Dot Effect in Photoshop

Array Machine rebuilds any image from shapes that react to light. Use its built-in vector shapes, your own SVGs or even other images, and watch it update live.

See Array Machine Browse all plugins

Made with Array MachineUpdated October 22, 2026Works in Photoshop 2025 or newer

Four renders made with Array Machine. Tap a tab to switch.

The short answer

To make a dot effect in Photoshop, rebuild the image from small shapes that follow its light and dark areas. Array Machine, a Synkit plugin for Photoshop 2025 or newer, does this live with built-in vector shapes, your own SVGs or other images. The result exports as an SVG, so it stays sharp at any size.

At a glance

What it is: Array Machine, a Photoshop plugin
What it does: Rebuilds any image from shapes that react to light
Works in: Photoshop 2025 or newer
Format: Photoshop plugin, exports SVG
Shapes: Built-in vector shapes, your own SVGs or other images
License: Single License for one user, Team License for 5 seats
Updates: Free for licensed users
Made by: Synkit, by Jorge Lopez

What it is

A dot effect in Photoshop usually starts with a filter that gives you round dots on a fixed grid. Array Machine is a Photoshop plugin that rebuilds the image from shapes instead: built-in vectors, your own SVGs or other images, picked to match the light in your layer.

Shadows can get one shape and highlights another, or switch to Random. Jitter scale and rotation, clump cells into bigger blocks, preview it all live and export the result as SVG.

Examples

Same plugin, different shapes

Six renders, all made with Array Machine. Try it on yours

Gradient: Shapes over a blue to white ground — **Gradient** Shapes over a blue to white ground

Mixed shapes: Wings built from icons and glyphs — **Mixed shapes** Wings built from icons and glyphs

Line art: An archer rebuilt from small shapes — **Line art** An archer rebuilt from small shapes

Portrait: Shapes that follow the light on a face — **Portrait** Shapes that follow the light on a face

Full color: Shapes on a color grid — **Full color** Shapes on a color grid

Lettering: Type built from a shape grid — **Lettering** Type built from a shape grid

More Machine plugins

Want bands instead of dots? See the screen print effect.

Band Machine splits any image into brightness bands, one layer per color.

Screen print effect Browse all plugins

How to Photoshop 2025 or newer

Make a dot effect in five steps

Open Array Machine
Install the plugin with the instructions in your download, then open Array Machine from the Plugins menu in Photoshop.
Pick your shapes
Use the built-in vector shapes, or load your own SVGs and images. They are saved to your library for later projects.
Map shapes to light
Array Machine reads the light in your layer. Give shadows one shape and highlights another, or switch to Random.
Add variation
Jitter scale and rotation, and clump cells into bigger blocks.
Preview and export
Watch every change live in Preview Mode, then apply it or export the result as SVG.

Settings

Three settings that matter

Light

Shadows and highlights

Array Machine reads the light in your layer and picks shapes to match, so the image stays readable even when it is made of icons.

Shapes

Your own shape library

Use the built-in vector shapes or bring your own vectors, SVGs and images. They stay in your library for the next project.

Variation

Jitter and clumping

Jitter the scale and rotation of every cell, and clump cells together for a less mechanical grid.

Compare

Built in vs Array Machine

What you want	Photoshop built in	Array Machine
Dot shape	Round dots from a filter	Any shape, picked to match the light
Custom shapes	Define a pattern and fill by hand	Your own SVGs and images, saved to a library
Variation	Same grid every time	Jitter scale and rotation, clump cells
Live preview	Apply, undo, try again	Preview Mode updates as you work
Vector output	Trace the result in a vector app	One-click SVG export