# Classic Mosaic

Classic Mosaic converts any image into a realistic tiled mosaic. Classic Mosaic is particularly effective because of it’s edge detecting features. Tiles align themselves to curved shapes, such as the outlines of a face, to simulate the visual characteristics of ancient Greek mosaics. Classic Mosaic is an extremely simple filter to operate. In most cases, you’ll run it on an entire image; so a selection isn’t even necessary.

## Using Classic Mosaic

To get great results with Classic Mosaic, choose images to be used with the filter wisely. Here are some guidelines for choosing an image that will work well with Classic Mosaic:

- Choose large images with strongly contrasting colors.
- Adjust the contrast levels in your image to improve results.
- If you want to work with text, use type large enough to handle being rebuilt as blocks.

Now that you’ve chosen the right image, Classic Mosaic is a snap:

1. Run the Classic Mosaic filter.
2. Choose an appropriate tile size. Tiles that are too large obscure details of the original image, but tiles that are too small don’t look like tiles.
3. Select a grout width that strikes your fancy. Grout that is too wide confuses the original image.
4. Select the edge sensitivity that preserves just the right amount of detail from your original image.
5. Click OK.
6. Enjoy.

## Control Descriptions

### Tile Size

Controls the size of the tiles that compose your mosaic. Higher values yield larger tiles.

### Grout Width

Specifies the width of the space between tiles, relative to the tile size. Larger values increase the spacing between tiles.

First image above: Grout Width 20.
Second image: Grout Width 75

### Edge Sensitivity

Higher values forces the tiles to follow the details of an image more closely.

### Grout Color

Grout can be any color you like. Clicking in this box awakens your slumbering color picker.

### Random Seed

Controls the random element in the creation of this effect. Minor changes in the Random Seed setting can produce dramatic changes in your image; we encourage you to experiment with this control until you find the effects you like best. You can then precisely duplicate the effect by saving the Random Seed setting.

## Tips

Use the contrast adjustment tools in your graphics host to strengthen contrast levels in your image. This practice helps Classic Mosaic detect and place tiles along edges more accurately.

Crumple your image before running Classic Mosaic to add interesting variations to the colors and shape of tiles.