Definition

• The Andy Warhol effect, in terms of Adobe Photoshop software, refers to tiling an image -- which means repeating the same picture across and vertically, usually in a two-by-two grid, and applying different, unusual neon colors. The effect isn't technically an "effect," as it's not something included with the Photoshop software you can just click on and have done, like some of Photoshop's filters. It's something you do manually, square by square, color by color.
  
  

Process

• An Andy Warhol effect begins once you choose your subject matter. You'll also make decisions about the size for the final product and how many squares to include in the grid. Then, you open the base image to use by clicking "File" and selecting "Open," navigating to the image and clicking it. Once it's on the Photoshop canvas, you click "Select," click "All" and press the "Ctrl" and "C" keys to copy it. The image is now in Photoshop's memory, and you simply press "Ctrl" and "V" the number of times you want to repeat the picture in the grid. For a grid of four, you'll press three times, adding three to the original opened image. After lining up the pictures, the colorization begins.
  
  

Options

• There are no stringent rules to choosing colors and alternatives for the Andy Warhol effect. In most cases, the "Hue/Saturation" menu from the "Image" menu's "Adjustment" list will be your best bet. Here you get to choose both the color and the brightness -- for Andy Warhol images, the brighter the better. You can also use the Photoshop "Lasso" tool to circle areas to color and leave black parts black, also an integral part of a Warhol. Just as there are no rules for color, there aren't rules for the image subject matter either. Using multiple pictures instead of repeating the same one may confuse viewers and lead them away from thinking of the Warhol effect, but the creative options are up to the designer.
  
  

Considerations

• Andy Warhol chose iconic, easy to recognize items for his famous tiled images -- Campbell's Soup cans and Marilyn Monroe, for example. The simplicity of the images, such as a single can or a backgroundless portrait, made for repetition that was easy on the eyes and fillable with lots of solid color. When you make your own Warhol effect, keep these guidelines in mind. One option is to remove the background from your image using one of Photoshop's selection tools before getting started.