How to make a Mosaic

[Emma]

These instructions are for Photoshop: if you know how to do this in another program, like PSP or FotoFusion, please add your instructions here too! Or an alternate method (always 1800 ways to do something!)

Here's the layout I made:
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=4753

Create a new image, about 2x2. Select>Select All
Edit>Stroke, click Inside and choose color White, about 10-15 pixels

Edit>Define Pattern.

Layer>New Fill>Pattern, choose the new pattern, scale as desired.

On the grid layer, Layer Style>Inner Shadow, slight Bevel/Emboss>Down
Sounds harder than it is, really! I just wanted to include all the steps.
Like I said, much faster in FF, but still super easy in PS if you know how to make patterns and use layer styles. If you don't, hopefully these instructions are helpful.

OR for this style:
http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=4758
Made using a Single Row Marquee tool (click the little arrow on the Marquee tool to open the other options), horizontal and vertical, then on a new layer I did Edit>Stroke in white. Then did Layer style, Bevel/Emboss>Down with some light Texture to look like grout.

This technique is great for bathroom tile look too, just put the grout layer using View>Rulers to space the marquees evenly, on top of a white layer for the tile. You can add texture or gloss the tile layer too. Duplicate the grout layer and give it an Outer Bevel, Fill 0%, to make the tile look raised.

[DanaZ]

Fotofusion directions:

Put your picture onto the page and resize to desired size.

To split a frame using the mouse,

1. Select the frame

2. Move the cursor over the 'split' control on the image toolbox (four little squares underneath the frame picture in the toolbox that pops up)

3. Press down and hold the left mouse button

4. Without releasing the button, drag the mouse to the right and down.

As you do this, lines will appear on the frame showing you how the frame will be split:

5. Release the left mouse button.

The frame will be split into two or more new frames:


This came from the "help" dialog in the program. Hope it helps!

[RutgersAlum]

Simple Mosaic in DIP 9
à la RutgersAlum:-)

1. Insert photo of choice.

2. Use Insert > Line to draw lines to make a "grid" on the photo (used the rulers on side & top to get the distance equal). I then locked everything because I'm paranoid, but that's just me...;-)

3. This entire Step 3 involves just the first square of your grid:
a. I used the square marquee tool to box in the whole picture in just that square inside the grid lines you drew; copy it; then delete it from the overall grid. Hang on to that picture, or paste is off to the side for safekeeping if you’re nervous;-)
b. Insert Shape > Square. Place this where that square was that you just deleted, fit it within your grid lines.
c. Now, paste in that deleted & copied first square of the grid right into the new inserted square—this is exactly where this portion of the photo originally was, but now it’s its own object.
d. Lock the square & the photo you just pasted into it. That’s your first square of the grid!

4. Repeat Step 3 with every square of your grid. Be sure to lock each square and the pasted image that fills it! Be sure to play with the image to get completely inside the square shape you insert, and to ‘respect the gridlines’ so you will leave enough room for edging & shadow to come later.

5. Use Effects > Edges > Highlighted to place a light edge effect around each square. Use the “Customize this Edge” option to choose the color you want to edge the photo with, and to adjust the thickness of the edge you add. Do this for each square, and be sure to use the same edge thickness and color for each edge.

6. Unlock the background & gridlines, and remove the grid lines you drew at the beginning.

7. Add shadow to each square.

8. Voilà! Here's the one (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=8817) I did as I wrote this up :D

One final word: I think if you play around with placement of the photo in the square shape you insert, you could get better depth in each square (I think that’s why the third & fourth squares in the bottom row looks more prominent), but this is what has gotten me started with mosaics in DIP 9!

Thanks for looking, and thanks, Emma, for benevolently forcing me (again) to use & learn my software!

RutgersAlum

[Emma]

Here's a link to Tammy's (Sybrina) mosaic tutorial in PSP
http://www.tntsites.com/mosiact/mosiac.html

[pinayus27]

Here's a link to Tammy's (Sybrina) mosaic tutorial in PSP
http://www.tntsites.com/mosiact/mosiac.html

The link didn't work! Help:(

[Emma]

That was on her personal site, she may have taken it down.

In PSP, I make a new image about 2x2 and put a white-lined box all around it (rectangle Tool, white as foreground color, Transparent as background color, choose Line Width as desired, maybe 50?)

Then on my image I choose Fill Tool>Pattern and choose that open image. On a new layer fill the image with that pattern. I scale the pattern in the Materials Dialog box, but then I can also use the Pick/Deform Tool on the grid layer to size it correctly. Duplicate that grid layer, then use Effects>3D>Cutout in black to get that inner shadow look that makes the photo tiles look raised above the grid layer.
You can also use the Magic Wand to select the grid layer and then on the photo layer hit the Delete key. Add a drop shadow to the photo layer.

[pinayus27]

Does this also apply to PSP 7 or other PSP version?

[debbiel]

Emma, thank you. This worked really well and was so easy. I will now be able to use this technique for any size picture.

[Emma]

if PSP 7 deals with patterns the same way, yeah: but I've never used PSP 7, so give it a try and let us know!

[pinayus27]

Okay, I'll give it a shot. If not, then I can use PSP X lol...Thanks Emma! Really appreciate it!

[Vallie]

Hi all. It works great in PSP9. I've been mosaicing everyone!! And it is easy to move the photo layer around so the mosaic is in the right place if you know what I mean. Like not chopping peoples eyes in half! I made my little square into a seamless pattern and saved it in mypsp files patterns area so it is permanently available from materials pallette. :)

[Emma]

Those PS instructions will work in PSE with a few changes

PSE:
Create a new image, about 2x2. Select>Select All
Edit>Stroke, click Inside and choose color White, about 10-15 pixels

Edit>Define Pattern

On your mosaic layout, put the photo on its own layer. Then Layer>New Fill>Pattern and choose the new pattern you made. Scale as desired.

Add a Bevel layer style, and in Layer>Layer Style>Style Settings hit Down on the bevel to make a grout look.

[yvspeck]

Thanks Emma .. you are such a sweetheart... Love little Julia's photo and age scale in your siggy! I think she is looking like her Momma in that one ;+)...