Images from Photos to 16 bit Square/ Hexagonal Grid Images- How to create them

fmakawa

Hi Folks,
So I had an epiphany regarding a side project I am working on. Whilst the code isn't that bad the artwork is proving to be an absolute nightmare. Consider this, I have a photo and I want to have a scene where you basically recreated the image using grids which will have only one colour. In this case, lets say a 18R x 30C grid but it is variable depending on the puzzle. Now my problem is with creating the images themselves and not with the code for instance:
This is the original image:

This is one image I created within PowerPoint (because Gimp, Photoshop and Excel were a nightmare) using a square grid system:

As you can see it didn't come out so well. I suppose I need to increase the size of the grid. No problem. However, the issue became of colour bleeding, so I can blend the effect better so I decided to attempt a hexagonal grid system. And it is here I had a brick wall. See below:

The hexagonal grid is something I can't use in a table so Excel and PowerPoint are out. Gimp on the other hand is being iffy with the grid layer and filling in colour so at time an attempt to fill one cell renders most of the image in that one colour. odd.
Additionally, it isn't as user friendly. Heck paint would do the painting better in terms of ease of use but it doesn't allow layers or backgrounds so I have no idea what I'm actually creating.

SO, my questions are

1. Is there a much simpler way of doing this?
2. How can I fix the hexagon issue?

Any and all ideas are welcome!

AngryBoi

In Photoshop I would just click on Image, then Image Size, and then change the width and height to however small you want. This is what I do to change normal pictures into pixely ones

jamie_c

Try the Mosaic Filter under the Pixelate Filter options in Photoshop.

The Stained Glass Filter under Texture in the Filter Gallery will also be close the the Hexagon example you show, but unfortunately it will be polygons, not hexagons.

fmakawa

@jamie_c and to do them in hexagons? Plus, can you limit how many colours are used?

jamie_c

Not sure. Those were just a couple ideas to check out. I belive the first option uses the colors from the source image and you can adjust the size of the square. Neither are something I've used a lot, I just know they exist.

Socks

@fmakawa said:
@jamie_c and to do them in hexagons? Plus, can you limit how many colours are used?

You can impose a custom colour palette onto an image in Photoshop in various ways.

Socks

http://damienclarke.me/code/mosaic-maker

tatiang

If you're looking for a way to represent a hexagonal grid of actors in a table, this site has some suggestions: http://www.redblobgames.com/grids/hexagons.

fmakawa

Thanks @socks perfect! @tatiang I was already working through that site. Most comprehensive discussion I've come across. But phew, is it a bit of a mind f*!