What is slit-scan photography?

Exposing film through a narrow slit while either the film or the subject moves, so different parts of the image are recorded at different moments. Photo-finish cameras use it, and it produced the star-gate sequence in 2001.

Why does it look like time is smeared?

Because it is. Each vertical strip of the result comes from a different instant, so a moving subject is spread across the frame as a continuous record of its motion rather than a single frozen moment.

Slit-Scan Stretch applied to the same source image — The same source image before and after applying Slit-Scan Stretch.

Original source image before Slit-Scan Stretch — The same source image before and after applying Slit-Scan Stretch.

Slit-Scan Stretch Photo Filter Online

Stretch the image into a controlled row-based scan-time distortion. Control the strength, compare the result, and download a finished image from your browser.

Upload a photo for the Slit-Scan Stretch effect

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Drop a file here, or click to browse

Supported formats include JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP, SVG, HEIC, AVIF, TIFF, RAW, PSD. Maximum file size: 11 MB.

What you can do with the Slit-Scan Stretch effect

Review the available effect capabilities before you begin.

Apply the Slit-Scan Stretch effect to any photo
Fine-tune the effect strength to taste
Preview your photo live as you edit
Download your edited photo in high quality
Apply Slit-Scan Stretch to many photos at once

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About the Slit-Scan Stretch effect

Thin slices of the image are sampled at progressively offset positions and reassembled, stretching subjects along one axis and producing the smeared time-distortion of a slit-scan camera.

How to use Slit-Scan Stretch

Upload a photo, adjust the Slit-Scan Stretch intensity, compare its processed preview with the source, and download the finished result.

Why use the Slit-Scan Stretch effect?

Slit-Scan Stretch, tuned to your photo

Use the intensity control to balance the Slit-Scan Stretch treatment with the detail and character of your original photo.

A fast Slit-Scan Stretch workflow

A reduced Slit-Scan Stretch preview keeps adjustments responsive. Free downloads are clean and web-size; Premium or a credit unlocks the original resolution.

Secure Slit-Scan Stretch processing

Slit-Scan Stretch uploads are processed on secure servers and automatically removed under the normal Pixoate retention policy.

How it works

Thin slices of the image are sampled at progressively offset positions and reassembled, stretching subjects along one axis and producing the smeared time-distortion of a slit-scan camera.

Processing

Slit-Scan Stretch runs as a classic image effect and does not use an AI action.

Best for

experimental portraits, motion and dance imagery, music artwork, and abstract graphic design.

Less suited to: photographs where accurate proportions matter, since the technique deliberately distorts them.

Ways to use Slit-Scan Stretch

Slit-Scan Stretch questions

What is slit-scan photography?: Exposing film through a narrow slit while either the film or the subject moves, so different parts of the image are recorded at different moments. Photo-finish cameras use it, and it produced the star-gate sequence in 2001.
Why does it look like time is smeared?: Because it is. Each vertical strip of the result comes from a different instant, so a moving subject is spread across the frame as a continuous record of its motion rather than a single frozen moment.