Pixel Sort

Filter

Sort pixels along rows, columns, angles, or polar spokes within brightness, edge, or random spans for glitch and drip looks.

Pixel Sort reorders the pixels along each sort line by a chosen key, producing the smeared, dripping, banded look common in glitch art. It runs lines horizontally, vertically, along an arbitrary angle, or as radial spokes and concentric rings around a center point, and splits each line into spans so only part of the image flows.

Seven presets cover the common looks (Vertical Drip, Horizontal Smear, Glitch Bands, Edge Streaks, Radial Burst, Hue Waves, Radial Ripple) and snap back to Custom the moment you adjust a knob. Six sort keys (Luminance, Lightness, Value, Saturation, Hue, Alpha) decide what each pixel is ranked by, and Order flips the direction of the sort.

Span Mode controls how each line is broken up before sorting: Brightness Band sorts only pixels inside a tonal window (the classic effect), Random Lengths chops the line into randomized chunks, Between Edges keeps the sort inside flat regions, and Whole Line sorts everything at once. Skip Spans, Max Run Length, and Mix With Source dial the intensity back toward the original, while an optional mask confines the sort to a selected region.

Parameters

Preset

PresetChoice

Default: 1 Range: Custom / Vertical Drip / Horizontal Smear / Glitch Bands / Edge Streaks / Radial Burst / Hue Waves / Radial Ripple

One-click looks. Manual edits switch back to Custom

Direction

DirectionChoice

Default: Vertical

Orientation of the sort lines

HorizontalSort each row left to right.
VerticalSort each column top to bottom.
AngleSort along lines tilted to the Angle value, for diagonal streaks.
RadialSort along spokes radiating out from the center point, for a burst look.
CircularSort around concentric rings about the center point, for a swirl look.

Angle (degrees)Number

Default: 0.0 Range: 0.0–360.0

Sort-line angle. 0 = horizontal

Center X (%)Number

Default: 50.0 Range: 0.0–100.0

Horizontal center of the polar warp

Center Y (%)Number

Default: 50.0 Range: 0.0–100.0

Vertical center of the polar warp

Sort

Sort KeyChoice

Default: Luminance

What each pixel is ranked by (incl. Alpha)

LuminanceRank pixels by perceptual brightness (weighted RGB) — the most natural-looking sort.
LightnessRank by HSL lightness (the midpoint of the lightest and darkest channel).
ValueRank by HSV value (the brightest channel) — punchier than luminance.
SaturationRank by color intensity, pulling vivid pixels apart from muted ones.
HueRank by position on the color wheel — sorts the spectrum into bands.
AlphaRank by opacity, useful for sorting against transparency.

OrderChoice

Default: 1 Range: Ascending / Descending

Ascending or descending sort direction

Spans

Span ModeChoice

Default: Brightness Band

How each sort line is split into sorted spans

Brightness BandOnly pixels inside the Brightness Low/High range are sorted; the rest stay put. The classic pixel-sort look.
Random LengthsBreak each line into spans of random length (averaging Span Length) and sort each independently.
Between EdgesSplit lines at detected edges so sorting stays within flat regions; Edge Strength sets sensitivity.
Whole LineSort the entire row, column, spoke, or ring as one span.

Brightness LowNumber

Default: 0.10 Range: 0.00–1.00

Lower edge of the eligible brightness band

Brightness HighNumber

Default: 0.55 Range: 0.00–1.00

Upper edge of the eligible brightness band

Span LengthNumber · px/%

Default: 50 Range: 1–2000 px / 0–100%

Average span length for random-length spans

Edge StrengthNumber

Default: 0.50 Range: 0.00–1.00

Edge sensitivity. Higher = more break points

Refine

Skip SpansNumber

Default: 0.00 Range: 0.00–1.00

Fraction of spans left unsorted

SeedInteger

Default: 0 Range: 0–999999

Random seed (clamped >= 0 for determinism)

Advanced

Inner RadiusNumber

Default: 0.00 Range: 0.00–1.00

Center hole (fraction of max radius) left unsorted

Hue Offset (degrees)Number

Default: 0.0 Range: 0.0–360.0

Manual override of the auto hue seam. 0 = auto

Max Run LengthInteger · px/%

Default: 0 Range: 0–8000 px / 0–100%

Caps streak length. 0 = unlimited

Mix With SourceNumber

Default: 1.00 Range: 0.00–1.00

Blend the sorted result toward the source

Mask

Mask FitChoice

Default: None

How the mask is sized when it doesn't match the image. None: centered at native size. Stretch / Fit / Fill

NoneCenter the mask at its native size — no resizing. Unmasked regions are unaffected.
StretchStretch the mask to exactly match the image dimensions. May distort the mask shape.
FitScale the mask to fit inside the image, preserving aspect ratio. Letterboxes where needed.
FillScale the mask to fill the image, preserving aspect ratio. Crops edges if aspect ratios differ.

Invert MaskToggle

Default: false

Swap which side of the mask the sort runs in

Hard GateToggle

Default: true

On: sort stays strictly inside the mask (no smearing across the edge). Off: feathered whole-frame reveal

Mask FeatherNumber · px/%

Default: 0 Range: 0–400 px / 0–100%

Soften the mask edge for the soft-gate reveal

Notes

Angle (degrees): angle direction only.

Center X (%), Center Y (%), Inner Radius: radial / Circular only.

Brightness Low, Brightness High: brightness Band span only.

Span Length: random Lengths span only.

Edge Strength: between Edges span only.

Seed: random Lengths span or Skip Spans > 0.

Hue Offset (degrees): hue sort key only.

Mask Fit, Invert Mask, Hard Gate: mask connected.

Mask Feather: mask connected and Hard Gate off.

Usage Tips

Start from a preset, then switch Sort Key or Order to retune the look without rebuilding from scratch.
Brightness Band is the classic pixel-sort effect: narrow the Brightness Low/High window to sort only shadows or only highlights.
Use Radial or Circular direction with a Radial Burst or Radial Ripple preset for explosive or swirling motion around the center point.
Connect a mask to keep the sort inside a subject and leave the rest of the image untouched; raise Mask Feather to soften the boundary.
Pull Mix With Source below 1.0 to blend the sorted result back over the original for a subtler, layered glitch.