PixTile — Photo Mosaic Creator

PixTile is a sophisticated photo mosaic application that transforms any target image into a stunning mosaic composed of your own photo collection. Using advanced color-matching algorithms and intelligent tile distribution, PixTile creates beautiful artwork where thousands of your photos come together to recreate a larger image.

What It Does

PixTile turns your photo library into artistic mosaics by:

• Analyzing your target image to understand its color composition and structure
• Intelligently selecting source photos from your collection that best match each region
• Composing high-resolution mosaics with advanced color blending and distribution
• Optimizing tile placement to minimize repetition and maximize visual variety
• Generating professional output at resolutions up to 10,000 pixels

Shaped Mosaics (Masked Output)

PixTile can generate mosaics constrained to a shape mask, allowing creative silhouettes and logos. For example, the image below shows a mosaic rendered inside the silhouette of a rower.

Rower Logo Example

Below is an additional example image used as a reference/logo for shaped mosaic generation.

Mosaic ZoomOut Animation

App UI Screenshots

Key Features

Advanced Mosaic Engine

Two powerful algorithms give you complete control over the final result:

Enhanced Engine (Recommended)

• Advanced color matching with hue-aware tile selection
• Intelligent distribution ensures photos are spread evenly across the mosaic
• Reduced repetition through sophisticated tile management
• Coverage mode guarantees diverse photo representation
• Hue shifting (0-180°) for better color matching while preserving photo identity

Standard Engine

• Fast processing for quick previews and experimentation
• Direct color matching for simpler mosaic creation
• Memory efficient for working with large photo collections

Flexible Image Management

• Folder-based import - Add entire photo directories at once
• Manual selection - Choose specific images for targeted compositions
• Mixed sources - Combine folder imports with individual selections
• Format support - Works with JPG, PNG, and common image formats
• Photo library integration (iOS) - Direct access to your Photos app

Professional Controls

Resolution & Detail

• Tiles Across: 10-300 tiles for precise detail control
  • Low (30-50): Artistic, abstract look with larger visible photos
  • Medium (70-100): Balanced detail with recognizable source images
  • High (150-300): Ultra-detailed mosaics with tiny tiles
• Output Long Side: Up to 10,000 pixels for print-quality output
• Memory optimization for handling large tile counts efficiently

Color & Blending

• Tint Strength (0-100%): Control how much source photos blend toward target colors
  • 0%: Photos retain original colors (more visible as individual images)
  • 50%: Balanced blend between source and target
  • 100%: Strong color matching (better mosaic cohesion)
• Max Hue Shift (0-180°): Allow subtle color adjustments for better matching
• Smart color analysis preserves photo character while matching the target

Intelligent Distribution

• Coverage Mode: Ensures source images are distributed evenly
• Coverage Ratio: Control what percentage of photos get preferred positions
• Anti-repetition algorithms: Minimize using the same photo multiple times
• Quality optimization: Balance between color accuracy and photo variety

Native macOS Experience

• Dark mode interface - Beautiful black UI optimized for creative work
• Real-time preview - Zoom and pan to inspect your mosaic
• Native performance - Optimized for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs
• Retina ready - Crisp display on high-resolution screens
• Standalone app - No Python installation or dependencies required
• Professional integration - Proper macOS app bundle with native icon

How It Works

1. Select Your Target Image

Choose the image you want to recreate as a mosaic:

• Portrait photos for personalized gifts
• Landscape scenes for wall art
• Logos or graphics for creative presentations
• Any image with good contrast and color variety

2. Build Your Source Collection

Add photos that will serve as mosaic tiles:

• Import folders - Your entire photo library in one click
• Select individuals - Curate specific photos for themed mosaics
• Mix and match - Combine different photo sets
• Best results with 100-1000+ diverse source images

3. Configure Your Mosaic

Fine-tune the settings for your desired output:

• Choose tile count based on desired detail level
• Set output resolution for your intended use (screen vs print)
• Adjust tint strength to balance photo visibility with cohesion
• Enable coverage mode for better photo distribution
• Experiment with hue shifting for optimal color matching

4. Generate & Export

• Compose your mosaic with a single click
• Preview with zoom and pan controls
• Regenerate with different settings until perfect
• Export at full resolution using the Share function
• Save settings for batch processing similar images

