How to create (or use) geometric structures and complex grids to cut/ rearrange?

[henryoakley]

Hi, this is a number of questions on one.

I'd like to be able to use geometric structures and complex grids to be able to cut up and rearrange aspects of photos that I have taken.

Is there a way to do this easily and efficiently in PS?

I can't find an exact example of what I want to do, but I've attached a (colourful) geometric grid that shows the kind of detail in a grid that I'd like to use. I guess this is in two parts: How do you make the grid in PS (or illustrator?) (also so that I can create images like the patterned circle I have attached and like the geometric grid) and then how would use it as guides to cut the image for rearranging.

I've also attached an image I found with a man's face rearranged, a very simplified version of what I'm trying to achieve (less the shadows).

I'd also like to know how I can cut out and rearrange individual shapes to invert and rearrange like in the images I've attached with the river and the forest and with the girls head that has been cut up (although this has been done by hand) please.

Thanks for any pointers you can give me.

 

[IamSam]

Don't know if it will help but here's how one might create images similar to the second and third one from top.

I opened two images. I moved one image into the others document.
I created a new layer and then used my ruler, guide lines, and the Rectangular Marquee Tool to create the 5 bars/rectangles.



Once I created all of the bars, I highlighted them, duplicated them, and then merged the duplicates. I then grouped the originals and turned them off (I like to save them just in case).

I place the bar/rectangle layer between the two original images and and clip the top image to the bar/rectangle layer.



The final image...



This is the simple version.

Here's one tutorial that might help you to create a similar image to the bottom example you provided.
http://10steps.sg/tutorials/photoshop/create-a-face-shattering-effect/

http://www.photoshopessentials.com/photo-effects/photo-strips/

http://www.photoshopessentials.com/photo-effects/vertical-panels/

https://www.google.com/search?q=Pho...o4HwBQ&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAA&biw=1610&bih=851&dpr=1

 

[henryoakley]

Hi Sam, thanks. I've been searching through tutorials all day too.

I've found some great stuff, but can't post links here yet as I'm a new member.

I've managed to recreate picture 3, using a similar method to the one you described, just adding in some rotation to create arrows.

I've also learned how to create some quite complex grids in Illustrator.

I still haven't managed to find out how to cut a picture up by the grid lines though, although I've read it's possible.

I'll try over in the Illustrator section, as I think it's more relevant there.

Thanks again.

 

[IamSam]

Henry,

This effect is fairly easy as well......



It's just a matter of duplicating the original image, creating the shapes, cutting them out of the duplicated original (comm +J), and then re-arranging them.

 

[henryoakley]

Thanks Sam, that's getting closer to what I want. I wouldn't have thought of cutting out of a duplicate image and copying them on. This could work, to make is really complex, I could make a range of different sized shapes to use as cut out templates (I'm sure that's not the technical name!) in ratio so that they can all fit together flush. That would be a painstaking task to do for a large image completely rearranged, but worth a shot. So there isn't shortcut to cut up an image automatically by a grid, other than a basic horizontal/vertical grid?

Thanks,

Henry

 

[IamSam]

....So there isn't shortcut to cut up an image automatically by a grid, other than a basic horizontal/vertical grid?...

Sure, if you make a template of all the shapes on one layer (they could not be flush though), you could comm/cntrl + click the templates thumbnail and then Highlight the duplicate image layer, then Shift + comm/cntrl + I, and hit delete. The problem with this is that all the newly cutout shapes would then have to be selected (Lasso tool, etc.) and then placed on their own layer if you want to rearrange them.

 

[henryoakley]

Thanks Sam.

I'm sure I read somewhere you could do it automatically and PS would put each cut out into a separate layer? I just can't remember where I saw it?

Thanks again

 

[IamSam]

That would be great! If you find it, post the solution here! I could use that little gem! Good luck!

 

[henryoakley]

Ok I found a javascript to automatically cut picture up into 10px X 10px with a new layer for each. You can change size of each layer slice from 10px to whatever you want by editing squareSize.

/*
--------Photoshop Script - Grid to Layers------------
Author: Oisin Conolly
www.DigitalBiscuits.co.uk


This basic script will create new layers from your active layer, each equal in size according to the grid dimensions specified.
*/




//this is the size of our squares in pixels
var squareSize = 10;






var docRef = app.activeDocument;


//set the ruler type
if (app.preferences.rulerUnits != Units.PIXELS)
{
app.preferences.rulerUnits = Units.PIXELS;
}


var layerRef = docRef.activeLayer;


for (y = 0; y<docRef.height; y+=squareSize)
{
for (x = 0; x<docRef.width; x+=squareSize)
{
//activate the original layer
docRef.activeLayer = layerRef;
//make the selection
docRef.selection.select(Array (Array(x, y), Array(x, y+squareSize), Array(x+squareSize,y+squareSize), Array(x+squareSize,y)), SelectionType.REPLACE, 0, false);


//copy the selection
docRef.selection.copy();
//create and paste new layer
docRef.artLayers.add();
docRef.paste();
}
}


It doesn't do exactly what I want, but might be useful for other people?

 

[henryoakley]

Ok I this might be a solution.

1. Set up some guidelines in whatever grid pattern you like.
2. Slice by guide. Select slice tool and in options bar press 'slice by guide' button.
3. Create new layers per slice. Layer > New Layer Based Slice.

If it works, will be great! Will have to be able select all slices and then do New Layer By Slice and for PS to do them all at once for it be effective.

Will test it tomorrow after some sleep.

Now all I need to do is work out how to do diagonal guide lines.

 

[henryoakley]

OK, tried New Layer Based Slice, didn't work. It didn't actually slice the image along guides, let alone put each part on new layer. Not sure what I'm doing wrong.



Also, don't think it's possible to create diagonal guides from what I've read. Does anyone know any different?


I think it might be time to reach for my art knife and alu ruler and do it by hand???

 

[IamSam]

You can make diagonal lines with the Line Tool.

 

[henryoakley]

Thanks Sam, yeah I can do diagonals, was just really thinking about the guideline method, if I can get it work, to get all the slicing done in one go.

 

[henryoakley]

Hi Sam, OK I posted a few questions on the adobe forums and I think we've nearly cracked it! I can now do exactly what I wanted; automatically cut up an image into new layers per section based on a complex geometric pattern created in AI. Very cool!

There are still a couple of niggles we're trying to sort out, but very close to a final solution!

Take a look at the threads:

http://forums.adobe.com/message/6196828

http://forums.adobe.com/message/6203733

 

[IamSam]

Thanks! I'll give these a good reading!

 

[henryoakley]

Great. The first link is mostly about setting it up in AI and PS and the second link is for the script.

There's loads to read, but most useful are between me, DrStrik9 and c.pfaffenbichler so far.

The whole process works, from creating the grid in AI, pasting it into PS as a Path and then using the script by c.pfaffenbichler to auto cut into individual layers.

JJMack pointed out a slight correction to the script you need to make before running it. He also put up his own script, but I haven't been able to get this work yet.

H

 

[henryoakley]

OK, here are 2 pieces I made so far:





Anyone else had a go?

 

[IamSam]

These look great! I have not had a chance to try out the technique, but I plan on doing it soon.