Comparison of selected photo mosaic (photo mosaic also known as photo montage or photo collage)
applications.
Standard
photo mosaic applications are based on similar (don't read
the same) process. Applications are different in implemented
recognition/selection algorithms (most are unique) and built-in functions for control/enhance mosaic
rendering process. This comparison shows main features for
selected mosaic software.
I don't score applications only divide it to groups and add
some comments (may be subjective). You can easy evaluate and
decide what program is really usable for you.
As
author of Mosaic Creator, I understand minimal requirements
for generating quality mosaics. All basic required functions
are evaluated for each application. All listed software is
directly oriented for rendering photo mosaics, except Mosaic
Creator which has built in ability for creating Web thumbnails
and video animations.
If
you find some bugs or you want to recommend some other application,
send me e-mail.
print,
mosaic and thumbnail wizard, pattern editor, pattern shapes,
clickable thumbnails, alpha
masking, color masking, rendering video mosaics, image watermarking,
calculate tile mosaics, text mosaics, ASCII art as HTML and
more then hundred options
not
only photo mosaic software, full featured thumbnailer
Mazaika
yes
in
memory, unlimited
user
user
-
-
-
1
or more
really
quality mosaic output, change cell image in mosaic manually
options
for rendering hard to understand
$49.95
ArcSoft
PhotoMontage 2000
yes
in memory, max
1.000 cell images
user
-
-
off/auto
user
user
scan, print,
user interface, treasure box, signature box, CD image collection
limited number
of cell images, no additional options relative to mosaics
$39.99, upgrade $24.99
no
trial available,
not tested
Best feeware/postcardware
products
Program name
cell image
database
large mosaics
cell size
control cell
filling
nonrectangle
cells
color enhance
cell borders
cell repetition
control
unique
miss
price
comment
AndreaMosaic
program 3.13
yes
in memory
only total number
of cells
user
-
yes
black line
-
Filling - flip
horizontal/vertical/ Exponential, movie image cells
not user friendly,
missing cell size control, one output format,
no manual
Free
Very
fast, but for version 3.13 very poor interface and no manual
but intuitive and free
Other shareware
products
Program name
cell image
database
large mosaics
cell size
control cell
filling
nonrectangle
cells
color enhance
cell borders
cell repetition
control
unique
miss
price
comment
2gether1
Mosaic Tool
??
in memory
max 8000x8000 pixels, up to
8.000 cell images in Pro version.
user
user
-
yes
??
user
Windows
and Macintosh versions
use movies as source for cell images
Over 7.000 images
no
trial available, limited result image image size and number
of used cell images
$39
or Pro version $279
Not available in USA, Japan and Australia due US Patent 6,137,498, entitled 'Digital composition of
a mosaic image.'
Image
puzzler
yes
in
memory
portrait
or landscape
-
-
-
-
-
-
no
additional options
$19
Easy
Photo Mosaic Maker
yes
in
memory
user
-
-
user
-
-
-
not
user friendly
$35 or $99
or $149
DISCONTINUED projects
Program name
cell image
database
large mosaics
cell size
control cell
filling
nonrectangle
cells
color enhance
cell borders
cell repetition
control
unique
miss
price
comment
PhotoTile
yes
in memory
as database, user in assembler
user
-
user
user
user
image panning, assembler for additional $20, image conversion utility $20
-
$20
(+$20 assembler)
DISCONTINUED 05/2006
"Closed as of 5/28/06"
Centarsia
yes
in memory
as database
user
-
source opacity
-
user
Channel Dominance,Queue then Image Method
not user friendly
postcard-ware
DISCONTINUED 05/2006 "We regret to inform you that we are no longer supporting or distributing Centarsia, due to the threat of legal action by Robert Silvers, the holder of a patent related to the technology that we used in Centarsia. We do not necessarily believe that the patent is applicable in this case but we have neither the time, interest, or money to pursue a legal "hashing out", so we are complying with the cease and desist request. "
Photo Puzzler
yes
in memory, max 5.000 cell images
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
very crippled, support only for BMP
$15
DISCONTINUED
Photo-mosaic
file list
in memory
user
user
-
source opacity
-
-
grayscale option
no additional options, install OCXs to system
$12
DISCONTINUED
Mosaic
Studio
file list
file, unlimited
user
-
-
auto
user
user
preview,
user interface
no
help, price
$70
up to $9985
DISCONTINUED
Picture Image
-
in memory
user
-
-
-
-
-
print, scan
no rendering options
$49.95
DISCONTINUED
Legend
cell image database - application create
mosaics from prepared image database, this can speed-up rendering
process of result image
large mosaics - ability render large mosaic
(>128MB), if is result image rendered in memory, there can be problems
with high resolution images
cell size - user can set cell size for
mosaic
control cell filling - user can control
accuracy of cell filling, for example minimal distance of the same
images`
nonrectangle cells - can render mosaic
with other cell shapes as rectangle (hexagon, triangle, puzzle, ...)
color enhance - modify color of cell images
to opacity of source image
cell borders - borders for cell images
cell repetition control - control number
of duplicates
