How to create a field of dots that clusters tighter together toward the center

[Jack Brannen]

I'm trying to build a very specific texture in Photoshop, and I'm a little stumped. Anyone know if this is possible?

I want a field of dots that meets these 4 criteria:

1. Dots are packed together tighter toward the center and looser toward the edges
2. Dots don't overlap
3. Dots are not distorted into ovals (as would happen if I use Distort filters to spread them out)
4. Dots are in a semi-random organic pattern
5. Dots are all the same size [EDIT: Added this. Forgot to put this in originally—apologies.]

I can do this in Illustrator with the Symbol Sprayer tool up to a certain point (see attached image), but then the program slows to a crawl. I need something I can do on a much larger scale.

Thanks in advance!

[Myra Ferguson · Accepted solution]

You could try the free Comic Kit plugin on Adobe Exchange (https://exchange.adobe.com/apps/cc/13159).

After you install it, do the following

1. Choose Edit > Fill
2. Choose Content: Pattern
3. Check the check box next to Script: under Options
4. Choose Screen_Pattern_ex from the script dropdown menu
5. Click OK

Then in the Screen Pattern dialog, select the following:

1.  In the Basic tab, set Pattern Gradation to Radial
2. Increase the Randomize Patterns amount as desired
3. Modify the other settings as desired
4. Click OK

You may need to test various settings to make the dots not overlap.

[Stephen Marsh]

Great reply @Myra Ferguson !

[Myra Ferguson]

@Stephen Marsh Thanks! 🙂

[Jack Brannen]

Thanks, @Myra Ferguson. This is a cool plugin.

I'm realizing that I failed to list a 5th criteria, "Dots are all the same size." My mistake! Your answer is the perfect solution to what I originally asked for.

[Myra Ferguson]

You're very welcome. If it worked, you can mark it as a Correct Answer in addition to Semaphoric's solution so that others with the same question can also find it. Thanks! 🙂

[Jack Brannen]

Ah yes, done, thank you

[Semaphoric · Accepted solution]

There is a program you can download called StippleGen, which generates points using Voronoi diagrams. If you run it on a radial gradient, you get something like so:

The result is saved as an SVG file. You can open it in Photoshop,but the paths for the individual points have a stroke but no fill, and can have little hollow white dots in their centers. If you open the file in a Vector editor like Illustrator, you can add fills and remove the strokes, and then copy and paste as a Shape into Photoshop (as I did here).

[Stephen Marsh]

@Semaphoric – thanks, you saved me the work of finding the link!

[Semaphoric]

Doing this in a vector program would be better than Photoshop, since each dot is an object, and there are commands like "Transform Each". 

Another possibility for the OP could be some sort of Phylotaxis type pattern, like in the center of a daisy. There were a few extensive discussions about achieving this on the Illustrator Forum several years ago. I've done it to a limited degree in Photoshop, but it's hit or miss to set up for good results, and the elements get smaller towards the center, which is not desired.

[Jack Brannen]

Totally agree. I just searched the Illustrator forum for "phylotaxis" with no results. If I get stumped here, I will start a new post over there. Thanks!

[Semaphoric]

Try searching for "Daisy Challenge". I shoul note I came across that discussion via a Web search, not from searching the forums.

[Stephen Marsh]

The result is saved as an SVG file. You can open it in Photoshop,but the paths for the individual points have a stroke but no fill, and can have little hollow white dots in their centers.

By @Semaphoric

Without access to vector tools, I'm sure that a hack such as duping the layer, applying the Minimum filter at the desired radius to expand and then the Maximum filter at a larger radius to contract smaller than the edges would work to fill in the centres.

I don't know SVG coding, however, it should also be possible to add the fill directly with a multiple find/replace.

[Jack Brannen]

Just tried these filters (new to me), and they work exactly as you described. Great tip, thanks.

[Jack Brannen]

Amazing—what a find! This worked like a charm the first time. Thank you!

(What a strange interface this program has!)

[Lumigraphics]

ImageJ can do this natively as well.

https://imagej.net/

[werkplace]

This is an amazing program, thanks for sharing. My surprise is that this was written "in" Processing. I discovered Processing from Casey himself when he ws still in the media labs in 1999. Frankly, it changed my life. But haven't used it in at least a decade. Did not know you could write standalone Processing stack apps using the Processing SDK itself is I understand this at first glance. This is a game changer for bridging some gaps with generative custom tooling needs in legacy apps like Adobe's and those of us that can put the time in to learn things like Touchdesigner. Thanks again!