocking Layer 1 from view, but we can see in Layer 1's <strong>preview thumbnail<\/strong> in the Layers panel that we've filled the layer with solid black:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/layer-1-preview-thumbnail.gif\" alt=\"The preview thumbnail for Layer 1 in the Layers panel.\" width=\"272\" height=\"197\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Layer 1's preview thumbnail shows that the layer is now filled with black.<\/div>\n<h3>Step 4: Select The Background Copy Layer<\/h3>\n<p>Click on the <strong>Background copy<\/strong> layer in the Layers panel to select it and make it the active layer:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/select-background-copy.gif\" alt=\"Selecting the Background copy layer in the Layers panel.\" width=\"271\" height=\"224\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Select the Background copy layer.<\/div>\n<h3>Step 5: Apply The Mosaic Filter<\/h3>\n<p>Go up to the <strong>Filter<\/strong> menu at the top of the screen, choose <strong>Pixelate<\/strong>, then choose <strong>Mosaic<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/filter-pixelate-mosaic.gif\" alt=\"Choosing the Mosaic filter in Photoshop.\" width=\"163\" height=\"108\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Go to Filter > Pixelate > Mosaic.<\/div>\n<p>The Mosaic filter pixelates an image by turning it into a series of solid-colored squares. We can set the size of the squares using the <strong>Cell Size<\/strong> option at the bottom of the filter's dialog box. Larger values will create larger squares. Smaller values, smaller squares. These squares will eventually become our colored dots, so you'll want to set your Cell Size value based on the number and size of the colored dots you want in your final effect. This may take a bit of trial and error to get things right. I'm going to set my Cell Size value to <strong>20<\/strong>. Make sure you remember the exact value you used because we'll need it again in a moment:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/photoshop-mosaic-filter.gif\" alt=\"Setting the Cell Size in the Mozaic filter's dialog box in Photoshop.\" width=\"342\" height=\"338\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Remember the value you entered for the Cell Size option.<\/div>\n<p>Click OK to close out of the dialog box. Your image should now look pixelated:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/photoshop-mosaic.jpg\" alt=\"Photoshop Mosaic filter effect.\" width=\"434\" height=\"450\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The image after applying the Mosaic filter.<\/div>\n<h3>Step 6: Create A New Document<\/h3>\n<p>Let's set our image aside for a moment and create our repeating dot pattern. For that, we'll need a new Photoshop document, so go up to the <strong>File<\/strong> menu at the top of the screen and choose <strong>New<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/photoshop-file-new.gif\" alt=\"Creating a new Photoshop document.\" width=\"291\" height=\"108\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Go to File > New.<\/div>\n<p>This opens the New Document dialog box. Set both the <strong>Width<\/strong> and <strong>Height<\/strong> of the document to the same value you entered for the Cell Size option in the Mosaic filter's dialog box. In my case, I set my Cell Size to 20 so I'll set my Width and Height options to 20 pixels each. This will create a new document that's exactly the same size as the squares in our image. Don't worry about the Resolution value but make sure <strong>Background Contents<\/strong> is set to <strong>White<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/new-photoshop-document.gif\" alt=\"Photoshop New Document dialog box.\" width=\"597\" height=\"341\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Set your Width and Height to the same value you entered for the Cell Size. Make sure the measurement type is set to pixels.<\/div>\n<p>Click OK when you're done to close out of the dialog box. Your new document will appear on your screen. Since your document is most likely very small, hold down <strong>Ctrl+spacebar<\/strong> (Win) \/ <strong>Command+spacebar<\/strong> (Mac) on your keyboard to temporary switch to Photoshop's <strong>Zoom Tool<\/strong> (your mouse cursor will change into a magnifying glass with a plus sign in the middle), then click a few times inside the document to zoom in on it. Here, I've zoomed in to 1600%:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/new-document-1600.gif\" alt=\"The new Photoshop document zoomed in to 1600 percent.\" width=\"342\" height=\"365\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Zoom in on your new document to make the next steps easier.<\/div>\n<h3>Step 7: Select The Elliptical Marquee Tool<\/h3>\n<p>Select the <a href=\"\/basics\/selections\/elliptical-marquee-tool\/\"><strong>Elliptical Marquee Tool<\/strong><\/a> from the Tools panel. By default, it's hiding behind the Rectangular Marquee Tool, so click on the Rectangular Marquee Tool and hold your mouse button down for a second or two until a fly-out menu appears, then choose the Elliptical Marquee Tool from the list:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/elliptical-marquee-tool.gif\" alt=\"Selecting the Elliptical Marquee Tool in Photoshop.\" width=\"284\" height=\"125\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Click and hold on the Rectangular Marquee Tool, then select the Elliptical Marquee Tool from the fly-out menu.