Creative challenge 008: Mosaic effects

[DannyRaphael]

I've always liked digital simulations of mosaic effects, so let's concentrate on that style for this thread...

Use your favorite methods, plugins, filters, tools (like Painter) to give one of our most popular subjects, Bara, a mosaic look.

Have fun!

~Danny~

[DannyRaphael]

Here's one rendered with the Classic Mosaic option of the Alien Skin Xenofex 2 plugin. The mosaic layer was duplicated, Photoshop's Emboss filter applied and layer blend mode changed to Overlay for a little more depth effect.

OK... Your turn. Let's see YOUR mosaic technique!

[Swampy]

Nice, Danny, but she's almost too pretty to distort.. LOL

PhotoShop CS2:

Duplicate layers with two styles of ties (background and face) set to different blend modes.

[raniday]

Cool mosaics, Danny & Swampy! I used a tried and true mosaic tool, the one in Painter IX, but I experimented with something a little different, colorizing her first with a gradient. Not sure how I feel about the results yet, but when I've spent time on a piece, I post it!

I have so much texture in it, I had to save these at like 6%, so here are some links to larger res versions.
http://www.pbase.com/catbounds/image/53741812
http://www.pbase.com/catbounds/image/53741825

[Swampy]

Stunning, Cathrine! Looks like something that you might see in a high end magazine ad. I like the magenta one myself.

[camon]

This my attempt, I have photo shop 7 and this is a filter I have had for a long time Alien Skin Xenofex 2 "Shatter". I hope this goes right, posting on each forum seem to be a challange for me to get it right.

My photo site

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by camon

This my attempt, I have photo shop 7 and this is a filter I have had for a long time Alien Skin Xenofex 2 "Shatter". I hope this goes right, posting on each forum seem to be a challange for me to get it right.

My photo site

You did just fine. Welcome to RetouchPRO and keep the creativity coming.

~Danny~

[raniday]

Thanks very much, Swampy

This looks like an interesting mosaic program. I downloaded it to my desktop but haven't installed it yet.
http://www.andreaplanet.com/andreamosaic/

[Kraellin]

ok, i did two here; one as if printed from a photo on tile and the other as a more traditional make an image with tile.

danny, looks like something straight out of a roman or greek bath.
dee dee, very creative and unique.
cat, i like the green one better

craig

[Swampy]

Craig! Those are marvelous! The first is very "commercial" (my taste) the second is kinda fun like she's winking at us. Good job

[lkroll]

Simple, simple, simple. One of the reason's I like GIMP.

Side note: here's a PDF article outlining using Voronai grids to align tiles; really makes for realistic mosaics.

[DannyRaphael]

Wow... some very cool interpretations.

More from me...
* 1st one: Based on a PS action I'm tinkering with attempting to reproduce the results Panos gets. It's got a ways to go.
* Middle one: Photoshop Stained Glass filter (4,2,0). Although similar to the Gimp effect, I prefer Gimp's output.
* Right one: Duplicated Background, added some Noise and a Layer Mask. Airbrushed black on the Layer Mask in the areas of her face, hair and body so the noise was (in effect) only applied to the background portions of the image. Flattened image and applied Stained Glass again with the same settings. Notice the multi-colored effect in the background!

Are we having fun yet?

[lkroll]

Also, do you know of a filter that simulates the Voronai placement of square tiles like the PDF link above? For the life of me, I can not find one. Obviously, they used a program to do their work, but it would be cool if a PS filter exist that does this.

[CJ Swartz]

Nice work, everyone!
Danny -- I especially like your first rendition!

Made a mosaic pattern to play with, and added the standard PShop 7 mosaic texture along the way...

[lkroll]

Originally Posted by raniday

Cool mosaics, Danny & Swampy! I used a tried and true mosaic tool, the one in Painter IX, but I experimented with something a little different, colorizing her first with a gradient. Not sure how I feel about the results yet, but when I've spent time on a piece, I post it!

I have so much texture in it, I had to save these at like 6%, so here are some links to larger res versions.
http://www.pbase.com/catbounds/image/53741812
http://www.pbase.com/catbounds/image/53741825

That's cool. If I were to get painter, it would be for this cool filter effect. It's what I was looking for in a PS filter (could not find one).

