Break a picture into flying pixels
Pixel Scatter releases square cells on seeded timing and sends them flying in one direction, or falling with Gravity, until they fade out and leave transparency behind. Each cell keeps its exact pixels, so the picture seems to shatter into its own blocks.
It uses the same grid as Pixel Art, so placing it after Pixel Art with a matching Pixel size breaks a finished pixel-art image apart cell by cell. The motion needs playback and loops every Cycle.
Creative applications
- A sprite or avatar that dissolves into pixels.
- Looping pixel-art motion for social posts and title cards.
Starting workflow
- Open the demo, choose an image, and add Pixel Art, then Pixel Scatter with the same Pixel size.
- Press play. Raise Amount until enough cells break away, then set Travel and Direction for how far and where they fly.
- Add Gravity for falling blocks, and lengthen Cycle for a slower dissolve before exporting.
Key controls
- Amount
Set the share of cells that break away in each cycle. Zero leaves the image unchanged.
Default: 30% · Range: 0% to 100%
- Travel
Set how many cells each piece travels before it fades out.
Default: 2 · Range: 0 to 2
- Pixel size
Match the Pixel size of Pixel Art so the scattered cells follow the same grid.
Default: 16 · Range: 2 to 128
- Direction
Point the flight direction; 90 degrees sends cells downward.
Default: 90deg · Range: 0deg to 360deg
- Spread
Vary each cell's direction around the main one. At 100% cells fly in every direction.
Default: 50% · Range: 0% to 100%
- Gravity
Pull cells downward as they fly, for falling blocks.
Default: 0.5 · Range: 0 to 1
- Cycle
Set how many seconds one break-apart takes before the image restores and repeats.
Default: 3s · Range: 0.5s to 10s
Practical tips
- Animate Amount from 0 to 100% for a scripted disintegration instead of a loop.
- Keep Travel low for a shimmering, crumbling edge; raise it for pieces that clearly fly away.
Limitations
- Cells travel at most three cells from their origin, including Gravity.
- The effect needs playback; the first frame of each cycle shows the intact image.