<\/div>\n<h3>Step 8: Draw A Circular Selection<\/h3>\n<p>With the Elliptical Marquee Tool in hand, hold down your <strong>Shift<\/strong> key, click in the very top left corner of the document and, with your mouse button held down, drag diagonally down to the bottom right corner of the document to draw a circular selection outline. Holding the Shift key down as you drag will force the selection outline into a perfect circle. If you need to reposition the selection outline as you're drawing it,  hold down your <strong>spacebar<\/strong>, drag the outline into position with your mouse, then release your spacebar and continue. When you're done, the edges of the selection outline should touch the edges of the document so it's the same width and height as the document itself:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/elliptical-selection.gif\" alt=\"Drawing a circular selection outline with the Elliptical Marquee Tool in Photoshop.\" width=\"342\" height=\"365\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Drag out a circular selection inside the document.<\/div>\n<h3>Step 9: Fill The Selection With Black<\/h3>\n<p>Go back up to the <strong>Edit<\/strong> menu at the top of the screen and once again choose <strong>Fill<\/strong>, just as we did back in Step 3. The <strong>Use<\/strong> option should already be set to <strong>Black<\/strong> since that's what we changed it to last time, so simply click OK to close out of the Fill dialog box. Photoshop fills the selection outline in the document with black. Press <strong>Ctrl+D<\/strong> (Win) \/ <strong>Command+D<\/strong> (Mac) on your keyboard to quickly deselect the area and remove the selection outline.<\/p>\n<p>If you're using Photoshop CS4 or CS5 and you've zoomed far into your document as I have, you'll see a grid outline (known as the <strong>pixel grid<\/strong>) appearing through the black circle. The pixel grid is a new feature as of CS4 and is simply a visual aid when you've zoomed into your document. It's not part of the image itself and will disappear when viewing the image at its actual size, so just ignore it. The grid will not appear if you're using Photoshop CS3 or earlier:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/black-circle.gif\" alt=\"The circular selection outline has been filled with black.\" width=\"342\" height=\"365\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The document (still zoomed in to 1600%) after filling the selection outline with black.<\/div>\n<h3>Step 10: Invert The Colors In The Document<\/h3>\n<p>Go up to the <strong>Image<\/strong> menu at the top of the screen, choose <strong>Adjustments<\/strong>, then choose <strong>Invert<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/image-adjustments-invert.gif\" alt=\"Photoshop Invert command.\" width=\"223\" height=\"104\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Go to Image > Adjustments > Invert.<\/div>\n<p>This inverts the colors in the document, making the black areas white and the white areas black:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/image-inverted.gif\" alt=\"The colors in the Photoshop document have been inverted.\" width=\"342\" height=\"365\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The circle itself is now white, while the corner areas become black.<\/div>\n<h3>Step 11: Define The Circle As A Pattern<\/h3>\n<p>Go up to the <strong>Edit<\/strong> menu at the top of the screen and choose <strong>Define Pattern<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/edit-define-pattern.gif\" alt=\"Photoshop Define Pattern command.\" width=\"264\" height=\"85\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Go to Edit > Define Pattern.<\/div>\n<p>Photoshop will pop open a dialog box asking us to name the new pattern. Give the pattern a descriptive name. I'm going to name mine \"Circle 20x20\" since the size of my document is 20 px by 20 px. You may end up creating more circle patterns, all at different sizes, so it's a good idea to include the size of the document in the name:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/photoshop-define-pattern.gif\" alt=\"Naming the new pattern in Photoshop.\" width=\"566\" height=\"116\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Give the pattern a name.<\/div>\n<p>Click OK when you're done to close out of the dialog box. It won't seem like anything happened, but Photoshop has now saved the document as a pattern. You can close out of your circle document at this point since we no longer need it. There's no need to save it, so choose <strong>Don't Save<\/strong> when Photoshop asks if you want to save the document before closing it.<\/p>\n<h3>Step 12: Add A Layer Mask To The Background Copy Layer<\/h3>\n<p>Switch back over to your main document and make sure the <strong>Background copy<\/strong> layer is selected in the Layers panel. Click on the <strong>Add Layer Mask<\/strong> icon at the bottom of the Layers panel:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/add-layer-mask.gif\" alt=\"Clicking the Add Layer Mask icon in the Layers panel in Photoshop.\" width=\"271\" height=\"254\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">With the Background copy layer selected, click on the Add Layer Mask icon.<\/div>\n<p>Again, nothing will seem to have happened in the document, but a white-filled <strong>layer mask thumbnail<\/strong> appears on the Background copy layer in the Layers panel, letting us know that we've added the layer mask. Notice that the thumbnail has a thin highlight border around it. This tells us that the layer mask itself is selected:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/layer-mask-thumbnail.gif\" alt=\"A layer mask thumbnail appears in the Layers panel.\" width=\"271\" height=\"219\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">A layer mask thumbnail appears on the Background copy layer.<\/div>\n<h3>Step 13: Fill The Layer Mask With The Circle Pattern<\/h3>\n<p>Once again go up to the <strong>Edit<\/strong> menu at the top of the screen and choose <strong>Fill<\/strong>. This time, change the <strong>Use<\/strong> option from Black to <strong>Pattern<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/fill-use-pattern.gif\" alt=\"Changing the Use option to Pattern in the Fill dialog box in Photoshop.\" width=\"370\" height=\"139\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Change the Use option to Pattern.