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

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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

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

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Now the face is recognizable

The finished mosaic

Comparison of input and drawing preview

A drawing of David Bowie

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Leon the professional one of my favorite movies

Portrait of a homeless man

Portrait of Alicia Vikander

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Perview of Barbara Palvins portrait

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Sergej Stoppel

Sergej Stoppel

Author, Community member

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

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Sergej Stoppel

Sergej Stoppel

Author, Community member

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

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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❣️❣️❣️

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

Thank you! Some of the portraits are drawn with a pen by my plotter bot Karel, so yes it is possible to make them.

Load More Replies...
Nidhi Shahapurkar
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I donno how d hell I missed dis for so long but dis is really awesome n incredible... M an artist myself, n sumthng like innovative must b taken to nxt level... Loved d work... Keep uupp!!! 😘

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❣️❣️❣️

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

Thank you! Some of the portraits are drawn with a pen by my plotter bot Karel, so yes it is possible to make them.

Load More Replies...
Nidhi Shahapurkar
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I donno how d hell I missed dis for so long but dis is really awesome n incredible... M an artist myself, n sumthng like innovative must b taken to nxt level... Loved d work... Keep uupp!!! 😘

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