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Torn Paper Collage Effect

Rebuilds your picture as torn pieces of colored paper, printed in misregistered riso inks with photocopy grain.

The portrait as a collage of torn cream, white and blue paper pieces, printed in black and blue halftone dots and diagonal line screens.
Portrait with a black bob and bangs, yellow brows, red lips, red hoop earrings and a pale blue ribbed turtleneck against a blue sky.
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Made with Collage

Works in

The torn paper collage effect turns any image into a mixed-⁠media zine page. One torn-⁠paper map cuts the picture into pieces of colored stock, screens each in dots or lines of riso ink, and adds fiber tear edges and toner grain. You can change inks, paper colors, piece count, screen size and tear roughness.

Same effect, different settings

8 photos, each with its own settings. Try it on yours

  • Torn Paper Collage Effect on a photo of a man in a suit under yellow light
  • Torn Paper Collage Effect on a photo of a purple aster
  • Torn Paper Collage Effect on a photo of a man in a white shirt
  • Torn Paper Collage Effect on a photo of a man with slicked blond hair and sunglasses
  • Torn Paper Collage Effect on a photo of a young man in black
  • Torn Paper Collage Effect on a photo of a woman in black sunglasses
  • Torn Paper Collage Effect on a photo of a black horse
  • Torn Paper Collage Effect on a photo of a man with a buzz cut

Use Torn Paper Collage Effect in Photoshop, After Effects, Illustrator, Affinity or Figma

The plugins are free with an account. Paid plans add bigger renders and your own filters. See pricing

Settings worth touching

Collage Pieces
Sets how many torn pieces split the picture, from one sheet up to ten overlapping scraps of paper stock.
Screen Pitch
Changes the size and spacing of the halftone dots and lines, from a fine screen to coarse, chunky marks.
Misregistration
Shifts the ink plates out of line with each other, so colors slip past their edges like a loose riso print.

Frequently asked questions

How do I add the torn paper collage effect in Photoshop?

Install Nexus for Photoshop, then apply the look as a Smart Filter on a Smart Object or render it as a new layer. Double-⁠click the Smart Filter to change settings later.

Can I animate a paper collage effect in After Effects?

Yes. Nexus for After Effects adds the look as a native effect. Drop it on a layer and keyframe any control, such as Misregistration or Ink Drift, on the timeline.

Can I change the ink and paper colors?

Yes. Plate Ink A, Plate Ink B and Plate Ink C set the three ink colors, and Paper sets the base stock. Torn Fiber White sets the color of the tear edges.

Does the collage effect give vector output in Illustrator or Figma?

No. The look renders pixels only. In Illustrator and Figma, the result comes back into your file as an embedded image, not as vector paths.

Can I try it without an account?

Yes. Open the look in the Nexus web editor and try it on your own image without an account. Exporting needs a free account, which exports images up to 720px and video up to 720px with the Nexus mark.

Related effects

Try Torn Paper Collage Effect in your browser

Free to try. Exporting needs a free account.

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