[raniday]

Thanks, Ikroll. It's fairly labor intensive, as you're painting in the tiles one at a time, or one row at a time, but I enjoy doing it.

[camon]

Boy I have looked thru filter I haven't used for a long time, this is great. This one is done in Dream Suite

[raniday]

Camon, I like that a lot! I've been wanting Dream Suite Series 1 and Photographic Edges (which I hear is glitchy) but just haven't shelled out the $$. Together, they're $350! Seems like a lot of money for filters I would only use occasionally

[jmacleve]

Hello, everyone. I'm new here -- my name is Janet Aldrich, I'm from Cleveland, Ohio, I'm 44 and a new graphic design student, after lots of years of getting by on instinct.

I started out using Jasc's PSP, back about ver. 4 or so. I'm still fond of it, although I don't figure I'll go past 9, now that Corel's got their hands on it (no offense to those who like Corel -- I'm just wary of their track record.)

Here are a couple of attempts I took. The first one uses PSPs Antique Mosaic filter and the Cobblestone texture effect.

The second one probably won't look as good, just because I had to do some reducing to get it under the 100K limit for the uploader. I used the one-step Photo Fix to enhance lights and shadows and then the Tile effect. Without the Photo Fix, everything blurred together too much.

jma

[Bob Mc]

Thought I'd post a couple of "mosaics" made with Auto Fx software - among other adjustments - since there seemed to be a little interest in that sw.

I didn't think that this effect would work very well on a portrait, so I did it on a landscape.

The original photo is of a Napa Valley (California) Vineyard in the springtime. Since we live within a corks throw of Napa, it's a picture that will be greatly enlarged (without any special effects) and will eventually hang in the main hallway in my home - along with some other wine country photos.

I've attached one picture and referenced two others that are larger similar work-in-process pics.

Comments are welcome.


http://img380.imageshack.us/my.php?i...eld5x719zb.jpg


http://img380.imageshack.us/my.php?i...eld5x720uh.jpg

Regards and Happy Holidays to All

Bob Mc

[CJ Swartz]

Originally Posted by lkroll

Side note: here's a PDF article outlining using Voronai grids to align tiles; really makes for realistic mosaics.

lkroll -- did you use this article to help you align your tiles? Even if I really concentrated, I don't think I understand what to do with it -- any short, easy, summaries of how to use it?

[Kraellin]

Originally Posted by Swampy

Craig! Those are marvelous! The first is very "commercial" (my taste) the second is kinda fun like she's winking at us. Good job

thanks dee dee a little was lost on the first one in particular. the grout is missing in a few places there.

danny, i love the white grout look.

and camon, very cool. as if done on a plaster wall and plaster is cracking. this was all done in dream suite?

lkroll, i'd have to spend a month with a dictionary to make any sense of that voronai pdf. but thanks

cj, very cool. reminds me of rough slate textures.

bob mc, which of the autofx filters/plugins did you use to get that? very nice.

craig

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by jmacleve

Hello, everyone. I'm new here -- my name is Janet Aldrich, I'm from Cleveland, Ohio, I'm 44 and a new graphic design student, after lots of years of getting by on instinct.

I started out using Jasc's PSP, back about ver. 4 or so. I'm still fond of it, although I don't figure I'll go past 9, now that Corel's got their hands on it (no offense to those who like Corel -- I'm just wary of their track record.)

Here are a couple of attempts I took. The first one uses PSPs Antique Mosaic filter and the Cobblestone texture effect.

The second one probably won't look as good, just because I had to do some reducing to get it under the 100K limit for the uploader. I used the one-step Photo Fix to enhance lights and shadows and then the Tile effect. Without the Photo Fix, everything blurred together too much.

jma

Welcome, jma...

Nice to have you join us. Your interpretations add variety to the mix so far. Well done.

re: Suspicious of Corel
I know what you mean. I'm optimistic they'll keep their act together since I now (barely) use Painter.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Here are a couple rendered with the FREE DreamSuite Mosaic plugin. Check out this link: http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/63757-post1.html. I know it works with Photoshop; I believe it works with Painter, PSP, Elements, etc.

