Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

Add post form top
Add Post
Tooltip close

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

I Wrote An Algorithm That Transforms Photos Into Mosaics, And My Bot Draws Them For Me
User submission
77
15.8K

I Wrote An Algorithm That Transforms Photos Into Mosaics, And My Bot Draws Them For Me

ADVERTISEMENT

In my free time I teach my plotter bot Karel to draw with a pen. This is one of his styles. The photo is first divided into small tiles and then Karel randomly selects a style for each tile. For each image Karel can have more than 5*10^158 different outcomes. This number is higher than the estimated number of atoms in the whole universe! Which means every drawing is essentially unique.

The result is chaotic, messy but yet recognizable and fascinating (especially when you look at them from a distance or your phone).

Karel is using a simple sharpie to draw these illustrations, for each of them he needed about 5 hours without any coffee brake.

Not all of the below photos are drawn with a pen. One is a huge print out (you will know which one it is when you see it). Some are just simulations of how the real drawing will look like.

More info: Etsy

RELATED:

    I wrote an algorithm that transforms photos into mosaics, and my plotter bot draws them for me. Finished drawings look like that

    The drawing process includes whole drawing printed out on 25 sheets

    And then the assembly begins

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Now the face is recognizable

    The finished mosaic

    Comparison of input and drawing preview

    A drawing of David Bowie

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Leon the professional one of my favorite movies

    Portrait of a homeless man

    Portrait of Alicia Vikander

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Perview of Barbara Palvins portrait

    16Kviews

    Share on Facebook
    Sergej Stoppel

    Sergej Stoppel

    Author, Community member

    Read more »

    I am the founder of LinesLab an experimental design studio that explores algorithmic art and robotics.

    Read less »
    Sergej Stoppel

    Sergej Stoppel

    Author, Community member

    I am the founder of LinesLab an experimental design studio that explores algorithmic art and robotics.

    What do you think ?
    Add photo comments
    POST
    jacluckycat
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm amazed by this! I think i've seen your plotter work before. Very impressive and I love the end result.

    Lelie Purpura
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love it! 👍😍 I wanted a drawing of German musician Christopher von Deylen, aka Schiller (band). I even thought that the second male cartoon (Leon) was him❣️❣️❣️

    Load More Comments
    jacluckycat
    Community Member
    7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm amazed by this! I think i've seen your plotter work before. Very impressive and I love the end result.

    Lelie Purpura
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love it! 👍😍 I wanted a drawing of German musician Christopher von Deylen, aka Schiller (band). I even thought that the second male cartoon (Leon) was him❣️❣️❣️

    Load More Comments
    You May Like
    Related on Bored Panda
    Related on Bored Panda
    Trending on Bored Panda
    Also on Bored Panda