www.aolej.com

[ahe]

I'm new to professional version but have looked thru FAQ.

I set Cell Filling parameters to "minimal duplicity" and max cell repetition =1.

However, what I really want to do is load matrix in the same sequence as the selected list of cells. In fact, I'm using a source image which is solid gray. I realize I'm using this software at its more primitive level - no analysis is required. But I have thousands of 120x160 pixel images and want to create large arrays/grids/matrix (call what you will).

How do I default to simplest 1,2,3,4... loading sequence - no repeats.

Thanks,

ahe

[aolej]

When you set max repetition 1, each image will be used only one time.
If you select photo mosaic filling, source image will be used for cell image calculating order. Therefore cell images will be selected not randomly but order is based on source image. If you use gray source image, first will be used cell images with near to gray, than other.

When you need render mosaic in order as cell images, use Cell image file name order (page Source image). Cell images will be selected in file name order.

And the last comment, when you use max repetition 1, duplicity is not directly affected, because there is no duplicity (each cell image is used only one time). But there are some changes in rendering process and result mosaic may be changed. If you want avoid randomizing, select preset Max duplicity (page Cell filling).

[ahe]

Thank you aolej for prompt answer to the question I had yesterday. After I had asked it, I had discovered at least part of the answer on my own. But it is nice to have you confirm my discovery.

Here's another question: Since it is so easy using Mosaic Creator to assemble a matrix that is many cells in width while only a few cells in height, I would now like to STITCH the two ends together and save the file as a 'barrell' shaped Quick Time .mov Am I allowed to do this within Mosaic Creator? Or do I need to use another 'stitching' software product?

Thanks again for your help.

ahe

[aolej]

Sorry, I can't help you, Mosaic Creator can render only basic video mosaics. You should use another software and mosaic picture as texture.

[ahe]

Thanks again.

So far, all I've found is product called VR Worx made by VR Toolbox. The demo version quite nicely took the panorama shaped mosaic I made with Mosaic Creator and stitched the ends together as a cylinder. The demo won't let me save the .mov file, but seemed ok. I'd buy their product but $299 seems like a lot for this one simple function.

I guess if you were to add this feature to Mosaic Creator, you'd have to pay royalties to the owners of QT, but this is a fun way to access the mosaics.

Later,

ahe

[ahe]

Instead of using an expensive tool such as VR WORX or QTVR Authoring, there is a very simple shareware product called SurroundPhoto available from http://www.surroundphoto.com/SoftwareDownLoads.aspx.

They sell special cameras for VR work and this is one of their software tools which they generously give away.

All I do is render a Mosaic with Mosaic Creator set at Cell Count X = 100 and Cell Count Y = 3 or 4. Use the jpg or tif from MC as input file for Surroundphoto and output is a fantastic cylinder .mov which can go into html and launch QuickTime viewer. For my purposes, this gives a much more interesting result than the .avi files I've gotten out of MC so far. If you want, I'll send you an example.

[aolej]

Better may be link to some small example, if you can do this.

[ahe]

I've posted 2 for you to look at.

http://www.jdsloanphotographs.com/andy/selected-movies.html

The #1 on that page is larger than #2 - and, of course, I happen to like it better that way.

I've only just begun to explore the possibilities - using MOSAICS generated from Mosaic Creator as input to software capable of wrapping them into cylinder for .mov files.

By the way, since I'm making my mosaics out of grayscale cells, I always must remember to convert my finished mosaic from RGB to grayscale. This reduces the file size of jpg or tif - not by much, but by a little bit. Perhaps, among the many parameters I can control within Mosaic Creator there could be one that allows mosaic to be saved as grayscale.

I'm still having great fun with this!! Really neat product.

ahe

[aolej]

Grayscale output - page Cell enhance, checkbox Grayscale mode

[aolej]

interesting examples