Advanced Capabilities

Color Matching Technology

PixTile uses sophisticated color analysis:

• LAB color space for perceptually accurate matching
• Multi-dimensional analysis considering hue, saturation, and luminance
• Weighted scoring to prioritize important color characteristics
• Hue shifting allows subtle color adjustments while preserving photo identity
• Brightness normalization ensures consistent appearance

Memory Optimization

Handles large photo collections efficiently:

• Intelligent caching reduces memory usage
• Streaming processing for ultra-high-resolution output
• Adaptive quality balances speed with visual fidelity
• Progress tracking for long operations
• Crash recovery protects your work

Tile Distribution Intelligence

Advanced algorithms prevent repetition:

• Coverage-first mode prioritizes photo diversity
• Used-tile tracking minimizes immediate repetition
• Distance-based scoring favors photos far from previous uses
• Fallback systems ensure completion even with limited source photos
• Random seeding creates unique mosaics from the same sources

Use Cases

Personal Art & Gifts

• Family photo mosaics - Recreate portraits using family photos
• Wedding gifts - Create couple portraits from wedding day photos
• Anniversary projects - Use photos spanning years together
• Pet portraits - Mosaic of your pet made from pet photos
• Memory walls - Transform vacation photos into destination maps

Professional & Creative

• Album covers - Unique artwork for musicians
• Marketing materials - Brand logos made from product photos
• Event posters - Conference photos forming the venue
• Corporate art - Company logos from employee photos
• Gallery installations - Large-format prints for exhibitions

Educational & Experimental

• Color theory exploration - Understand color composition
• Algorithm study - Learn about image processing
• Artistic experimentation - Discover new creative techniques
• Data visualization - Represent datasets as mosaics

Technical Details

Built with:

• Python 3.9+ with advanced image processing
• Pillow (PIL) for high-quality image manipulation
• PySide6 (Qt) for native macOS interface
• LAB color space for perceptually accurate matching
• Multi-threaded processing for responsive UI

Platform Availability:

• macOS App - Standalone .app bundle (391 MB)
• iOS App - Native SwiftUI implementation (in development)
• Cross-platform core - Python algorithms work on Windows/Linux

Performance:

• Processes 30-50 tile mosaics in seconds
• 100-200 tile mosaics in 1-2 minutes
• 300 tile ultra-detailed mosaics in 2-5 minutes
• Memory efficient even with 1000+ source images

Output Formats:

• High-quality JPEG for sharing
• PNG with transparency support
• Resolution up to 10,000 pixels
• DPI metadata for print optimization

Development Philosophy

PixTile was designed with a unique approach:

Python-First Development → PyInstaller Packaging → Native Distribution

This strategy provides:

• ✅ Rapid development - Complex algorithms implemented in days, not months
• ✅ Cross-platform code - Same core works on macOS, iOS (via Swift), Windows, Linux
• ✅ Easy updates - Modify Python code and rebuild
• ✅ Professional quality - Native app experience without full rewrites
• ✅ Best of both worlds - Python's flexibility with native app polish

Comparison with Traditional Approaches

| Approach | Dev Time | Flexibility | Distribution | Maintenance | |----------|----------|-------------|--------------|-------------| | PixTile (Hybrid) ✅ | Days-Weeks | High | Excellent | Easy | | Native Swift Only | Months | Medium | Excellent | Complex | | Python Script Only | Days | Highest | Poor | Easiest |

Version History

v0.7.0 (Current)

• ✨ Complete rebrand to PixTile
• ✨ Integrated help system with Info button
• ✨ Logo integration throughout UI
• 🐛 Fixed coverage mode variable errors
• 🔧 Improved ImageQt compatibility
• 🔧 Centralized version management

Future Roadmap

• 📱 iOS App Store release
• 🎨 Preset configuration templates
• 🔄 Batch processing for video frames
• 🎯 Real-time interactive preview
• 📊 Mosaic analytics and statistics

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Privacy & Legal

📄 Privacy Policy - Learn how PixTile protects your privacy. TL;DR: All processing happens locally on your device. We don't collect any data, track you, or upload your photos anywhere.

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PixTile — Where thousands of memories create one beautiful image.