<\/div>\n<p>Click on the <strong>Custom Pattern<\/strong> preview thumbnail to select the pattern you want to use:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/custom-pattern-thumbnail.gif\" alt=\"Clicking the Custom Pattern preview thumbnail in the Fill dialog box.\" width=\"370\" height=\"159\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Click on the Custom Pattern thumbnail.<\/div>\n<p>This opens the <strong>Pattern Picker<\/strong>. Choose the circle pattern we just created by clicking on its thumbnail. It should be the last thumbnail in the list. If you have Tool Tips enabled in Photoshop's Preferences, the name of the pattern will appear when you hover your mouse cursor over the thumbnail:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/select-pattern.gif\" alt=\"Selecting a pattern in the Pattern Picker.\" width=\"262\" height=\"171\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Click on the circle pattern's thumbnail to select it.<\/div>\n<p>Click OK once you've selected your pattern to close out of the Fill dialog box. Photoshop fills the layer mask with the circle pattern, and our image is now made up of a  pattern of colored dots:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/pattern-filled-mask.jpg\" alt=\"The image after filling the layer mask with the circle pattern.\" width=\"434\" height=\"450\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The image after filling the layer mask with the repeating circle pattern.<\/div>\n<p>I'll zoom in closer to the image so we can see the effect more easily. Each dot in the image is made up of a single solid color thanks to the Mosaic filter we applied earlier. The black area surrounding the circles is from Layer 1 below the image (which we filled with black back in Step 3):<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/photoshop-colored-dots.jpg\" alt=\"Photoshop colored dots effect.\" width=\"450\" height=\"450\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">A closer view of the effect.<\/div>\n<h3>Step 14: Add A Hue\/Saturation Adjustment Layer (Optional)<\/h3>\n<p>As an optional final step, we can enhance the effect a little by increasing color saturation in the image. Click on the <strong>New Adjustment Layer<\/strong> icon at the bottom of the Layers panel:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/new-adjustment-layer-icon.gif\" alt=\"The New Adjustment Layer icon in the Layers panel.\" width=\"272\" height=\"169\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Click on the New Adjustment Layer icon.<\/div>\n<p>Choose a <strong>Hue\/Saturation<\/strong> adjustment layer from the list that appears:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/select-hue-saturation.gif\" alt=\"Selecting a Hue\/Saturation adjustment layer in Photoshop.\" width=\"198\" height=\"91\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Choose Hue\/Saturation from the list of adjustment layers.<\/div>\n<p>If you're using Photoshop CS3 or earlier, a Hue\/Saturation dialog box will pop open on the screen. For Photoshop CS4 and CS5 users, the controls for the Hue\/Saturation adjustment layer will appear in the Adjustments panel. In either case, increase the color saturation in the image by clicking on the <strong>Saturation<\/strong> slider and dragging it towards the right. The further you drag to the right, the more saturated the colors will become. I'm going to increase my saturation to <strong>+20<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/color-saturation-slider.gif\" alt=\"Dragging the Saruration slider for the Hue\/Saturation adjustment layer.\" width=\"317\" height=\"228\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">Drag the Saturation slider towards the right to increase color saturation in the image.<\/div>\n<p>For Photoshop CS3 and earlier users, click OK to close out of the Hue\/Saturation dialog box. Photoshop CS4 and CS5 users can leave the Adjustments panel open. And with that, we're done! Here, after boosting color saturation, is my final \"photo to colored dots\" result:<\/p>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pe-images.s3.amazonaws.com\/photo-effects\/colored-dots\/photo-to-color-dots-effect.jpg\" alt=\"Photoshop photo to color dots effect.\" width=\"483\" height=\"500\" \/>\n<div class=\"image-desc\">The final result.<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n.ads-bottom { width:300px; padding-top:16px;padding-bottom:16px; }\n<\/style><div align=\"center\"><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-6601556224092982\"\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\n<!-- 300x250 page bottom responsive -->\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle ads-bottom\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-6601556224092982\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"2879809098\"\n     data-ad-format=\"rectangle\"\n\t data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script>\n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/div>\n<aside>\n<p>And there we have it! That's how to turn a photo into a colored dot pattern with Photoshop! Visit our <a href=\"\/photo-effects\/\">Photo Effects<\/a> section for more Photoshop effects tutorials!<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<aside> <div class=\"members-ad\"><a href=\"\/print-ready-pdfs\/\">Get all of our Photoshop tutorials as PDFs!<\/a> Download them today!<\/div> <\/aside>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this Photoshop effects tutorial, learn how to easily turn a photo into a pattern of colored dots, using one of Photoshop&#8217;s filters, a layer mask and a simple repeating pattern we&#8217;ll create from scratch!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15376,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[87],"class_list":["post-431","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-photo-effects","tag-photo-borders"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO 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