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How to Distort Images
Upload your image
Select distortion: Swirl (spiral) or Bulge/Pinch (expand/compress)
Adjust radius to control affected area size
Adjust angle (swirl) or strength (bulge/pinch) for intensity
Download the distorted image
Distortion Effects Compared
Calculating Swirl Intensity
- Set radius to 150 pixels to define the affected circular area.
- Adjust angle parameter to 45 degrees for a moderate spiral twist.
- Apply strength value of 0.8 to intensify the distortion density.
- Resulting image shows a 45-degree rotation gradient across the 150-pixel radius.
Choosing The Right Distortion
Use Swirl for creating vortex or spiral effects that rotate pixels around a center point. Select Bulge when you need to expand the center outward, mimicking a fisheye lens. Choose Pinch to compress the center inward, creating a squeezed or sucked-in appearance. All three effects operate locally in the browser without uploading data to external servers.
When To Use Image Distortion
- Creating psychedelic poster art with spiral patterns
- Simulating a fisheye lens effect for landscape photos
- Generating abstract art by compressing central subjects
- Testing visual effects for video game assets
- Adding unique visual flair to social media profile pictures
Centered Distortion Limitation
All distortion effects are currently locked to the image center. If your subject is off-center, you must crop the image beforehand to reposition the subject, apply the effect, and then crop the result back to the original dimensions.
Key Features
Swirl Effect
Creates spiral distortion around the center. Positive angles swirl clockwise, negative counter-clockwise. Great for psychedelic and abstract effects.
Bulge Effect
Expands the center outward like a fisheye lens. Creates fun exaggerated perspectives, popular for comedic portraits.
Pinch Effect
Compresses the center inward, opposite of bulge. Creates surreal, squeezed appearance. Combine with bulge for complex distortions.
Privacy & Security
All distortion effects are applied in your browser. Images never leave your device. Processing uses hardware acceleration for smooth real-time preview.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I create a fisheye effect?
Select the Bulge distortion type and set the strength parameter between 50% and 100% to achieve a strong outward expansion. Adjust the radius slider to control how much of the image circumference the effect covers. This technique produces the most dramatic results when the main subject sits directly in the center of the frame.
Can I control where the distortion is centered?
The current implementation applies all distortion effects strictly to the geometric center of the uploaded image. To target off-center subjects, you must crop the photo first to move the desired area to the middle, apply the effect, and then crop the result again. This workflow ensures the distortion aligns with your specific visual focus.
What's the difference between bulge and pinch?
Bulge uses positive strength values to push pixels outward from the center, making objects appear larger or closer. Pinch applies negative strength values to pull pixels inward, creating a compressed or sucked-in appearance. Both effects utilize the same underlying algorithm but manipulate pixel displacement in opposite directions.