The 3rd one is from applying Photoshop's Mosaic command (setting=11), followed by Paint Daubs (2,27,Simple), then a mega-dose of Unsharp Mask (250,4.0,0).

Finally, another from an action I'm tinkering with.

Cheers...

~Danny~

[Bob Mc]

Craig,
It was the Mesh effect - from Dream Suite series two.

A "layout" mode allows you to define how many strips to use - both horizontally and vertically as well as the spacing of the strips. You can even meld two images into the mesh whose shape can also be varied

The "layout" mode of the Mesh effect allows you to give the pieces "dimensions" by allowing edge curls, bevels, etc as well as deckled edges.

I don't remember what edge effect I applied - there are about a zillion possibilities there.

Someone mentioned that the Auto FX software is expensive and it is. Sometimes you can write them and ask for a "deal" on some combination of their sw - it worked for me.

If you have a real need for the type of effects the Dream Suite series does - then it's probably much easier to do the effects thru their sw than to try to do it yourself.

Their "edges" software is somewhat of a different story - in my experience.
A few forum participants have said that there is nothing in there that you couldn't create yourself - and - in my use of that sw, I've found that if you find a preset that works it is quick and easy (although you have to scan a lot of edges to identify a sub-set that fits your style initially) But, if you try to "build" your own using the large number of variables available - it wasn't quick nor easy for me. I only use the sw occasionally so each time I have to go thru somewhat of a trial and error process.

I believe they have demo versions and now I think they have training videos for some of their products. I'd highly recommend trying the demos if available and - if I knew then what I know now- I'd buy a training video on the "Edges" product before I actually bought the sw.

Hope this helps

Regards

Bob Mc

[lkroll]

Originally Posted by CJ Swartz

lkroll -- did you use this article to help you align your tiles? Even if I really concentrated, I don't think I understand what to do with it -- any short, easy, summaries of how to use it?

Strait filter work CJ. GIMP has a cool Mosaic filter. I added GIMP's Bumpmap filter to give the tiles a 3D feel. It would be cool to have a filter that would emulate what the article has, but, the closest result I've seen came from Catherine's (a.k.a., Raniday) submission using selections in Painter IX and tools built within it.

[Nanls]

Here is somemore Autofx with some adjustment layers... fun stuff.
~Nancy~

[raniday]

Fascinating thread with awesome mosaic paintings, everyone!

Danny, I had forgotten about the DreamSuite mosaic plugin. Thanks for reminding us.

CJ, I'm glad you asked the question

Even if I really concentrated, I don't think I understand what to do with it -- any short, easy, summaries of how to use it?

When you posted it, Ikroll, I was thinking, "Oh Gosh! Wish I'd paid more attention in my math classes! "

Auto FX software is expensive. Sometimes you can write them and ask for a "deal" on some combination of their sw - it worked for me.

Thanks for the tip, Bob.

Their "edges" software is somewhat of a different story...A few forum participants have said that there is nothing in there that you couldn't create yourself -

The only edge that I've really lusted after in that program is the one that simulates Polaroid emulsion transfers, and it does it exceptionally well, according to their examples. I've done some that came fairly close but no cigar.

[Kraellin]

danny, i like that third one in your series of four the best.

bob mc, thank you

and, using the link danny provided i retrieved and installed the autofx mosaic and gave it a whirl....

craig

[CJ Swartz]

Originally Posted by lkroll

...It would be cool to have a filter that would emulate what the article has, but, the closest result I've seen came from Catherine's (a.k.a., Raniday) submission using selections in Painter IX and tools built within it.

Whew! I think I'm glad that I don't have to try to learn that article! Cat, Craig -- I'm glad I wasn't the only one who wanted a short summary.
I like your submission,lkroll -- GIMP plus skill equals a fine look!

Cat's work is great (especially at full size on PBase rather than our restricted RPro limit). Again, Painter plus skill equals fine work.

I downloaded the AutoFx Mosaic filter also and used it as a base, then added a texture from a sunflower image (to make a few curves). Hmmm, gave her a "sunflower" nose (better than cauliflower, but not as good as her own) -- have to work on that.

[Kraellin]

had to have another go at this:

craig