How do you glitch an image?

Image glitching corrupts or manipulates still image files to create visual artifacts. Multiple approaches exist from beginner-friendly to technically advanced.

Quick methods: Apps like Glitch Lab, Photomosh, or ImageGlitcher apply instant effects -RGB splitting, scan lines, displacement, and pixel sorting. Upload an image, adjust parameters, and export. Good for experimentation and learning what effects appeal to you.

Databending: Open image files (BMP or TIFF work best) in Audacity or a text editor. In Audacity, import as raw data, apply audio effects, then export. In text editors, delete or duplicate sections of code after the header. Results are unpredictable and unique. See our databending tutorial.

Hex editing: Use a hex editor to modify specific bytes in image files. More controlled than databending but requires understanding file structure. Our hex editing guide explains safe modification zones.

Manual techniques: In Photoshop or GIMP, create effects through layer manipulation -RGB channel separation, displacement maps, slice shifting, and filter combinations.

Pixel sorting: Run images through Processing scripts or dedicated tools to rearrange pixels algorithmically. Creates distinctive streaking effects. Start with any method that interests you -glitch art rewards experimentation.