# How to create mosiacs from digital photographs (preferably with GIMP)?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-create-mosiacs-from-digital-photographs-preferably-with-gimp/361455>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 20, 2006, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-create-mosiacs-from-digital-photographs-preferably-with-gimp/361455 "2006-06-20T17:45:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dre2xl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/34f0e0/32.png) [@dre2xl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dre2xl)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-create-mosiacs-from-digital-photographs-preferably-with-gimp/361455/1 "2006-06-20T17:45:04Z")

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I’ve a friend whose birthday is coming up, and he really likes gummi bears, so instead of just throwing him a $2 bag I thought I’d arrange them in a nice mosiac.

However, not having the artistic sense to do great works like the Jelly Belly portraits, I’ll have to somehow come up with a “template” using a specified color palette (the gummi bear colors) and a standard shape (e.g., the gummi-bear rectangle). Is there such a program or GIMP/Photoshop filter(s) that can achieve this? It seems that such a program would have a -lot- of use in various crafts (sequins, beads, etc…) so it’s got to be out there somewhere.

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**Author:** ![dre2xl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/34f0e0/32.png) [@dre2xl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dre2xl)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-create-mosiacs-from-digital-photographs-preferably-with-gimp/361455/2 "2006-06-20T18:07:34Z")

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I’ve answered half my question. Looks like I can use Filter -\> Blur -\> Pixelize to produce the rectangular effect… [http://www.polycrystal.org/tutorials/legomosaic.html](http://www.polycrystal.org/tutorials/legomosaic.html)

So all I need to do is have the other half answered–how do I adapt the colors to my specified color palette?

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**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2006, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-create-mosiacs-from-digital-photographs-preferably-with-gimp/361455/3 "2006-06-20T18:23:50Z")

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My gimp-fu is feeble, but try Image: Mode: Indexed… (Alt+I). Click “Generate Optimal Palette” and restrict it to, like 4 or 6 or whatever. Then maybe you can choose the best gummi match to each color.

Or you could try creating a custom palette of gummi colors Dialogs: Palette… (Ctrl+P) and try “Use Custom Palette” for Mode:Indexed… instead.

Good luck!